The herald., 1898-03-11
message announcing his recognition Of

message announcing his recognition OF
Cuban independence
Commander Hawley left this evening for
the south with Chief Engineer Webster and
Surgeon Parsons to enlist machinists for
the navy. During the day the board
New Orleans. 1t had been Informed that
there are a number of good men to be had
on the Gulf coast, and Commander Haw-
ley will open temporary headquarters in
the Gulf cities as he goes along, just as was
done by him in the west last summer.
THE AUXILIARY FLEET
A conference was held at . O clock I'm the
office of Assistant Secretary Roosevelt to
map out plans for arming and equippng
merchant vessels as auxiliary cruisers Mr..
Roosevelt presided, and the others pres
ent were Captain Crowninshield of the
bureau of navigation, Captain ONeill OF
the bureau Of ordnance, Chief Hichborne
of the bureau Of construction. and Com
mander Bradford of the bureau of yards
and docks. This meeting has been preceded
by a call from President Griscom of the
international Navigation company, which
owns four ships, the ST. Louis, ST. Paul,
Paris and New York. The board meeting
brought out a general discussion of the
work the various bureaus would be called
upon to perform In making these and other
vessels ready as auxiliary cruisers. About
95 per cent of this work would fall to
the lot of the bureau of construction,
which would have charge of magazines,
gun mounts, light protective armor for the
guns and magazines, and the circles on
which the guns swing This work, 1t is
said, could be accomplished readily with
in two weeks time, as all the materials,
except the guns. ars in hand. The bureau
Of ordnance could not supply all the guns
required within that short time. although
some seventy or more are now vailable.
The supply would be adequate, however.
for the most effective auxiliary cruisers,
and the complete armament Of the mer-
chant ships could proceed as rapidly as
possible thereafter. On the question Of
manning the auxiliary fleet. the navy de.
partment feels that the most effective
step would be to enlist into the United
States naval service the present merchant
crews of the several ships. These crews
are thoroughly familiar with the vessels
and could handle them with far greater
effect than green crews of bluejackets
The ships would be officered from the line
of the regular navy. In the case of en-
listing a merchant crew. the pay and al
lowances would be about equivalent to the
rates paid ordinary sailors and the time
of enlistment would doubtless be limited
to short periods.
PROPOSED BATTERIES
The proposed batteries of the auxiliary
cruisers consist In the case of the steam
ships St. Louis and st. Paul Of eight six
inch guns. four slx-pounders and four
guns; the Paris and New York,
twelve six-inch six six-pounders and siX
machine guns. 1t Is designed to give ves-
sells of the Caracas and Seneca type a
main battery of eight four-inch guns and
from six to eight rapid-fire machine guns
Those Of the Vigilancia class are designed
to have a main battery of six five-inch
and four four-inch guns. four oue-pounder
and three machine guns. The batteries Of
the auxiliary cruisers on the Pacific coast,
If those should be called into use. are sub
stantially similar. six-inch guns being the
largest ones designed for use in that SER
vice. The navy department finds itself in
comparatively good condition as to the
supply of automobile 'torpedoes, which
constitute one of the most deadly engines
of naval destruction. The Whitehead tor
pedo is now in general use, although few
of the Powell class are still on hand. Fifty
of the Whitehead torpedoes were secured
short time ago. and with these there is
d tofal of about $50 on band. This gives
not only full outfit for vessels now in
commission, but also the necessary reserve
supply.