The age-herald., 1898-03-11
ACTIVE PREPARATIONS
A Conference to Lay Plans For Equipping
 Merchant Vessels.

Washington, March 10.-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 department is pro- ceeding with all of the circumspection con- sistent with the needs of the case in look ing after the qualities and prices of the craft. There is strong disposition to re- frain from being drawn into bad bargains and to insist on getting good vessels at prices not extortionate. Secretary Long was in receipt of a large number Of caDle- grams today almost all relating to offers of ships. Lieutenant Niblack, the United States naval attache at Berlin, St. Peters burg and Vienna, is particularly active Tn the quest for vessels.
 While looking after new ships the o1i1- cials of the navy department are not neg lecting the old vessels, and arrangements have been made to make short repairs on several ships that in the ordinary course would not be treated in that fashion, but would receive a thorough and time-con- suming overhauling. Thus, in the case or the Philadelphia, 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 forty 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 a craft as to make 1t desirable to divert to her repair attention required elsewhere.
 Almost New Ship.
 At Norfolk, the Newark is set down for thirty days repairs and as good deal of work has already been done on her she will be almost a new ship when she comes out of the yard. The big monitor Puritan has practically completed her repairs. The monitor Comanche at Mare Island has been examined and found in tolerable good condition.
 At League Island, the monitor Manton- omoh and the ram Katahdin went into commission today, although they have not yet had their orders. They probably will remain in the Delaware river or drop down into the bay The torpedo boat Bu- pont sailed today from Mobile to attach herself again to the fiotlla at Key West. Again it was said at the navy department that nothing had been heard from the court of inquiry at Havana, nor from Ad- mral Sicard at Key West.
 Commander Hawley left Washington this evening for the south with Chief Engineer Webster and Surgeon Pearsons to enlist machinists for the navy. During the day the board changed its plans and nnaHy started directly for New Orleans. IL mas been informed that there are a numper or good men to be had on the coast, and Commander Hawley will open temporary recruiting offices in the gulf cities as he goes along, just as was done by him in the west last summer.
 To Equip Merchant Vessels
 A conference was held at 3 o'clock in the office of Assistant Secretary Roosevelt to map out plans for arming and equlpp1ng merchant vessels as auxiliary cruisers MT Roosevelt presided, and others present were Capt Crowninshield of the bureau of navl-
 tl,N ltYrn nf Y d. nance Chief Hichborn of the bureau of construction and Commander Bradford of the bureau of yards and docks. This meet ing had been preceded by call from PreSi- dent Griscom of the Interna tional Naviga- tion company, which owns the four ships St. Louis, St. Paul, Paris and New York The board meeting brought out general discussion of the work the various bureaus would be called upon to perform in mak- ing these and other vessels ready as aux Hilary cruisers. About 95 per cent. of this work would fall to the lot of the bureau Of construction, which would have charge Of installing magazines, gun mounts, light protective armor for the guns and maga- zines and the circles on which the guns swing. This work, it is said, could be &C., complished readily within two weeks time, as all the materials except the guns are on hand. The bureau of ordnance <ould not supply all the guns required within that short time, although some seventy or more are now available.
 The supply would be adequate, however, for the most effective auxiliary cruisers, and the complete armament of the mer- chant ship could proceed as rapidly as pos sible thereafter.
 The proposed batteries for the auxiliary cruisers consist in the case of the steam ships St. Louis and St. Paul, of eight G. inch guns, four 6-pounders and four ma chine guns; ane New York and Paris, twelve 6-inch, six 6-pounders and six ma chine guns It is designed to give vessels of the Caracas and Seneca type main battery of eight finch guns and from six to eight rapid-fire machine guns. Those of the VigHancia class are designed to have main battery of six 5-inch and four 4-inch guns, four 1-pounders and three ma- chine guns. The batteries of the auxiliary cruisers on the Pacific coast are substan- tially similar, 6-inch guns being the larg- est ones designed for use in that service.
 The navy department finds itself in com- paratively good condition as to the supply of automobile torpedoes, which constitute one of the most deadly engines of naval destruction. The Whitehead torpedo is now in general use, although few of the Howell class are still on hand. Fifty of the Whitehead torpedoes were secured short time ago, and with them there is total of about $50 on hand This gives not only full outfit for vessels now in com mission, but also the necessary reserve supply.