New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-06-11
ADMIRAL ERBEN TALKS.
NO FRICTION BETWEEN HIM AND CAPTAIN
MILLER-THE EXCELLENT WORK
OF THE BOARD.

NO FRICTION BETWEEN HIM AND CAPTAIN
MILLER-rHE EXCELLENT WORK
OF THE BOARD.
Admiral Erben said yesterday that there was no
friction between himself and Captain Miller "
the Naval Militia. Everything was going on sat,s-
factorily in the matter OF the enlistment u w
men to man the new war vessels 30 Tar az ~
Admiral knew there was immediate prospect Vi
change in the command OF the harbor patrol TOT
this district Commander Field. VINO Is now IN
charge Is engaged in examining the Naval Nil'la
OF Connecticut. who will be sent aboard inc YES
sci. in Boston soon as they are sworn IN in'
men o. the New-York Militia. Admiral Eroeh saio'
would be scattered about where they were heeue''
as soon az they sworn into the Navy lheie
would be need OF more machnists for the vessels
as there were few machnists in the Naval M'n.ia
The fact was brought out yesterday that Al
mira Erben was one OF those most active IN oiins-
Ing the Naval Militia into existence. anu lHd' ho
prominent IN securing recognition lot II ~
Washington The fact was also pointed out 'ha''
II any complaint was made regarding the eihp.oS
ment the men had to perform aboard SNIP 'n,H
rested With tn. commanding officer. and not with
the Admiral
In regard to the matter Of employing the Naval
Militia tho tugs provided by the stare 40
miral Erben said There was period OF ten days
when the Government was without su'"c'e"
patrol service to keep vessels In the harbor cnan
nels and of Of the mine fields The state oHered
10 charter a number Of tugs. to man 'hem WIN
Naval Militia and to have them perform this du'N
until the Government was prepared 10 tahc II w"
Of the States hands The tugs were Chartered
first for five DAYS. and then for hve days more
At the end OF the ten days the Government han
procured tugs for the service. They were all We
needed or wanted. Nevertheless some ,me ai'ei
ward the Governor--at whose solicitation 40 hot
know but can fancy-offered these tugs ana
militia again. declined them for good reasons.
In the FIRST place. they were unnecessary as Just
noted I therefore saved the state an uhheceS-
sary expense IN refusing the Governors proner.
I'm the second place the State has no authority
whatever the waters TO he patrolled by INC
tugs. This fact well known TO Pilots ana
shippers as TO the Federal authorities. ana consc-
ouently the State tugs would have been dehed ana
ignored with impunity or. II any hot-headed meas
ure OF punishment had been taken. tho State
would have been seriously involved That tho
shippers had no notion OF mindng the state tugs
frankly told me by number OF them rish'
here in my office Federal tugs however COM
manded by Federal naval officers. ar" ny once
obeyed the jurisdiction OF the United states III
the harhor waters being fully understood
"On the point tina, the law will not permit an
officer OF higher rank than lieutenant TO he mus
tered In have good legal authority for mar IN
terpretation. but the final decision rrsts Win the
Department AZ Washington"
Captain Miller said yesterday that th- men .,
ma Naval Militia had shown what they were
cspable Of doing by their raantry on the auxiliary
cruiser Yankee at Santiago They were tho hrst
volunteers 10 be under fire IN the war The mon
manned the Yankee and took her 10 sea TWO Weeks
before the National Guard men were ca'en out
There were row seven hundred OF the men OF me
Sav.l Militia N the service for this State. he
san And 1--WE hundred more would Ne mustered
IN n.1t week He added 80 FAR a' inc men
themselves are concerned II may Do said thh' 'h''
ar. anxious 10 active service WIN inc hsn''"s
,ouadrons and do not take kindly 20 INC iuen VI
h.,nq detailed to duty on the coast de'enc' Meet
10. -, .usr.a,ed and Z the Nay Depart
80, ev.r entertained tho idea OF keeping them
NJ hom. for that purpose the splendh manner ~
which the reserves aboard The YANKEE Pe''o''"7'
their duty In the bombardment OF santiago mas
done much 10 remove H. A..
Co,,o,r Miller WAS ono Of the visitors at Al
,,,,al Frh.n's once yesterday. Admiral E'D'"
.s,d their functions were totally disnnc'' -"
.rrord q, CAPTAIN Miller nt Washington "a'
san "a p. 70 secure a personal commission "h''"
n. believe. DO IS entitled 10 eV'' "A'
received by Admiral Erhcn from Assistant Sec'e
,.rv Allen. saving that me decision OF the BOARD
.,,,,, v.,..,. OF Which the Admiral Is
49,. h..a should be nnal in regard 20 vessels eh'
amned
Upon this matter naval oncer sa'' ye'',.D",
The purpose OF this II 70 give maj h",no''.! ~
the matter OF taking vessels for which MI sor's o'
n,.s,ur. 1. brought to bear upon tho navy De
..u.n, There have been number or perrons'
particularly some formerly IA authority, who hAve
tried their utmost TO got tho Government, 10 pa,
-. far N .xces. o, tho worth OF vessels ola
tubs have been pressed upon tho HaVy peP"''
ment a. 100 per cent beyond tne'r reai Value
"Th,. order Will prevent any more Merr'maca
,,o,, h.,na bough. That was instance where
the Judgment Of the members OF the Naval Ani'-
larry Board was overriddcn They hhh ihspectsn
the vessel at Philadelphia and condemne' he''
Then another inspection was secured OF baIo'horo'
md upon that tho purchase was maze. Inc AUX
uiary Board has desired 10 have II fully under
stood that. Notwithstanding tho good work done
nv the Merrimac which was as useful for the pur,,
pose 10 which sh. was put as any VeSseI C oudu
hare nsa Tor her Now when any one tries
e1cr. any political pull to secure me pa to u Tho
Board the hnal arber Us poncy mas s.es saiyy
been not to approy. any ye sbs voases pnTchased
irpon its recommendation have been nr'' Class III
every particular I4 nrS.s s5f eo and viii be
worth ali that has been paid for mem when mo
war is over. and they are to be sol" TOT private
The members Of tn. AUXILIARY Board were divided
mander Kelley and Naval Constructor Tawresey
busy The oce p1ePaT IN a repo Erc WPoe
Company and tho tugs Mccauley. Dempsey and
inspected in PhsdeRaia c on hTrEaay aa
Bruns. Naval Engrecr Dixon and Ships carpenniet
went to o oSnad E Sy ohn my
Duncan. she is TAG feet long. II feet beam feet
deem and her tonnage is III Sne was nun. ~
lss The yacht Narwhal was also Inspected s Sns
Long ia feet beam II feet deep and 1917 tons
Al Bristol, r. l.. tho schooner rigged steam yacht
= a,iyweena owned by J. Nicholas Brown. OF New
nort was inspected She was built In 1898. and -
tts fect long 1874 feet beam. IS feet deep and 40
~ Eiva small Yachts. owned by y. HerreshoN
& Co. were also Inspected at Bristol
Tn. steamers Caracas and Philadelphia Of the
r. - n tine have again been offered to the Gov
ernment and they may be recommended FOR pur-
chase Tho tug Dorothy Armon VIII he rein
spected to-day . - 49,.
Rear Admiral Miller cretired) has been appointed
80 tho command OF the auxiliary cruisers and har-
hor natrol for the Pacific Coast District. He re-
CAVITY returned to San Francisco from Honolulu
=. haa henn decided by the Navy Department 10
riacn a surgeon on each OF the larger boats which
aie 70 be put In commission for harbor patrol and
onost defence and the men selected will have TO be