Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-11-09
Big Pacific Fleet Can be Repaired
Any Time While on Ocean.
PANTHER BEING WELL EQUIPPED
viii Have Complete Machine Shop,
Forge and Blasting Furnace - 1t
viii Have to be 4 Serious Break
That Cannot BE Repaired.

WASHINGTON. Nov. "a great
deal has been said and written about
our big fleet that is scheduled to visit
certain parts of the Orient under the
capable command OF Fighting Bob
Evans. The number OF hattlcshps,
cruisers and torpedo destroyers has
been noted. and gossip has been fire.
qucnt regarding the personnel OF
their respective captains and com
manders. The readers of the news.
papers have also been told about the
enormous quantity Of provisions OF
various kinds that are being hnrriedly
prepared for the long voyage on the
compositions Pacific They have also
learned something new about the mis-.
sion of the hospital Ships that will
accompany the gallant tars: and IL
would also seem as II the whole story
of the projected trip. disconnected as
| IL undoubtedly has l.aen. had been
iai.ly well told and its principal fea
| TIRES adequately described did not one
OF the old-time chief engineers pop
! ping in at the bureau of steam engl
Ineering oil the Navy Department said
| TINS morning TO his crstwhilc shin.
| mates that mot 4 confounded word
mas been said or published about the
plans arranged for making repairs at
sea. or i'll some foreign port IL any
unforeseen accident occurs 10 the ma,
chinery. etc. or any of the ships.'
And he was right.
1t Is safe to say that, by long odds.
one of the most necessary accessories
to big fleet In home or foreign wa.
ters-especially the latter--is what is
generally known among naval men rs
n repair ship. a vessel of that class
l. me auxiliary transport Panther.
now being ovcrhauled and freighted
with machinery, ETC.. at the New York
navy yard. Orders have been issued
detailing her as the repair shin TO
accompany Uncle Sans fleet of six.
teen battleships. etc. on its coming
cruise. and she Is being rapidly equip.
ped under the eyes OF the most skill
tful and experienced engineer Officers
III the service.
When the Panther's full equipment
of machinery is installed, which work
~ is expected will be completed n few
davs before the fleet Is scheduled tC
sail from Hampton Roads, her force
oil aDout lu0 machinistS and artisans
Will be able TO do almost any kind
OF repair that may he needed by the
ships of the squadron. Tho ships
forward tween decks will contain. he
sides a fully equipped foundry and
coppersmiths' plant five lathes of VA
: rious sizes a good sized planer fol
Hastings, plate and pipe bending ant
punching machines. n 250-pound steam
hammer and three ordinary conl burn
ing backsmith's FORCES, served b,
electric fans.
Att OH the main deck. there will b,
installed 4 complete compressed ali
system for serving the pneumati,
I tools in the machine shop and foun
d,y. and there will be pipe leads 10
k fuel oil. also portable burners 70
l melting hrasses and white metal. Oh
s tho deck bow. abaft the engine room
d the space which was formerly tn
v ships machine shop, IS being fitted n
n foundry. and the space under it
d 10 he used as store room for SUI
s. !plics and pig metal a one-ton Whit
e ing cupola will he installed, rs we
eI rs Schwartz rotary. fuel oil bras
melting furnace and n Best crmcibl
II oil furnace TO melt iron and bras.
s. The vessel will also he provided wit
tsEft Ixs.-- Ns.1a n.