New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-06-24
COAL FOR KEN1PFrs wARsHIPs.
ADMIRAL BRADFORD AROUsEs THE NAVY
DEPARTMENT TO THE NECEs-
sITY FOR ACTION

washington June % (SpecaD.-Admiral Bradford
has at last succeeded IN bringing the Navy Depart
ment to realize the great Importance of supplying
American coal to the naval vessels in Chinese wa
tiers transported in naval GOLFERS rather than de-
pend the uncertain supply OF Cardiff coal which
the great fleets of the Powers assembling in
the East may consume at any moment. Most Of
the fine naval GOLFERS purchased in the with
Spain have been laid up TO fall to pieces in navy
yards the excuse being that officers and could
not be spared for them. The value of this excuse
disappeared when rush orders were given recently
sending the battleships Indiana and Massachusetts
to Join Admiral Farquhar's squadron for the Gus
tomary summer cruise to Newport and Bar tFar-
Dor and the Kearsarge and the Kentucky were
kept in active service, Notwithstanding the fact
that overworked officers and men were constantly
being invalided home from Manila.
For nearly a year therefore. Admiral Bradford
has been compelled to supply coal TO the large
Asiatic station by means OF chartered fleet OF
American sailing vessels, distributing II TO Guam
and the various ships stationed at outlying Islands
by means of the golfers Nanshan and Brutus,
which had to be retained in commission for that
purpose
To-day. at the earnest insistence of Admiral
Bradford the Navy Department took steps to pre-
vent the possible paralyZing Of Admiral kempr s
ships by coal famine in Chinese waters, which IS
more than apt to occur If extended naval opera
items are required. orders sent to Admiral
Barker commanding the Norfolk Navy Yard to
At for service with dispatch the Golfers Saturn
Alexander and Hannibal. At the same time the
orders TO the finest of the naval golfers the Cesar
to proceed 10 San Juan. Porto Rico. were suspend
ed and that vessel will probably start for Manila
via the Mediterranean next week. The Caesar has
been the station collier at San Juan but re-
Gently brought North for overhauling, and IS now
loading coal at Lamberts Point Va. She carries
four thousand tons in her bunkers. and can make
the run to Manila in fifty days. burning about ten
tons a day. It is proposed TO let the Hannibal.
which has a capacity OF twenty-five hundred tons
OF coal, take the CfPsar's place at San Juan. The
Alexander and the Saturn, which carry respectively
four thousand and three thousand tons, viii
doubtedly load at Lambert's Point ard start for
Manila early next month unless the Chinese crisis
wholly subsidies before that time-a contingency
when Is now Iegar1su as h ti mp, 4DipdG u7
fords foresight will have nearly fifty thousand
tons of the best American steaming coal at Cavte
had twenty thousand tons IN It, and since then
der is now due there. When the fea< is not busy
II burns about ten tnouSa4d IONS nlo,.rr, ouO
doubled 1t is therefore deemed safe not to let the
tons Recently Admiral Bradford who closely
watches the coal situation, has found the prices
the price last monJn was 80 a ton. To-day 1t is
nearly SIG in gold. At the same time. the charter
rate of transportation from the American coast has
cOrrespondinEly increased, and now ships are IN
obtainable at any reasonable figure Under the
circumstances the United States is driven to using
The Navy department has also been urged by
Admiral Bradford TO send thu ATethusa TO Manila.
pacity. and can take out four thousand tons OF
stores in her fresh water tanks. Good water Is
about the rarest necessity IN the East and IN
China il is almost unObtainable. The Iris, which
is now due at Taku from Manila. is another naval
distlng ship with about sufficient capacity 70
keep Admiral Kempff's ships supplied with drink
ing water furnish It sparingly ashore TO the
garrisons of the Taku forts. but she is wholly
equal to supplying even the American vessels with
fresh water for steaming purposes. The Arethusa
is laid up at League Island but could start for
China in week II IS notable that none G OF the
distilug ships As in the case Of ambulance ships
and "A machine shop ship. these special and indls-
pensa bic auxiiarias to modern navies are American
innovato growing ont of the with Spain.
The United States alone also maintains two
frigerator ships, both Of them plying steadily be-
tween Australia and the Philippine-China station
with fresh meats vegetables and acid fruits.