Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1905-05-18
Maryland Goes on Shaking
Down" Ocean Run.
MEN FOR NAVY ARE SCARCE
Report Says That Auxiliary Cruiser
Prairie Is to Be Put Out of Commits
sion to Supply RlueIackets For New
vessels-Naval Notes.

nc ne" ohilSu dIiHoleu
cruiser Maryland, which was commits
stoned at the shipyard here on April Is
and which has been laying in the
stream off the yard for the past three
weeks. will weigh anchor during the
early part of next week, probably Mon
day, and proceed out of the Capes on
her first sea voyage since Joining the
navy The vessel will sal direct To
Gardeners Bay. Long Island, and dur
ing the run up the coast her engines
will be given shaking down"
From GARDENERS Bay the cruiser will
go to the Brooklyn navy yard where
her 6-inch guns and secondary battery
will be mounted on her and the final
finishing touches will be done TO her
hull. When commissioned here the
Maryland had only four Sinch guns in
place, as the nevy department was I'M
able to furnish the remainder of her
guns before the date set for the com
missioning.
When she leaves the Brooklyn navy
yard some time this summer the Mary
land will so to Cucbra, where she will
Join the Pennsylvania. Colorado and
West Virginia, which arc now cruising
nthe caribbean sea. When the new
cruiser joins the other ships the new
armored cruiser squadron of the United
States navy will have been made up.
Since the Maryland was commissions
ed branch of the Naval Young Mems
Christian Association has been organ
lied aboard her under the supervision
of Mr.. Ellis H. Cox, special secretary
OF the Naval Young Mems Christian
Association with Headquarters at the
Norfolk navy yard. The organization
already numbers Il hundred men and
the sailors seem to he taking great
deal OF interest in the work. Captain
Royal II. Ingersnll. commander of the
cruiser, has evinced special interest in
the association and il is due to his I'M
firing efforts that the organization has
such Il good membership
Special services are held aboard the
vessel every Sunday morning nj ~
o'clock and every member of the as
ISOLATION, as well rs large portion
OF the crew join in the services. There
are number OF good musician and
singers in the crew and special music
is rendered at each service.
The Maryland also has minstrel
troupe which has appeared in Norfolk
and which is said to be first class in
every particular.
Men Very Scarce.
Tho navy department is still expert
encins Il great deal of trouble in Sc
curing mon with which to man the new
warships which have recently been
commissioned at this and other ship
yards. 1t is generally known That
when the cruiser Maryland was turned
over Ia the navy department by the
Newport News ShipbuilGing and Dry
Dock Company OH April IS. the ravy
department could furnish but 257 men
for the cruiser That number has beer:
increased by ahcul i40 men since
The slip was commissioned so that the
crow of the Maryland is not yet con-.
plcte.
There is only one reason why tEc
men have not hcen sent to tie ship by
the ..avy department. and that is they
are not available. When the West
Virginia, Pennsylvania. and dorado
wer,, conn issored The same trouble
WAS experienced by the government.
All Of the big cruisers were commits.
stoned with half crews and the rest
Of the men wner sent 10 them FROM
time to time rs The mon could he So
cured
In order TO furnish the crews for
Tie ships The navy department found
il necessary 10 put 4 number OF small
er cruisers ont of commission for n
while. In that way crews for The West
Virginia. Colorado and Pennsylvania
were mustered.
Nnw IL is reMrlcd that The auxiliary
cruiser Prairie will he placed out of
commission at the Boston navy ward
within n few days and the crew CT tho
ship will b. sent I'D warships which,
have Just been commissioned and
whose crews are as yet incomplete.
AS the Maryland crew is still in.
conipetc8it is supposed, that I,ar:
rfstl,e meh will be transferred to her
here.
81 80 - --ia-i' Sic ii
May Sail THIS, Week.
The German cruiser Rreninn, which