The evening times., 1898-07-30
MOSQUITO FLEET llD UP1
The Expenses Of the Navy Cur
tailed in Many Ways.
oNLY ONE FLOATING Lock
Civil Engineer Endicotes Instruc-
tfons Have Been Changed Since
for Peace-Merritt & Chapman
Company to Raise the Colon.

Secretary Long has already begun cur
failing the expenses Of the navy. He has
given Instructions to Capt J. r. Bart
lett, chief of the auxiliary coast de-
fense fleet. under which that oflicial has
Withdrawn 120 men from service In con-
nection with the feet and assigned them
to men-of-war engaged on active duty.
and will put out of commission the mon
itors and yachts which are under HIS
command. Secretary Long also instruct.
ed Civil Engineer Endicott to purchase
only one floating dock for service in
Southern waters. instead Of two. as had
been determined before Ambassador
Cambon made his peace representations
to the President.
In accordance with these instructions
Mr.. Endico:t has concluded negotiations
for the Perth Amboy dock. Of 2.30o tons
capacity. and it will be towed to Key
West. where 1t will be put into immedi-
ate service. 1t is proposed by Capt Bart
LETT to lay the auxiliary feet up in such
a way that 1t can be placed in service
in case of necessity within forty-eight
hours BY Monday he hopes to have per-
fected all arrangements to this end.
Tie board. of which Assistant Secreta-
ry Allen is chairman and Commander r.
B. Bradford and Assistant Naval Con-
structor Hobson are members. concluded
a contract with the Merritt & Chapman
wrecking Company yesterday for rails
ing the Cristoba,l colon. Under the
terms of the contrac: the outfit required
for raising the vessel will be sent South
al once A per diem pay arrangement has
been entered into. but what II Is the au-
thori.ies decline to say. If the vessel Is
saved the question of caivage will be de-
termined by arbitration. with limit
as to the maximum amount the company
can receive.
Naturally. If peace comes without in
reference by a third power. all reason
for dispatching the Eastern squadron
abroad will be abandoned. but II is not
Intended by the authorities to disband the
squadron. at least until negotiations are
very near conclusion. The authorities
had intended to add converted yachts to
the squadron for use as torpedo boat
destroyers. The Mayflower had been at
,.ached to Commodore Watson's COM
mand. and the Scorpion and other ships
would undoubtedly have been added.
Reports received at the Navy Depart
ment from officers commanding vessels
engaged on blockade duty show that lit
| tie occurs to disturb the monotony of the
WOFh. SOmmanuer hlCndruSOn SloNtr.
| commanding the gunboat Bancroft. has
| gone from Key West to the Isle of Pines.
| in company with the converted yacht
Eagle. commanded by Lieut.. W. II. H.
| Switzerland. to patrol the waters in that
| vicinity.
The converted yacht Dorothy. which
was ordered to assume duty on the block
| ade. has been laid up at Key West under
| going repairs. her machinery not being
| in satisfactory condition The yacht En-
| quirer. of the auxiliary fleet. will be plac-
| out of commission to morrow. her boilers
| requiring extensive repairs.
! In addition to the 14-pOunders assigned
| to the dispatch boat Dolphin. Capt.
Charles O'Neil. chief of the Bureau of
| Ordnance. has determined to supply that
vessel with another finch gun. This will
| give the vessel a main battery of three
| finch guns. As soon as the guns are in
stalled she will be ordered to resume
| duty in front of Havana.