The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, March 7, 1898, Page 3

| ¥ » THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, MONDAY, MARCH 7, 1898. 3 SHIPS T MAY NOW BE PURCHASED Naval Markets Open to Spain and States. Nation With Money at Its Com- mand Could Accumulate a Formidable Fighting Force. The pending difficulties between Spain and the United States may, if reports | of warships for sale are to be believed, | prove a veritable bonanza to Old and New World. With the ship- builders it is simply a matter of busi- ness to get the highest price for the ships built on speculation or ordered by governments which have defaulted on payvments, but in the sale of national vessels other objects besides realizing on expensive luxuries may have much to do with the transfer of ships to either Spain or the United States. In the appended list of naval vessels | belonging to, or being built for, | the | countries indicated, only such as are of modern construction have been taken cognizance of. The line of demarka- tion between the old and new navies| may be drawn at 1880, prior to which very few of the ships built come up to the requirements of the present time, | and this applies particularly to armored rich have progressed fro ads to compound armor, and ly to Harveyized steei hor affording triple the protection of | ke weight and thickness used twenty ago. Another important factor— 1t of speed—has been gradually de- ped, and the high-speed vessel of n knots two decades ago is anti- ss now when pitted eighteen to twenty-four knot thirty-two knot torpedo- h shi ainst cruisers de to ent each country has its | ference of what constitutes the best ient. as also which guns | for particular kinds of | > guns of large and small eign ships, outside of Eu- a mixture of Armstrong, | orth, Krupp and French, being | plied where the ships were bullt. e relative merits of the various types ordnance are, like those of the ar- Morclads, cruisers and torpedo-boats, | much matters of opinions and | | an boa to be practically tested, but of ships given enumerates a which are quite up to the mod- ndard of efficiency acceptable to imtry able to pay for them if | val defense. | 1 the classification of ships enumer- ated the following abbreviations have he n made us of in the column of | armored armos vessels—a. cr., c. b, al battery: c. d., coast | : b., barbette 5 ored cruiser; t. do-boat £ tor- . b., torpedo gunboat; g. b., torpedo-boat. gun vessel; pagounyry ze de Novembro bira rdia-Marine rpedo boats . 8 Fing ... B boat destroyer: edo boats .. It is within the bounds of possibility that Italy might not be averse to sell- ing a number of its naval vessels. The | finances of that country are in a very bad state, and within two years Or- lando Bros., Leghorn, have sold vessels contracted for by Italy to the Argentine Republic and Spain; namely the Gari- baldi and San Martino to Argentine, and the Cristobal Colon to Spain. The modern fleet of Italy is composed of fine ships, and the list given below em- braces eleven armored vessels of 102,923 tons; fifteen cruisers of 41,333 tons, and twenty-six other vessels of 15,386 tons, ship- | builders in Europe, as well as to some | of the impecunious naval powers of lhe[ HAT the United maki aggregate of fifty-two ships of 15 3 tc ng an 9,642 UNITED STATES BARRACKS AT KEY WEST. NATIONALITY. Torped Boat De- stroyers and Torp. boats. NATIONALITY. Argentine Brazil ...... thickness, 7 350 feet and terminating A curved armored deck 1% to 2 inches thick protects the machin- The coal bunkers, with a capac- bulkheads. ery. ship. wick quick-firing the flying dec per deck. sists of eight 12-pounde; ers and four Maxim guns. feet in ty of 1 tons, are a The - depth, extending with 6-inch bove the protective deck, and add to the protection of the armament guns, and consists of | two 8-inch—one forward and one aft— with 8-inch shields; sixteen 6-inch, with 43-inch shields, four of which are on firing forward and aft, and twelve are in broadside on the up- The secondary battery con- is entirely Els- ten 6-pound- She has Total armored. . Total unarmored total . MODER! also a bow torpedo tube, and one on each side. The steaming efficiency of | | the ship may be realized from the fact | | that she made a little over 23 knots un- | der natural draught. The gun trials, prior to acceptance, took place Decem- ber 16, 1896, and among other tests one 8-inch and four 6-inch guns were fired NAME. | simultaneously in the line of the keel, the guns being laid level, both ahead and astern. The Esmeralda would be a good bargain at $3,000,000, and would look better under the Stars and Stripes Ammiraglio af St. Bon..