The evening times., 1898-05-06
ATLANTIC COAST PATROL
Cruisers Skirt Shsres and Mon
itors Guard Harbors.
WATCHING FOR SPANS SHIPS
The Ran Katahdin Prepares to Sail
From Doston-The Catskill nj
GlOucester-Americ Navy Needs
Money for Present Usc-Guns Are
Wanted for Auxiliary Craisers.


Boston. May 6.-The ram Katahdin is
still at the Boston docks. and will not
leave before tomorrow, She is filing
her bunkers with coal. and has recruited
her complement of men. When she sails
it is thought she will go back to Prov
incetown.
The cruiser Columbia arrived at Prov
incetown at rs minutes after 2 O'Clock
yesterday afternoon. It Is said she came
to join Commodore Howelrs fleet Of
scouts. The San Francisco Is still at
that port, and the -salutes In honor Of the
Columbia started the story in town thar
Spanish vessels had attacked us. Flag
Lieut.. Knapp. who was detached from
the Topeka. has Joined the San Francisco.
The monitor Catskiii. which is manned
by detail of the Massachusetts, Naval
Brigade. will remain at Gloucester. in
stead of coming to Boston for repairs
A new steel superstructure will be built.
and a full complement of men will be
placed aboard this week. Four 6-pouna
rapid-fire guns for the Catskili have ar
rived at Gloucester, and will be mounted
at once.
The monitor Iehigh arrived at the
Boston navy yard yesterday. and anchor
ed near the receiving ship Wabash. The
tug Clara Clarita. of Gloucester. had the
monitor in tow. No stop was made until
Newport was reached. She took refuge
in Vineyard Haven during the storm.
leaving there at 3:30 o'clock yesterday
morning. Heavy seas damaged the plank
ing considerably. and a new deck will
have to be put on. The men speak in the
highest terms of her seagoing qualities.
The Minneapolis, when last reported.
was patrolling the coast of Maine.
The Lancaster is being coaled and stor-
ed and will be ready for sea in a few
days. The name of her commander has
not yet been announced. but by the time
he arrives the vessel will be ready TO so
into commission and start for Key West.
where 1t Is understood she will be used
as hospital ship. More men were put
at work on her this morning.
Four 6-pound guns for the Lebanon
have arrived. and are now on board. The
ammunition is expected soon. and the
magazines in which 1t Is to be stored
are practically completed. The Lebanon,
by the way. Is considered the finest coll
ier owned by the Government. She is
very fast and of unexcelled workman
ship.
Needs of the Navy.
President Mckinley will be requested
by Secretary Long within a few days to
make Immediately available some of the
items of the naval appropriation bill.
Having received the approval of the
| President the bill is now a law. and 1t
contains a clause authorizing the Chief
Executive to make any or all of its pro-
visions Immediately operative. The au-
| thority given by this clause will be in
| voked by several bureau chiefs who are
| desirous Of securing money to continue
their work of preparing the men-of-Har
to engage in battle.
Perhaps the most important appropria-
tion whose employment will be sought is
that of $250.OO0 for the purchase or manu-
facture of guns for auxiliary cruisers.
Capt. Charles O'Neil. Chief of the Bureau
of Ordnance. estimated that at least $780,
| 900 should be appropriated. but this sum
was cut down by the House Naval Com
mittee. AS soon as the money has been
placed at his disposal Capt. O'Neii will
enter into contracts for guns for sec
ondary batteries and for castings for guns
up to six inches in caliber.
Capt O'Neil will also urge the Presi-
dent to permit him to contract for caps
for armor-piercing shells TO the extent of
$4,000. Twenty-Five thousand dollars are
appropriated for the conversion of 6-inch
breech-loading guns into rapid firers, and
Capt. O'Neil will ask for this sum.
Captain ONeil, I'm conjunction with
Chief Naval Constructor Hichborn and
Engineer-in-Chief Melville, will request
that several hundred thousand dollars
appropriated for the completion of the
Chicago and Atlanta and the purchase
and installation of their batteries shall be
placed at their disposal without delay.
in order that these cruisers may be fin
ished and placed in service as soon as
possible.
The Law contains an appropriation of
81 900 for smokeiess powder. Captain
ONeil placed contracts with money given
him from the national defense fund for
as much of this explosive can be turned
out, and he believes II will be useless to
attempt to place any further contracts
at present.
There is some talk of buying smokeless
powder abroad. Notwithstanding the
neutrality of Europe there are firms
which have announced to the department
their willingness to sell goods and bring
them to the United States. payment to
be made upon delivery. Great Britain
manufactures a smokeless powder known
as cordite. and on account of its dam
gerous character 1t is doubtful il 1t will
be purchased.
Taking advantage Of the authority con-
ferred upon him by the law. Secretary
Long has determined to appoint Lieuten-
ant F. F. Fistcher. an ordnance expert,
assistant chief of the Bureau of Ord
nance. The lieutenant is now on duty
as an assistant to Captain O'Neil He
has made speciality Of ordnance work
for many years. is an inventor of type
Of breech mechanism, now in use in the
service, and has also had much to do
with turret mechanisms and ammunition
hoists.
EnRamNR and Efp~-AH