New-York tribune., 1908-02-05
NAVAL MILITIA BOATS
Tao Being Repaired for NezC York
and Connecticut.

The Wasp and the Machias, which the govern
rnent has decided to devote to naval militia work.
are at the Brooklyn navy yard undergoing re-
pairs The Wasp will be turned over TO the New
York Naval Militia. and the NIachias TO the militia
of Connecticut The Wasp formerly the
steam Yacht Columbia Tt was built by William
Cramp & Sons in Philadelphia in 1898. At the
outbreak Of the Spanish war. the government
bought 1t from its owner. J. H Ladew, Of New
York. for $4,000 and placed it in commission as
a gunboat April II, 1908. The boat helped re-
duce the forts and capture Nipe Bay, Cuba 1t
was then under the command Of Captain Aaron
Ward. Of the cruiser Pennsylvania. FOR the
last year IT has been in the recruiting service
under Lieutenant J, A Campbell, cruising through
Long Island Sound. up the Hudson River and IN
Delaware Rav In that time Il recruited sos men.
sending them to the Brooklyn Navy Yard to
Norfolk Va, and Newport. r / Campbell
has now been ordered to the new battleship Mis-
ssstppi, and will leave the Wasp soon as II ts
turned over 10 the naval militia
The vessel is of steel II is schooner rugged.
but in ordinary circumstances runs by steam,
having singlesscrew inverted triple expansion en-
gfnes It is 20 feet long over all and % feet in
beam at the waterIine. II is designed for four
officers and thirty-tro men. but ninety militaren
could use 1t time. II has sTeed OF 1914
knots In case of need. the government is pre-
pared 10 loan the militia a large vessel For the
last year the militia has been using the protected
cruiser Newark. It found TOO upTfeldy and
vantages however as it could make 19 knots and
had an armament Of two 6-inch and six 3-inch
guns besides six 3-pounders. four 1-pounders one
3-pounder and four 80 cali5re guns. 1t Will
now probably be converted into q mine laying
vessel
The Baltimore, a protected cruiser. is now at
the navy ward for changes that will fit It for such
work also The Newark is a sister ship OF the
san Francisco, and launched in March.
1890 and commissioned in the following Feb
ruarv It has seen considerable service. having
been az Ten-Tsin. China. at the time Of the Boxer
uprising and having been Commodore Watson s
flagship in tie Philippines for time
The Machias commissioned in July, 1888.
For the last year IT has been at the Pensacola Navy
Yard. Pensacola Bay, Florida The vessel was
sunk on a reef in the bay at the time Of q severe
storm a wear ago. Wreckers raised II and got IL
into the Pensacola Navy Yard. where 1t was tempo
rarily patched UP. It was towed to the Brooklyn
ward reaching Tompkinsville about week ago.
It's funnel is gone and all the plates on the star
board side forward badly crumpled- 1t will
cost the government considerable money 10 put the
boat into proper repair again
Il is the belief of the naval authorities that the
militia will find II nconveniently large, Just the
Newark found big by the New Yorkers.
The AIaChias is named after in Maine 1t
was built al the Bath Iron Works, Maine It is
2I2 feet long over all and has a beam at water
lire OF 80 feet. Its draft is Il feet. its burden
I177 tons and its speed 1872 It is rgged
q o-rnasted schooner and is provided with one
smokestack. Il was designed TO be handled by
nine officers and 14S men. but carry several
hundred more without Inconvenience Its cost was
s3IS50O. Il is in charge Of Commander J F. Luby.