| than under the flag of San Jago. e As for the O'Higgins building at ok M Elswick since January, 1897, this ship Giuseppe Garibaldi is not likely to be so mnear completed MarcoRBol as to be wanted for immediate use, for Blole | even the Elswick Company with its un- Varese surpassed facilities would not undertake Dogall Esba Etna 1 Lombardia . Piemonte Preglia . Stromboli mbria . Vesuvio (Two) 8500 tons in less war prices were paid. gins draught of 22 feet. is 400 feet by nches thick. to build and complete a battleship of less than two years un- The O'Hig- 62 feet, and a The horse-power is to be 16,500, and the speed 2134 knots under natural draught. tection is a Harveyized The armament will in- g | clude four 8-inch, ten 6-inch and four + | 4.7-inch, all quick-firing guns, and the smaller guns consist of eight 12-pound- ers, ten 6-pounders and four broadside submerged torpedo tubes. sitions of the 8 and 6 inch guns are of The hull pro- steel belt 7 The gun po- GEELen) = 6-inch nickel steel. (One) | Another noted and desirable Chilean (Five) ship is the Blanco Encalada, a protect- gome) | ed cruiser of 4420 tons. She s of the SAWO). oo |same type but larger than the *Building. { Yoshino, Japanese cruiser,also built at The date of launch gives a pretty fair | EIswick. She was launched in Sep- idea—In the absence,of definite infor- mation—as to stage of completion. Thus, all armored ships launched prior to 1896 may be assumed to be com- | pleted or nearly so, and cruisers and | other craft launched before 1896 to be ready for service. The condition of vessels launched last year depends very much upon how the respective govern- | ments have met the payments due, and | also upon who the builders are. Thus, the vessels building for China, namely, two cruisers of 4300 tons at Elswick, and three cruisers of 2850 at Stettin, were contracted to be delivered in eigh- teen and fifteen months respectively; the Elswick cruisers thus being due in | July next, and the Stettin cruisers be- ing due now. Both firms are likely to be on time if the Chinese Government has met its obligations, and thess five fine cruisers may be classed as being t trials of two vears. was 21% knots. $-inch—one on poop for on forecastle firers in sponsons of which ~ach and two in the quarters, pounders, twelve 1-pounders, five tor- pedo tubes and one torpedo boat of the third class. The protective deck is 1% slope | thick. broadside and nches on the flat, The foregoing bri he lient noints in without a hitch, and delivered within the contract time Her horse-power is 14,- 500, speed under natural draught dur- ing twelve hours continued steaming The armament is two tember, 1893, and underwent her steam in June, 1894, rd and one aft—ten 6-inch quick three on two in the bows twelve 41, inches on the and the conningtower is 6 inches ef descriptions of notable and desir- able naval vessels will give some idea of the requirements of a navy. In the in the market. sister ship are ver The Hai-Chi and her ambitious designs absence of accurate information as to what the Governments of this country | and Spain are contemplating in the | half knots on natural protective deck is three inches thick on | slopes over machinery, five inches over | the remaining six broadside guns have of protected cruisers; they have a length over all of 424 feet, forty-six feet eight inches beam, and a mean draught of sixteen feet nine inches. The pro- pelling power consists of twin-screws driven by triple-expansion vertical en- gines to develop 17,000 horsepower and a speed of twenty-four knots under | forced draught and twenty-two and a draught. The of. should, however, market, and the pu is in a far better plethoric state than any other country to allow bargains to slip away. and torpedo ships added to our existing navy we should be able to meet Spain on more than equal terms and acquire some of purchasing of ships it is needless describe other vessels not yet spoken to purchase ot the If we are ge With th boats to ships we best in_the rse of Uncle Sam e Chinese cruisers and the Chilean cylinders and one and a half inches £ elsewhere. The conning tower is six | that country’s Afmouedicnitisers fang inches in thickness. The armament |t0TPedo s of two eight-inch quick firing mounted on middle line forward and aft, each having a train of 135 de- grees on either side of the middle line. In addition there are two 4.7-iuch rapid-firers in broadside of which the two forward and after guns have a train from directly ahead or astern to forty-five degrees abaft the beam, and an arc of fire of 120 degrees. The sac- ondary battery includes sixteen three- pounders, six one-pounders and five torpedo tubes, of which latter one is in the bow and two on each broadside. These vessels are to have a bunker ca- pacity of 1200 tons, sufficient to a steaming radius of 2100 knots at full speed and 8000 knots at ten knots per hour. Their total cost, including arma- ment, equipment and outfit, is $1,638,351 for each vessel. The three protected cruisers building at the Vulcan, Stettin, will have engines of 8000 horse-power, the batteries—from Elswick—are to consist of three 5.9 inch, eight 4 inch, six 1.4 inch quick-firing guns and four torpedo tubes. The pro- tective deck is 2¢ inches in its thick- est part, and theé guns have 2 inch steel protection. Their bunker capacity Is about 400 tons, and the officers and crew number 230, The cost of each ship is about $1,000,000, exclusive of guns. The four torpedo boat destroyers were contracted for in December, 