The Topeka state journal., 1899-09-25
SEVERAL MILLION DOLLARS
Will Be Spent to Reft the Vessels of
DeWeY's Fleet.

New York, Sept. 25.-A special to the
Herald from Washington says:
It is already apparent to naval ex-
perts that the government will have to
spend several million dollars in ref1t-
ting for active service the vessels
which comprised Admiral Dewey's fleet
when 1t destroyed Spain'S naval pow
er in the far east.
Secretary Long has approved the
making of repairs to the Raleigh which
will cost approximately $500 600 The
report of the board of survey which
inspected the cruiser Boston lately re-
turned to the United States and now
out of commission at Mare Island,
SHOWS that another $500 0000 will have
to be spent upon that vessel in order
to put her into condition for recon-
mission Reports received at the de-
partment regarding the condition of the
cruiser Olympia show that she will
have to be laid up for some time, and
naval experts estimate that before she
is again in service she will have cost
repair.
There are three vessels still on the
Asiatic station which were under Ad-
miral Dewey's command when he
fought the battle of Manila Bay-the
Baltimore and the gunboats Concord
and Petrol. The Baltimore was only
placed in commission during the winter
of 1898 and will probably not come
. home until 1901.
The Concord and the Petrol are need
ed for service in blockading the island
OF LuzOn- They were both thoroughly
Overhauled in 1896, and upon compile
tiOn were sent to the Asiattc station.
Their cruise in the far east will cease
next year, provided the situation in the
Philippines is such as to permit their
return home, though by that time it
may be decided to refit them in the east
and keep them permanently on the As
iatic station.
The reSairs to the Boston will be
thorough and when completed she will
; plated will cause her reconstruction. as
IN the case of her sister ship the At
lanta. She will be equipped with water
tube boilers and be supplied with a new
battery of the latest eight-inch and six
inch guns.
1t is understood that before final &C
tion is taken in the matter of the Bos-
tons repairs Rear Admiral HichbOrn
will bring the report OF the board of
survey to the attention of the board of
construction. The board of survey es-
Inmates that a years time will be nee
essary to reconstruct the Boston, but it
is the belief of department officials that
two years will have passed before she
is again ready for service. When the
Olympia arrives in port a board of sur
vey viii be appointed and its report con-
sidered by the department
Brigadier General Charles Haywood,
cOmmandant of the marine corps, is in
favor of strengthening the marine force
at Cavite by a another battalion of his
corps. The matter has not yet been Of
hctally approved by the department,
but it is possible that the marines will
be ordered especially in view of the in
tention of Gen. Otis to let the navy
have full swing in the province of ca
vite-
It is further pointed out that Admiral
Watson has depleted the force neces-
sary for operations in this province by
sending a strong detachment to garri-
son Subig Bay and it is deemed advisa-
bic to fill their places at Cavite by al
ditiOnal men.
Great deeds are expected of the ma
rines. Gen. Haywood has carefully Sc
1ected the men sent. OF the two bat
taIions at Cavite, or on the way, nearly
$50 men are sharp-shOoters of the first
class. and it is expected that they will
do effective work when they begin op-
eratiOns in the fall
Measures have been initiated by Rear
. Admiral Bradford, chief of the bureau
of equipment, to establish strong ma
val station at Pearl Harbor. Hawaii.