The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-03-12
WORK OF THE AUXILIAR1ES
THEY MAI BE EMPLOYED As SWIFT
SEA SCOUTS.

To Keep the FiEhtinE ships Infsrnaea OF the
Movements or thS Euony's Eieots-shtpa
That Could ne Used as AuHiIiaries-spepd-
inE tho $50. 900, ooo-Movonents or ships.
WASHINGTON, March 11.-Another meeting OF
the board to arrange for the Improvement Of
merchant ships to DO used as auxiliary vessels
wns held in the office Of Assistant Soc
rotary Roosevelt this afternoon. Tho most
important conclusion reached was to appoint
q board OF officers to mako examination
and superintend the fitting Of auxiliary
vessels. A high ranking officer will be Presi-
dent OF tho board, and other members will DO
taken from the line, the construction corps and
the engineer corps. Two officers, n Constructor
and q Lieutenant Commander. are now engaged
In gathering data about all craft available for
auxiliary purposes. They will be superseded by
the board mentioned.
Practically every arrangement for calling into
service the finest ocean passenger vessels Of
American registry has been completed by the
board OF which Mr.. Roosevelt is President,
with the exception Of the important feature
involved In tho discovery that the subsidy law
will compel the Government to buy these ships
outright IL 1t intends to use them in war. But
even this embarrassing difficulty will probably
be adjusted satisfactorily and without the great
outlay Of money which would BIO necessary IL
the owners of vessels available for auxiliary
cruisers insisted on a strict compliance with tho
subsidy act, and which would make a great
hole in the $50, 900. 900 emergency fund.
President Griscom Of the international Navi-
CATION Company has personally informed Secro.
tary Long that all tho vessels Of his concern
were at the disposal Of the Government, and 1t
is asserted by those interested in forming an
auxiliary fleet that q fair arrangement without
direct purchase can be made with not only the
International Company. but with all the other
ship-owning organizations.
An interesting programme has been suggested
and considered by the Auxiliary Cruiser Board
In relation to the duties to which these vessels
would be assigned. This suggestion Is that
tho fastest of tho cruisers should DO used
as scouts to watch the movements of hos
tile fleets, going to tho very ports Of tho
enemy for the purpose. These ocean grey
hounds could not BIO caught by tho fastest war
vessel afloat, except tho Minneapolis and the
Columbia of the United States Navy, which
would form part of the main auxiliary squad
ron. Arrangements for carrying out the sug-
Restion are in progress.
The Secretaries of War and the Navy have
issued q circular order to Assistant Secretaries
Meiklejohn and Roosevelt and all bureau chiefs
in regard to expenditures under the emergency
fund. Secretary Long also sent a copy Of the
orders to tho Colonel Commandant OF tho Marine
Corps. Tho Navy Department circular is in
this form:
"srR: Under tho emergency appropriation of
$50, 900, 900 made Wednesday you will incur no
expense or liability except after written state
ment and estimate made by you and approved
by the President and Secretary, all in
writing. A special record must BIO kept of
every such requisition. II any such liability
or expense has been incurred by you by oral
direction. make such written statement and
estimate and submit 1t at once for such approval.
By order OF the President.
VERY respectfully,
John d. LONG, Secretary"
Tho War Department has contracted with
several companies for furnishing a million
rounds of ammunition for big guns. The Navy
Depart ment made an agreement with the
Driggs-Seabury Ordnance Company to-day for
the delivery of q number OF small calibre rifles.
The contract price was $125 900. g..
The torpedo boats Gwin and Talbot have been
added to tho naval service. Secretary Long
waived the usual formalities with which the
builders. the Hcrreshoff Company OF Bristol.
r. l., would under ordinary circumstances be
obliged to comply. The two little vessels will
be sent to join the torpedo boat flotilla in the
Gulf.
The torpedo boat Foote left Nor folk. and the
torpedo boat Winslow left Charleston to-day.
both bound for tho headquarters of tho ~lotilla.
The new steel naval tug Ssmoset left the League
Island Navy Yard for Key West this morning
on her maiden voyage. She 10 commanded by
Lieut.. York Noel.
The training ship Mohican sailed from San
Francisco to-day with a cargo of ammunition.
which will be delivered to tho Baltimore at
Honolulu and taken in that vessel to Hong
Kong. where nearly all the ships of the Asiatio
station are modified.