The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-03-11

4nc Yorktown, AZ the same yard. ~
ncs 10 be touched az present not only
because she IL In fair condition but also
b<cause she II not so formidable craft
A. 10 make Il desirable to avert 10 her
v.nhir attention required elsewhere.
a, xorfolk the Newark II set down for
thirtv DAYS repairs. and as a 8. od deal
- xrork has already been done on her.
cha will be almost new snip "hch shv
comes out OF the yard.
THO big monitor Powhaian has prac-
s,cslly completed her repairs.
The monitor Comanche. at Mare Island
has been put into tolerable condition.
Al League Island the monitor MAN
y ,onomah went into commission to-g aN'
.,fbough she has not yet had her ORDERS.
On. will pro.s bly, remain in the Dela-
care river or drop into the nay.
The torpedo boat Dupont sailed to-day
~rono Mobile 10 attach herself again 10
mo notilla at Key West
-'' COURT or INQUIRY.
Again r. was said at the Navy DEPART
rnsnt that nothing had been heard from
Tho Court OF Inquiry az Havana nor from
Admiral sicard az Key West
r-,o nresencc IN the city or several per-
ANS connected with steamship ines ana
steeI works led 10 the circulation o.
number OF sensational stories during t'e
dav. but perhaps none OF them hdo 'he
persistcncy OF one thal i""h" '"'+ '''t
~ the Capitol until 81 met summary
denial al the -iands of Assis'an' Score
,arv Dav. 10 the effect that Mn ster
woodford had notified the Spanish GOV
>rnmenf that the President intended 60
.end tn Congress "a message announcing
his recognition Of Cuban indepedence
Commander Hawiey left Washington
This evening for the South with chi I
r-ugineer Webster and Surgeon Persons
,,..hfpfaf1 the
AUXILIARY CRUISERS.
conference was held at 3 O'Clock in
the office of Assistant Secretary Roose-
veIt TO map out plans for arming ana
couipping merchant vessels as auxiliary
cruisers. Mr. Roosevelt presided. and
others present were Captain Crownin-
shield of the Bureau Of Navigation:
Captain O'Neil. of the Bureau Of ord
nance: CHIEF Hichborn OF the Bureau Of
Construction. and Commander Bradford
of the Bureau Of Yards and Docks. This
meeting had been preceded by call from
President Griscom OF the international
Navigation Company. which owns the
four ships. st. Louis, 81. Paul, Paris ana
New York.
The meeting brought out general dis
cusson of the work the various bureaus
would be called upon to perform in max
ing these vessels ready as auxiliary
cruisers Most of this work would fan
TO the lot OF the Bureau Of Construction.
which would be in charge Of in
stalling magazines. gun mounts, light
protective armOr for the guns and maya
zines and the circles on which the guns
swing This work. 10 rs said, could be
accomplished readily within two weeks
time. as all materials. except the guns,
are In hand.
The Bureau of Ordnance could not sup
ply all the guns required within the stOrt
time. although seventy or more are now
available. The supply would be ade-
quate. however, for the most effective
auxiliary cruisers. and the complete arm
anant of the merchant ships could pro-
coed as rapidly as possible thereafter
on the question Of manning the auNil-
iary fleet the Navy Department feels the
most effective step would be 10 enlist In
TO the United States naval service the
present merchant crews OF the several
ships These crews are thoroughly IA
,nfiiar with the vessels and could handle
them with far greater effect than green
crews of blue Jackets The ships would
be differed from the line of the regular
navy. IN the case of enlsting mer-
chant crew the pay and all emouments
would be about equal 10 the rates paid
ordinary sailors and the tim of enlist
,nent doubtless would be limited TO short
periods.
TIE BATTERIES.
The proposed batteries for the auXil-
iary cruisers consist in the case of the
steamships ST. Louis and ST. PAU OF
eight 6-inch guns. four 6-pounder. ana
four machine guns for the Paris and
New York. twelve G-inch. six 6pounders
and six machine guns. 10 is designed 10
give vessels of the Caracas and Seneca
type A main battery of eight i-inch guns
and from six TO eight rapid fire machine
guns Those of the Vigilance class are
designed 20 have "A main battery of six
b-inch and four finch guns. four l.
Founders and three machine guns. The
batteries of the auxiliary cruisers on the
Pacific coast. II these should be call ID
into use are substantially similar, 6-inch
guns being the largest ones designed for
use IN that service.
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 construction. The Whitehead
torpedo is now in general use. although
"A few Of the Howell class are still OF
hand Fifty of the Whitehead torpedoes
We're secured short time ago and with
these there Is total of about $50 on
hand. This gives not only "A full outfit
for vessels now la commission, but also
the necessary reserve supply
MINISTER ARRIVES
The new Spanish Minister. Senior Polo
v Bernabe. arrived here early to-day. He
was met at the station by Senior Du Bose,
the Spanish charge. and other Spanish
officials. who gave him cordial welcome
and escorted him TO the legation. Later
Senior Du Bose called at the. State De
partment and arranged 10 present Senior
Polo at 1i:l5 O'Clock tomorrow morning.
1t Is realized at the State Department
that the lot of American consus in Cuba
~ very hard one; IL has been difficult
for many months. and Is no better now,
still the department Is gratihed at the
manner In which these officers have dis
charged their duties and remained by
their posts. So far as can be learned al
the State Department, none of them
have resigned. and stories 10 the contrary
probably found their origin in the fact
that one consul, whose health had been
run down. has applied for leave OF
absence. which viii be granted to him.