The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1898-03-11
NO SHIPS
PURCHASED
Government Will Act Cautiously in
Acquiring War Vessels.
EXAMINING MERCHANT MARINE !
witdin Two Weeks the American Liners
Could be Transformed Into Formid-
able Monsters of the Deep.
Whaleback Steamers
as Cruisers.

Washington, March 1.-THE United
States government has not yet acquired
a single additional ship for the navy.
This is true not because of lack of
offers of warships from abroad, but
simply for the reason that the navy de-
partment is proceeding with all of the
circumspection consistent with the
needs of the case in looking after the
qualities and prices of the craft. There
is a strong disposition to refrain from
being drawn into bad bargains and to
insist on getting good vessels at prices
not extortionate. Secretary Long was
in receipt of large number of cable
grams yesterday, almost all relating to
offers of ships. Lieutenant Niblack, the
United States naval attache at Berlin,
ST. Petersburg and Vienna, is particu-
larly active in the quest for vessels.
There was a good deal of talk during
the day about the assignment of Of
1icers to the command of auxiliary
cruisers, the St. Paul and st. Louis
being specially mentioned, but Secre-
tary Long set these stories at rest by
the statement that he had not made
any such assignments, and had only
progressed to the point of informing
himself of the possibility of getting the
ships ofTicered and manned quickly.
While looking after new ships the
officials of the navy department are not
neglecting the old vessels, and arrange
ments have been made to make short
repairs on several ships that in the
ordinary course would not be treated
Go q
thorough and time consuming over
hauling. Thus, in the case of the Phil
adelphia, which has had five years
hard work and has never yet been done
over, as Is the custom, orders have
gone to Mare Island to put her in shape
for sea within 40 days. The Yorktown,
at the same yard, is not to be touched
at present, not only because she Is in
fair condition, but also because she is
not so formidable craft as to make 1t
desirable to divert to her repair atten-
tion required elsewhere.
AT Norfolk the Newark is set down
for 80 days repairs, and as a good deal
of work has already been done on her
she will be almost new ship when
she comes out of the yard. The big
monitor Puritan has practically COM
pleted her repairs. The monitor Co
manche, at Mare Island, has been ex-
amined and found in tolerable condi-
ton. At League Island the monitor
MiantonomOh and the ram Katahdin
went into commission yesterday, al
though they have not yet had their
orders. The torpedo boat Dupont sail
ed yesterday from Mobile to attach her
self again to the flotilla at Key West.
The presence in the city of several per-
sons connected with steamship lines and
steel works led to the circulation of a
number of sensational stories during
the day, but perhaps none of these had
the persistency of one that found cur
rency at the Capitol until It met with
summary denial at the hands of As
sistant Secretary Day. This rumor was
to the effect that Minister Woodford
had notified the Spanish government
that the president intended to send to
congress a message announcing the
recognition of Cuban independence.
A conference was held at o'clock IN
the office of Assistant Secretary Roose-
welt to map out plans for arming and
equipping merchant vessels as auxil-
larry cruisers. Mr.. Roosevelt presided
and others present were Captain Crown
inshield, of the bureau OF navigation;
Captain O'Neill, of the bureau of ord
nance; Chief Hichborn, of the bureau
of construction, and Commander Brad
ford, of the bureau of yards and docks
| This meeting had been preceded by 6
call from President Griscom, of the In.
ternational Navigation company, which
owns the four ships st. Louis, st. Paul
Paris and New York. The board meet
ing brought out a general discussion Of
the work the various bureaus would bC
| called upon to perform in making these
and other vessels ready as auxiliary
cruisers.
This work, 1t is said, could be ac.
complished ready within two weeks
| time, as all material except the guns
are in hand. The bureau of ordnance
could not supply all the guns required
within that short time, although some
| 20 or more are now available. The
supply would be adequate, however. FOL
| the most effective auxiliary cruisers
| and the complete armament of the
! merchant ships could proceed as rap.
| idly as possible thereafter.
On the question of manning the
auxiliary feet the navy department
feels that the most effective step would
be to enlist into the United State!
naval service the present merchan
crews of the several ships. The ships
would be officered from the line of tn,
! regular navy
The naval appropriation bill has beer
practically completed by the hous,
committee on naval affairs, save as t
the questions of increases in the navy
dry docks and armor plate. Chairman
Boutelle stated today that he nigh
report the bill TO the house by tomor
row, and If not 1t will go in early mex
week. The bill involves in the neigh
borhood of $3O,OOOOOO, aside from new
vessels, dry docks and armor. The in
ereases allowed are such as meet tn
gradual development of the service
The general item for construction an
repair just passed on aggregates so 500,
O0O This includes about $370,0 70
improved machinery at the shops TIL
amount also is exclusive of the specif
appropriations to the various construc
ton plants, etc. There is also a hori
zontal appropriation proposed Of $50, 90
to each of the yards, except to tn
Puget Sound station, in lieu Of the gen
eral estimate of 100000. The estimate
for the Naval academy at Annapoli
go through practically unchanged au
thorizing among other things the muc