New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-06-15
GREECE TO BUY
HERSELF A NAVY
Chinese Cruiser Built Here
To Be Purchased in
View of War.

Washington. June 1.-THE cruiser Eel
Hung built by the New York Shiphulld-
Ing COMPANY for the governments oi
China. but latter sold TO Greece, VIII
leave New York this week under rush
orders from Athens for the Near East
there possibly TO take part in the i'm
pending conflict between Greece and Tur-
kew. warning of which was clearly
given by the Greek Premier on Friday
before the Greek Parliament
The vessel. 2G00-ton cruiser, was TO
have had speed trials last Friday but
Greece suddcrlv waived the trials, PAID
for the ship and ordered immediate de-
livery. II was at first planned that the
Fei-Hung. n name which will soon be
changed, should sail on Tuesday Of this
week, but this has been found impos-
sib. She will bc taken to Greece by
merchant crew. THE sudden conclusion
OF the transaction with tho New York
ShinbuildnS Company affords a clear in
dica,i that a conflict between Greece
and Turkey ia at hand
Tho proposal TO sell the batteshipS
Idsho and Mississippi TO Greece is at
tracing greater attention that ever, be
cause OF the prospects Of conflict in tho
Near East. Al the moment it appears
that Congress will not assent to tho pro
posal submitted by tho Secretary Of the
NAVY that these ships should he dis
po-ed Of There is opposition not only
from little navy" men. who see in the
transaction tho possibility Of the navy
getting three Drcadnoughts this year.
but It also does not meet with the ap-
proval Of those naval stratcgists Who
think that tho Idaho and Mississippi
while different from any other ships OF
the navy, arc still useful. and that II
would he far bettor for tho navy 10 dis
pose of ships of a slightly older class
which would meet Greccc's requirements.
The" suggest that the Alabama, Illinois
am Wisconsin would DC the very ships
for Greece, whose requirements are
measured only by tho strength or Tur-
keys fleet which is not, generally speak
ing, I'm the least modern. The Senate
and House conferrecs failed to agree on
the sale OF the Idaho and Mississippi
ard the proposal will come up in both
houses for discussion this week.
The Navy Department has already de-
cided TO meet the objection TO the sale
OF the Idaho and Mississippi on the
ground that these two battleships are
fitted with the ire-control system of the
American navy. q system for controlling
and directing the fire of the big guns
which American naval officers think has
no equal in the world. The Bureau of
Ordance OF the Navy Department has de-
cided that. il the two shiDs are sold. Il e
fire-control system will be taken out. The
objections TO selling the ships with the
system left in was recently set forth m
these dispatches.
While the cruiser Fei-Huns is small
(only 800 tons, she is considered here TO
be one of the most compact and effective
little fighting ships ever put into com
mission. She was built as a training ship
for the Chinese navy. and has been fitted
out with British ordance furnished by the
Armstrong. Vickers Company. She has
more armament aboard than any ship "f
her tonnage i'm the word. She carries two
S-inch. four finch and two 3-inch guns,
two 6-pounders, two 3-pounders and two
torpedo tubes la the hands Of reso-
lutte and daring commander, with efficient
91,nners under him. the little New York
boat could do a vast amount OF damage