New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-06-25
GREECE WILL GET
U. 5. BATTLESHIPS
Formalities of Transfer
Almost Completed-Jubi-
lation in Athens.

Washington, June 24.--Navy officials
were busy to-day preparing TO turn
over the battleships Idaho and Nissis-
sippi TO the Greek government. final
action on the naval appropriation Bill,
which includes authority for the sale
of the warships, will be taken ia q
day or two, and as soon as the Prcsi-
dent has signed the measure the de-
partment will be ready to order the
transfer.
II is left to the President and the
Secretary of the Navy to name the
sale price, the intention being 20 nix
this at the actual cost Of construction
and equipment. This involves a rather
complex calculation, but il is believed
that 81, 750, 900 will be about the figure.
With the vessels will go most Of the
supplies now aboard and full store
of coal to carry them to their des-
tinations. There was some idea &C
one time of taking out the "hre con-
troll" or system of electric communi-
cation by which the commanding
officer of the ship is enabled 10 point
and fire every gun from the bridge
or coming tower. This Is partle1-
larly Americana development, but The
system as installed on the Idaho ana
Mississippi is fairly well known IN
other navies and has ALREADY been
much improved upon.
According to the tentative plan OF
transfer, the Idaho, which IS now az
Gibraltar, will be sent northward, TO
Gravesend, England, where she viii
be met by the battleship Alabama,
now in reserve at the Philadelphia
Navy Yard, which will take of her
II .A~l.1t-u he Enmannfla
midshipmen row on their summer
cruise. Then the Idaho will be
manned by the Greek naval crew.
The Mississippi, now at Pensacola
will be sent to a northern navy yard,
probably Boston, TO be stripped Of
/ the aeronautic appliances that encqm-
/ Der her deck and superstrneture. Her
| personnel will be transferred to the
! North Carolina, now In reserve at
Boston, and Greek sailors will be on
/ hand to take her across the Atlantic.
The possibility Of an. actual out
break of hostilities between Greece
/ and Turkey is being considered IN
! connection with the arrangements for
| the sale of the ships. In the event of
/ actual war and a proper declaration
| by either party or both, the sale could
| not be contaminated or the ships de-
| lvered without violation OF neu-
trality.
Athens, June 24.-Great iubilation
was expressed in political circles
here to-day over the impending &C
QUESTION of the American battleships
Idaho and Mississippi.
These two war vessels viii, &c -
declared, assure the balance Of naval
power between Greece and Turkey, and
will thus prove q factor in ma ntasn-
ing peace.
Malta. June 24.-Ths Greek consul
here to-day issued a notification TO
Greek naval reservists, resident Of
EMPLOYED in Malta, that the Greek
government had ordered five CLASSES
of the reserves 10 return 70 Greece
by Saturday, :.
LONDON, June 25.--An Athens dis
patch TO "The Daily Telegraph says
that the United States Congress. BY
authorizing the sale of wErshIps "a
, Greece, has ayerted On immediate
declaration of war and that the pros
poets for peace have. been greatly
| improved.
Fighting continues ia Albania