The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-15
AUXILIARY CRUISERS.
Naval Board Inspecting Vessels in
New York HarbOr.


NEW YORK, March lathe board of
auxiliary cruisers of the United States
navy, which was appointed to acquire ships
of the merchant marine for use in the event
of the breaking out of war, organized here
to-day with the selection of Capt. Frederick
Rogers of the naval board of inspection
and survey, as president; Lieutenant San
gent, recorder of the board of inspection as
secretary, and Lieutenant Commander KEEL
ly as adviser. 1t was announced that all
meetings of the board will be secret.
A member of the board said to-day that
it had power to pre-empt any vessel that
had been constructed under the subsidy act
of Congress and was engaged in carrying
mails. All vessels will be carefully exam
ined and no worn-out hulks accepted I'VE
can easily secure a fine fleet on both
coasts said this gentleman, from ocean
going tugs to fleet liners, like the vessels
of the American line
The board inspected the st. Louis and the
New York, of the American line, this after
noon. The visit to the st. Louis was a
short one. The steamship was constructed
under the supervision of naval experts and
all of the officers composing the board were
familiar with the plan of the vessel. The
New York was next visited. She was con-
structed when the company sailed its ships
under the British flag. The New York was
in the reserve Of the British Admiralty and
was built under the supervision of English
officers. The inspection of all vessels on
which the government has options by
reason of the subsidy act will be proceeded
with rapidly as possible Captain Rodg-
erS has very positive instructions to make
thorough inspections and immediate report.
He has been directed to examine all steam
ships available for auxiliary cruisers and
transports, fast tugs for use as rams and
steam yachts that could be quickly trans
ferred into serviceable torpedo boats. He
has also been instructed to telegraph his
recommendations to the secretary of the
navy, so that action may be taken without
unnecessary delay. 1t was said by a men,
Der of the board this morning that the de-
partment'S orders were hurry up orders
and that tho work of the board would be
completed as eXpeditiously as possible. How
soon that will be he could not tell. Pos
sibly," he said, I'VE shall be through in
three days.
Another member OF the board said: "Just
as soon as our mission here had been an
nounced, we began to receive offers from
the steamship companies. The owners of
all the available American steamships in
the harbor, l believe 1 am safe in saying,
have placed their vessels at our disposal.
Merchant vessels, tugs and yachts are in
cluded in this. We have had a particularly
large number of yachts offered to us, and
we will, no doubt, enter into negotiations
for a number of these"
Clement A Griscom, president Of the In
ternational Navigation Company, owners
of the American line, was in consultation
with the board this morning with reference
to the st. Louis. What the result of that
consultation was could not be learned 1t
was said by a member of the board that
nothing had been decided. The ST. Louis is
still advertised to sail on Wednesday, but
it was admitted by an official of the COM
pany this morning that he did not know
whether or not she would. Lieutenant Com
mander Kelly declined to say that the
steamer would be held in this port