New-York tribune., 1906-06-25
TRIP OF THE DRYDOCK.
VaIuabLe Information Gathered from
Voydge to East.
TFrom The Tribune Bureau. !

Washington, June 24.-The floating drydock
Dewey will leave Singapore in two three days
on the last leg of the famous cruise which is ex-
pected to end at Manila by the middle of next
month The dock and its consorts, the Glacier. the
Cesar. the Brutus and the Potomac, all under the
command of Commander H H. Hosley, U S. N.
reached Singapore last Thursday after unevent-
ful voyage across the Indian Ocean, the greatest
days run having been 153 nautical miles
Few naval movements in recent years have at
uacted so much attention as the voyage of the
floating drydock from Chesapeake Bay to its prob
able station at Olongapo or Cavite in the Philip
pines IN the first place the towing OF such a huge
body so great distance was something of a prob
lem in navigation IN itself then there was the
danger Of storms. especially in the Indian Ocean,
and the officials awaited with keen interest the
news that Commander Hosley and his vessels with
the drydock bad reached a port of safety
The Navy Department has received a series of
reports from Commander Hoslev in regard the
use of oil during and rough weather en-
countered by the dock towing expedition which
will be published for the benefit Of the service.
When the convoy was fitting out last winter,
large quantity of OIL some seventy barrels was
placed on board the ships, and it has been freely
used by them during the cruise as occasion arose.
On the Glacier it was observed that large oily
patches astern resulted but the oil did not spread
out entirely into the wide Slick that one would
expect TO after becoming familiar with the lit
etature on the subject Some beneficial results were
reported from the Glacier from the use of oil
observers on the dock said that oil distributed
from hose running the bow reduced the
amount or water coming board by about one
haIf. but otherwise there was no appreciable diff
ference in the general comfort on the dock A re-
port from the Brutus says that the oil reduoed the
crest OF the waves almost entirely while with the
Potomac the use of the oil had good effect. but
hao 10 be discontinued. owing to the fact that II
came back on deck over the low scuppers and free
ing ports and made footing difficult and dangerous
The transfer of the Dewey from CyhesaneaLa Raw
10 the philippines IS practical demonstration of
the mobility of such structure. The value of tbA
type as an auxiliary Of the feet the firing line
Is no longer questioned. II furnishes what NAV ha
called floating navy yard. since it is capable of
lifting disabled ship out of the water nern,itttne
repairs TO be made without the DELAY of taking the
vessel in crippled condition long distance 10 =
shore plant. Then. too the floating dock NAV he
sci returning from battle badly damaeed with its
oraft increased would only not be abe 70 reach
dock This disability may be removed b& e
pi0ying ths floating dock to lift the ship for tenn
polaIy repairs TO restore the shin to ITS normal
Tbis Is; ana a so ena pie 1t to proceed safely yard
Nar6ey m G OF uses to which floating dock may be put
,9 Co9mnander Hosley's achievement in getting the
6 aoe6 from Ghesapeake Bay to Singapore has awak-
eleu ehe ,keenest interest throughout the naval
st stSINlce, he was formerly on duty in New York as
me supervisor OF the port and was called 10 Wash
pedition on moments notice. He completed the
e details OF the preparation. which involved many
IL
New York City. '-0'S III
The trip from Chesapeake Bay, where the gov
eminent took possession of the dock TO Singsp0re
was accomplished since December IS and while
SohlLnander Hosley did not make the time which
ne thought might be possible he has evidently
escaped the monsoons OF the Far Eastern seas and
may be expected to reach Manila about IuIv 70
The course of the towing expedition has baan
with the intention of publishing the Toufa ana tba
distances made each day on the pilot charts Of The
Atantc ana Pacific oceans. The greatest distance
made by the expedition on any one dav was
trlhe more than 152 nautical miles II was consid~
ereo that II the expedition made 100 miles in a dav
II would be accomplishing all that was recuired
OF u Inc accidents have been of minor inpOr nee
ana were confined mostly 10 the trip across the
Auantlc, during which ii found that the dock
would have 10 be secured the towing ships hv
land III Hns-
The Navy Department has picture which will
De or historical value. since II is an authentc rec
ord Of the relative positions Of the ships acting a.
conveys of the big dock This picture is the nboto
graphic reproduction of painting made hv ar
artlst sent out with the expedition and is as exac:
as anythlng can be as result of personal observa-
ton The artist chose time for his painting
the passing Of the island OF Teneriffe The Glacier
which Is Commander Hosley's flagship leads
the line. followed by the Caesar and the Brutus the
SHIPS being attached directly and Indirectly To The
dock The oceangoing tug Potomac acted as
tender ana is SHOWN in the foreground of the pict
ure The Potomac left the expedition at Suez and
returned home. being at League Island navy
y9rd. A similar tug was sent from Cavite and
VIII accompany the drydock from Singapore to its
destination. 49,