The record-union., 1899-09-25
SEVERAL MILLIONS.
Government Will Have to Spend
Them ON Dewey,s Ships.


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 refit-
ting for active service the vessels which
composed Admiral Dewey's fleet when
it destroyed SPANS naval power in the
Far East
Secretary Long has approved the
making of repairs to the cruiser Raj
eigh. which will cost approximately
S500,0O0. The report of the Board of
Survey which inspected the cruiser
Boston, lately returned to the United
States, and now out of commission at
Mare Island, shows that another $780,,
0OO will have to be spent upon that ves-
sci IN order to put her into condition
for recommission. Reports received at
the department 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 the Government not less than
S000,00O to repair.
There are three vessels still on the
Asiatie station which We're 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 win
ter of 1898 and will probably not come
home until 1901.
The Concord and Petrol are needed
Tor service in blockading the island Of
Luzon. They were both thoroughly
overhauled in 1896, and upon compile
ton were sent to the Asiatic station
Their cruise in the Far East will cease
next year, provided the situation in the
Phllpplnes is such as to permit thair
return home, though by that time it
may be decided to refit them in the
East and keep them permanently on
the Asiatic station
The repairs to. the Boston will be
thorough, and when completed she will
be modern ship. The repairs con.
lenDlated will cause her reconstruc-
tlon, as IN the case of her sister ship,
the Atlanta. She will be equipped
with water tube boilers and be sup
phed With new battery of the latest
S-inch and 6-inch guns.
1t is understood that before final ac-
ton is taken in the matter of the Bos-
tons repairs Rear Admiral Hichborn
viii bring the report of the Board OF
Survey to the attention of the Board
of Construction. The Board of Sur
vey estimates that a years time will
be necessary to reconstruct the Boston,
but 1t is the belief Of department OIL
Gals that two years will have passed
before she is again ready for service.
When the Olympia arrives in port a
Board of Survey will be appointed and
its report considered by The department.
Brlgadier-General Charles Heywood.
commandant of the marine corps, is in
faVor OF Strengthening the marine force
at Cayite by another battalion of his
corps The matter has not yet been
officially approved by the department,
but 1t is possible that the marines will
be ordered, especially in view of the
intention of General Otis to let the
navy have full swing in the province of
Cavite
1t is further pointed ort that Admiral
Watson has depleted the force neces-
sary for operations in this province by
sending strong detachment to garri
son Subig Bay, and it is deemed ad-
Vlsabie to fill their places at Cavite by
additional men.
Great deeds are expected of the ma
rlnes. General Haywood has carefully
selected the men sent Of the two bat
tailons at Cayite, or on the way, nearly
35O men are sharpshooters of the first
class, and 1t is expected THAI they will
do effective work when they begin ope-
rations in the fall
Measures have been Initiated by
Rear Admiral Bradford, chief OF the
Bureau of Equipment, to establish a
strong naval station at Pearl Harhor,
Hawaii.