The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-07-14
OUR PHILIPPINES FLEET.
BIG INCREASE THROUGH PURCHASE
AND CAPTURE FROM SPAIN.

Tho Thirteen Small Vessels Gen. Otis BouRhs
and the Nine Captured by Dewey Are Now
In Serviceable Conditi on--Three Tuga and
"A Steam Barge Also Added to tho Fleet.
WAsHrNGroS. July 13.-The Navy DEPART
ment has obtained by telegraph from Manila
a complete list OF the Spanish vessels pur-
chased by Major Gen. Otis from the Span ish
Government and turned over to the navy.
With the addition Of those vessels. all Of which
draw little water. Rear Admiral Watson will
have sufficient number OF light-draught
craft to police the Philippine aroh pelago and
to orerate against the insurgents In the
numerous lagoons and rivers OF the island OF
LuZon. As early as last December Admiral
Dewey requested the NAVY Department to
send him u mum Dor OF light Runboats.
month later the Admiral cabed an urgent
request for vessels OF that character. but the
DEPARTMENT was unable to send him more than
half dozen. As the Admiral continued to
iniportune the department on the subject. 1t
was decided to nt up some of the converted
yachts used in the war with Spain, but on the
advice of the Chief Constructor this determine
ton was abandoned. the Chief Constructor
holding that it would be dangerous to risk such
small frail craft on n voyage Of 10000 miles.
After the battle of Manila Bay. all the Span
ish gunhoats that have been engaged In po-
Icing the Philippines concentrated at Iamb
ango in the island of Mindanao and remained
there until recently when they:were bought
for the United States Ivy Gen. Otis Just prior
to their departure from Xambolngo for Manila
these EunhOats were raided by insurgents.
who took from them number of guns, which
were used against.the Spanish garrison de-
Tending that place. Otherwise, however. the
vessels were loft untouched. and Gen. Otis has
cablei that half dozen Of them were in ex-
cellen. condition for service when delivered at
Manila.
According to the telegrhphc report received at
the Navy Derartm ent the vessels purchased are
thirteen i'll number twelve gunboats and one
torpedo boat. The gunboats are the Calamianes.
mar Abav Sianiiepo, Tanay yasco rdaneta
aud Guardouul. Tho torpedo boa. Is the Bar
G s2i In addition to these the feet in the
retrelita, the steam l lam, Iona and the
il servicenble condition. captured by Dewey.
the ilset in the Phii!p1ines Is sufficiently large
are the bon. Juan 81 Austria the Isla de Cuba.
the Isla de luzon. the Manila, FL Gnno, Cailao.
sye Mindor2 ard MinIahao Mof, o Of thsse
Cuba and the Iuion have been repaired and
put in ilrst-cIass condition at Hong Ken and nd
that Fl Cano also al Hong Kong, will be ready
this mouth for receiving her armisme"t
are: the sister ships l,4lusan, Pampanea.
rnraGua and samar They are steel gun
9H Of sts .e oSs 6r a
displacement, is credited with a snesd OF 10
knots ana has single Grew; The armament
tora nreech loading rifle. one ,. inch Hon
tnria brcecl! loader and two machine guns
structed of steel. the others being Of wood or
iron. Tho largest Of these new American
E ' o is "s As ABBA SIS Is tons H sS 1 Tss
one a.:!.inch Hontoria hresch loader. 3ns
guns This vessel was re"ently engaged IL
OPERATIONS against the insurgents IN the island
Of I;u2on. The, vasco and l,rdaneta arc tiny
ha s s.: @y n Eni snG ffSs
arc strn,,eL o. ironsanl each has Q single
Zach Las I. Tatterv Of one 2.''-ipch IIontoria
The Oldest Of the pMrchased gunbodts ia
the Nauilvno. built in 1871 She has wooden
! KNOBS sreed III places AZ tons. and is armed
with three 3..,-inch liontori in breech, Loading
is 70 o iron has W. crews. is 81 teet inches
! long q feet q inches mean drauEht and dis;
places, ~ tons. Her armament consists s o.
ina brceoh loading rifle and two machine
| guns. The Mnry"los is sister OF ne Min a,
| 1886 Her hull Is Of IRON, She is ~ feet q
| inches long. draws = feet - inches mean. has II
! ijspiarcmcnt of | - tous and driven 10 knots
! an hou, hy i eiuele screw. Her battery con.
! sists OF on" 2.I-iu"h Hontnria hrcech loader
aud four machine gum, The ianay. bum in
! 10 tons aud she has twin screws. which give
! her a speed + 10 knots only one gun Ia 30
, inch IFonturia hreprh- loader. Comprises her
| battery The Guurdnlui, built in 1891. Is an
ron gulb ATS feet long. > feet ) inches mean
/ driuEEt. | tons displacement ana makes
! Knots with her single screw. She has one , q.
| inch Iolturia brHerh,oader and one machine
| gun. -,
| he changed Admiral Watson has not nOti
| 1cd.th department of the names Of the,oiilcer'
assigned to command them.