1896, to be delivered in thirteen months. They are being bullt by Scnickau, Elbing, and will have 6000 horse-power and 32 knots speed. Their completion may be looked for any day, and would be very desir- able acquisitions. Turning a covetous glance at Chile’s new navy, the Esmeralda, buiit at Els- wick, is a particularly fine specimen of modern warships. She is an armored cruiser of 7020 tons, 18,000 horse-power and 23 knots' speed. Brassey classes her as one of the most powerful crui- sers in the world. Her armor belt is Harveyized steel, 6 inches maximum ecuting your letter of the 1 services in the event placed it on file, but of course the neces- sity of giving it consideration is not an- ticlpmid. palling damage. the cther, and could gain would be the equivocal tri- umph of securing Cuban independence. If Spain takes the first step, America will have herself to thank.” SECRETARY ALGER TO COLONEL T. M. FISHER. Files the Veteran Soldier’s Letter Offering His Services in the Event of War. PORT TOWNSEND, Wash., March 6. In reply to hi Fis] —Colonel Thomas M. Fisher, now pros- attorney of this cently wrote to Secretary of War Al- ger, with whom he Is personally ac- quainted, tendering his services to the War Department in any capacitw which they might be used in event of | hostilities with Spain. served four years during the late civil war, most of that time as company commander, and for five years after- | ward was a lieutenant in the regular | army during the Indian wars General Crook and saw much service of the same character of warfare as is now being carried on in the island of Cuba. retary Colonel ceived thé following: county, re- Colonel Fisher under s letter to the Sec- her yesterday re- WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, D. 1898 Feb. 28, Very truly R. A. ALGER, h inst., Dear Sir: 1 have oftering your of war, have yours, Secretary of War. To Thomas M. Fisher, Esq., Port Town- send, Wash, e Thinks America Unprepared. LONDON, March 7.—The Daily Malil, discussing the “probability United States may goad Spain declaring war as a move,"” pared condition, Spain could inflict ap- Neither could conquer | says: “In the that the last America’s " unpre- utmost America in | into © desperate | | | ATEST TRICK OF SPANIARDS Making a Pretense of In- vestigating the Maine Disaster. Divers Have Made Up Their Minds and No Longer Attempt to Work. It Is Now Believed at Havana That the United States Will First Atta Special Dispatch to The Call, HAVANA, March 6 (via Key West, Fla.).—As the conviction becomes set- tled that the Court of Inquiry will de- cide that there was 1 mine explosion under the Maine, discussion among American naval officers and civilians here is prevalent as to the warlike measures which it is believed the Unit- ed States. Government will adopt in case the question of the payment of indemnity by Spain is overruled. A majority believe that American troops will be landed at some port east of Havana and the insurgents communi- cated with, that the Spanish soldiery will be defeated or captured in detail, and that in the meantime a fleet of United States vessels will blockade, if not bombard Havana. No one seems to doubt:that the reduction of this city would be comparatively easy. Four twelve-inch guns, two west and two east of the city, are the only ones that are considered dangerous. These are not likely to be well served, while their emplacements are not modern. That some Spaniards are of the opin- jon that an attack on Havana will be made, is believed to be shown by the abnormal activity displayed on board the Vizcaya. One correspondent has the best naval authority for the state- ment that the Vizcaya is in a constant state of readiness for emergencies, and that picket boats are on the alert day and night inside the harbor and out- side the harbor at night. It is pointed out that the men-of-war Vizcaya and Almirante Oquendo might be caught in a blockade and fall easy préy to a United States fleet. The cruiser Alfonso XIII is without boilers, and would be of no account. All this discussion of the probability of war among the Americans and Spaniards proves nothing, and only shows the state of feeling here. The conduct of the § sh divers who are investigating the wreck of the Maine is a mystery. Thus far, they have not been down five hours in the aggregate, and they show no disposi- tion to make a thorough inquiry. Tt is impossible to learn the truth fully regarding the purpose of the Spanish court of inquiry, but it is gen- erally believed that the divers went down for form's sake only and that a report will be made In accordance with instructions from Madrid. It may be that the Spanish divers have dis- covered that the whole port side of the Maine forward is gone, and, having so reported, further examination Iis deemed unnecessary. The work of our own divers henceforward is bound to be slow,owing to the ponderous weights to be moved and the safety clamps, nuts and rivets that must be cut. Senator Proctor is likely to make a speech in the Senate on his return that will have great weight in determining the future