The San Francisco call., 1906-10-09
SCHWERIN TURNED
CLEVER TRICK.
Saved His Company Money
When He Got Navy to
Loan Him the Wisconsin
COMMENT ON FRONT

There is z good deal OF interest in
shipping circles over the report that
the Navy Department has ordered the
battleship Wisconsin to convoy the
steamship Manchuria from Honolulu TO
San Francisco, particularly in view or
the fact that she does not carry pas
sengers and the only need Of a convoy
IS to preserve the property of the Pa
ci7c Mail The Call correspondent al
washington wired the following eK-
PLANTATION yesterday from Washington:
The navy is always ready TO ex-
tend the helping hand 10 sailor In dls-
tress.' said Acting Secretary Newberry
Of the Navy Department, speaking or
his order directing the battleship Wis
consin TO act as convoy for the steam
ct Manchuria from Honolulu TO San
Francisco.
The Wisconsin was under orders to
leave Honolulu today at sunrise and
proceed to san Francisco under a
twelve knot speed. General Manager
Schwerin Of the Pacific Mail Steamship
Company telegfaphed the Navy Depart
ment yesterday saying that the Man
churia was ready TO leave Honolulu
under her own steam at an eight-knot
speed, but that the company did not
wish TO send her alone to San Fran
cisco. Mr.. Schwerin therefore request
ed that the wisconsin, which was on
her way 10 the Pacific station, might
be permitted TO convoy the Manchuria
as the Pacific Mail Company had no
steamer available to act in that ca
pacity. The Navy Department gladly
complied with the request and orders
were issued accordingly. instructing
the commander Of the Wisconsin To
sail with the Manchuria at o'clock
this afternoon and proceed with her tc
San Francisco at an eight-knot speed
Acting Secretary Newberry said to-
GAY that one Of the duties OF the navy
end protection TO the merchant marine
and that the Navy Department re-
spOnded favorably as q matter OF
course to the request OF the Pacific Mai
Company. He said that the Navy De-
partment Itself was anxious to have the
Manchuria restored 10 service as so0r
as possible, for there was much Gov
ernment freight at San Francisco
awaiting transportation to the Philip
pines and the Far East. The expense
20 the Government OF the trip OF the
Wisconsin as convoy would be less
than IL would be If the battleship had
sailed under her original orders, on ac-
count of the reduced rate OF speed. Mr.
Newberry and other officials OF the
Navy Department expressed theil
pleasure at being able to render as
ElnAdAttE 10 AAAC 2ldANLlll4ds GlAlNC no
cific Mar steamer could be secured as
convoy without great delay and the
Wisconsin would not be more than two
or three days late in arriving at Sar
Francisco
1t was remarked yesterday by ship
pers that the navy seemed particularly
ready TO extend the glad hand to q
Pacific Mailer in distress, and that this
fortunate readiness would save Mr.
Schwerin's company a very tidy sum
Most ship OWNERS are obliged TO pay
heavily for towing their damaged craft
70 port. A less resourceful manager
would have been obliged to charter
some other cOmpany's steamship TO aci
as convoy, provided no vessel of hil
own was available. The Pacific Mai
IN distress has a better method and
through the kindness of Acting Secre
tary Of the Navy Newberry, will saw,
both time and money.