New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-02
WORK AT LEAGUE ISLAND NAVY YARD

wARsH1Ps BEING RAPIDLY MADE READY FOR
SEA
Philadelphia. March 1.-The work Of preparing
the war vessels now at League Island for sea is
proceeding rapidly. naval Officer said to-day
tha. the only one to so into commission immee-
ately Is the monitor Miantonomoh. and a large
number OF men have been working on her confirm
DUSTY With the exception OF receiving her coal.
she Is almost ready for sea. Steam raised in
her boilers to-day in order to test her engines
which found to be in good working order At
present she has only skeleton crew on board. and
q fall complement OF men is expected tomorrow
from Norfolk New-York and Boston.
Work the Katahdin is also nearly COM
ple,ed. She finished coaling to-day
The coaling Of the cruiser Minneapolis, which
was started yesterday, was continued to-day, and
will not be completed for day or two.
The cruiser Columbia. which has been lying in
the back channel at League Island for some
months was brought out OF her berth to-day and
lowed Up the Delaware River TO the League Island
drydock She TO have been docked to-day, but
It was found that the tide too low 10 permit
her safely. She will go in at high tide to-
morrow morning Her bottom will be cleaned and
painted and some minor repairs will be made
The Miantonomoh is a formidable dou0le-turreted
monitor carrying four 10-inch guns. She is OF
$500 tons displacement. and steams ten and half
knots an hour. In addition TO her main battery.
she carries good secondary battery of rapid-fre
guns and her turrets are clad with 1Itanch
arn1or.
The Ka:ahiin otherwise known the Ammen
ram is freak in naval architecture. and al
though opinions are divided her qualities.
there is little doubt that her in any harbor
would make enemy anxious. She lies mostly
under water with a turteback OF steel varying In
thickness from two and half TO six inches. and
the theory OF her designer Admiral Ammen.
that this armor could not be struck directly by
shot and that shot would be harmessly detected
b. the sloping steel deck In action the coming
tower and srlokesiack nearly all that would
present a mark The former Is made Of steel is
Inches thick. The Katahd.n is pure and
simple having weapons OF offence nothing
cept her sharp steel beak and few small rapid
fire guns 10 Keep of boarders or torpedo-b
high mark but she did not realize expectat tons
OWING 10 her peculiar obstructive underwater
model.
The vessels have respectively Of $50
and ninety men.
Washington. March 1-Orders were sent from the
Navy Department late this afternoon TO put the
Miartononoh and the Katahdin In commission on
March 10. 1t is said ut the Department that the
purpose is 10 make berths for the survivors Of the
Maine.
WHY THE MAINE WAS TIED TO A BUOY.
HAVANA HARDoR TOO FOUL FOR A SHIP TO AN
CHOIR
Washington. March lit was learned a, tho
Navy Department to-day why the Mama was tied
up TO buoy in Havana Harbor instead 81 an
choring. fact that has been the basis ~ anna
OF the theories as 10 the OF the disaster 7,
Is ssH that not only Is man-of-war at a buov
In much better place for quick service than when
anchor in Havana Harbor so foul and noiiu,e ed
with yellow fever and other disease germs is the