El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-03-04

handing. Now stationed in the Yang
| SITE river.
Villalobos. gunboat. $40 tons; six
guns Lieut.. Nelson II. GOss command
ing Now stationed in the Yangszte
Quires, gunboat. $50 tons. four guns.
Lieut. (JuniOr grade) Burton A. Strait
commanding Now stationed at Shang-
hal.
Samar. gunboat, 24s tons: six guns.
Lieut.. (juniOr grade) Samuel W. King
commanding. Now stationed at Ham
kow.
lIonocacy, gunboat. 100 tons; two
guns. Lieut. Andrew F. Carter COM
handing. Now stationed in the Yang
SITE.
Palos. gunboat 100 tons; two guns
Lieut. Stuart ". Cake commanding.
Now stationed in the Yangszte.
The Cincinnatis guns, and those of
the Galveston likewise, are of 5-inch
caliber. The guns of the Helena and
Wilmington are 4-inch. the other gun
boats carry small quick-firers.
-Four Are Old spanish BOafs.
Four of the gunbOats were formerly
the property Of Spain. The chief use
made Of them by the Spaniards was to
chase and destroy Moro pirate craft.
They fell INTO our possession as re-
suit Of the war Of 1898.
Two, the Monocacy and Palos were
sent to Shanghai in sections, and were
put together there.
1t will be noticed, by the way. that
Two OF the gunbOats are commanded
Dy Junior-grade 'lieutenants. For them
such assignments of duty are a pre-
clOus boon indeed, inasmuch as, though
hardly more than boys, they find them
serves captains OF naval ships. The
shlps are only little ones, it is true.
out to be. full-fledged commanders of
war vessels at such an age is a dignity
the youngsters know how to appreciate.
now II viii naturally be asked why
the United States maintains so large
mn naval force in the waters Of China
me answer is very simple. We are
Obliged to do so in order to afford
adequate protection to American mis-
slOharles and especially to the Yankee
traueIs whose activities we depend on
10 extend our commerce through the
length and breadth Of the Flowery
Isahd, emma is a country of many
rivers. along which these traders have
esta oIlshed themselves at numerous
pulllIs, even invading the far interior
~ pursuit of pigtailed customers for
the wares they have to sell
Are, Used for Patrol.
me gunbOats are used chiefly to
pdtI0I these rivers, keeping in close
loucn with the American consuls, who
az ~ an III erect business represen 9tives
" ouI government. Incidentally, 10 Is
part OF their duty to watch for pirates,
MnCse predatory junks even nowadays
lfe numerous in and about the mouths
~ lhe larger streams. ever ready to
craft "''i uSU me- O''''''N ,
II Inc gunbooats maintain irregular pa !
~ o 6ions the Hangszte to a distance |
oi I9uO miles from the mouth of that |
~Vtn9erIul artery of trade, which. |
, a,eT as me third greatest river in the |
~QiTIu' rs hrst in point of commercial !
ICli5-ation- They run up as far as the I
9tGlSSs OF lchong, where the mighty |
~ PASSING through a range of 1
','- IaIhs Ihree miles high, suddenly
arrows ana becomes unnavigable by /
'eaSon of cataracts
rom rom ichong to the sea the river is
! af;ersed oy fleets Of steamers OF all
lind Of merchandise. Ii sw arm Wit with
, %THS' panied Theeo every color Of the rain
'uilt' with big poOps and so1ars nTovs.
,y,I q curious resemblance to the
acb ono 'b 49, Is, OF the middle ages. and
uge painted eyes win
enormous timber raets Resembling
loattng islands lend vario+ eSS tbs
Sene oT.I,is being the method by which
ne output Of the forests OF the in ]