policy of the United States. He is much affected by the suffering that he found in Matanzas and highly indignant at what he calls the “inhu- manity of the course pursued. During a visit to Artemisa, this prov- ince, he'saw thousands of reconcentra- dos who refused to beg, though starv- ing. They were evidently of a class accustomed to make therr living and unwilling to become paupers. He saw | thousands of acres of the best tobacco and banana lands in the world reduced to wasté, with trochas and garrisons at every village and cross-road. His driver, pointing to the mountains miles away, said: ‘““There are plenty of in- surgent camps there that the Spanish have never discovered.” The work of distribution of American relief under Miss Clara Barton, Mr. El- well and their assistants is, in Senator Proctor’s judgment, carefully and ef- fectively carried on. The demand s far in excess of the supply. The sup- plies expected at Matanzas and Sagua la Grande, to be brought by American cruisers, will afford unspeakable relief. Now that the Almirante Oquendo and the Vizcaya are lying in the harbor the Spaniards exultingly declare that their city is safe, and it is glven out officially in the newspapers that the new arrival is of the same size, armament ang complement as the Vizcaya. _ SONS OF ERIN ALL ARE LOYAL | Irish - Americans Ready to Take Up Arms for This Country. | Patriotic Utterances at a Cen- tennial Celebration in Denver. Father Malone Rebukes the Who Said Catholics Should Support Spain. Priest Special Dispatch to The Call. DENVER, March 6.—The biggest gathering of Irish-American citizens | ever assembled in this city filled the | Broadway Theater this afternoon. The occasion was the celebration of the | centennial anniversary of the Irish rebellion of 1798. The orators were Rev. T. H. Malone, S. J. Donlevy, na- | tional vice-president of the Centennial Association of America, T. M. Patter- son and P. J. Sheridan. | Tather Malone’s address was a crit- |ical and historical review of the | movements of the United Irishmen. In- | cidentally he alluded to the recent speech of Father Weber of New York. “As Trishmen and Irish-Americans,” | said Father Malone, “our cordial sym- pathy goes out to all people struggling for freedom. As Irish - Catholics we cannot too severely condemn the words of that misguided priest in New York who said it was the duty of Catholics to support Spain in a conflict with this country. We stand for America against every other country on earth, and the prompt disclaimer of the ‘great Arch- bishop of New York for responsibility for the priest's utterance meets with sincere response from the Catholics of the West.” These sentiments cheered. S. J. Donlevy's ringing declaration that Irish Nationalism was neither Catholicism nor Protestantism was loudly applauded. The speaker receiv- ed an ovation as he declared for an “Irish republic, a free people, free land and a nation self reliant in all essen- tials.” The addresses of rs. Patterson and Sheridan were algo well received. A delegation was present from each Irish-American organization in the State. HONORE LAINEE IS AGAIN IN CABANAS. Arrest of a French Newspaper Man Who Once Escaped Punish- ment at Havana. Copyrighted, 1898, by James Gordon Bennett. HAVANA, March 6.—Honore Lainee, a French newspaper man, was ar- rested early this morning by Colonel Pagliery, Chief of Police. Lainee was immediately lodged in Cabanas fort- ress, as a political prisoner. M. Mar- tini, French Consul, was notified and communicated with the French Min- ister at Washington. Cabanas fort- ress is no new lodging for Lainee. Two years ago he came to Havana, saying he was captured by the insurgents, from whom he escaped after many dif- ficulties. His story was not believed. He was arrested, charged with com- municating with the rebels and was held incommunicado several days, and then succeeded in getting word to the French. The political charges against Lainee seemed well founded, and though well liked by all classes, his execution was expected. Finally, after establishing its position, Spain mag- nanimously released him, ordering him to leave the island. Lainee had spent nearly a vear in Cabanas and seemed content never to return. With Weyler in Spain, Lainee applied for and re- ceived permission to return to Ha- vana. He has been under close sur- veillance by the police and his arrest was not unexpected even to himself. S o A Essex Ordered to Portsmouth. PORTSMOUTH, N. H.,, March 6.— The United States steamship Essex has been ordered to the Portsmouth Navy Yard for repairs. Orders have been re- ceived at the navy yard to rush work on her, and application has been made to have some, onitors sent here to fit out. ire Remy is prepared for any ncy, and one thousand mechanies or more could be set to work in forty-eight hours. A large ship- ment of steain cutter outfits has been made from this station to Key West. were loudly i | | | | their decks were crowded all day. | work of painting her will begin OLD MONITORS 10 BE UTILIZED Relies of the Civil War May Again Enter . the Service. Five at League Island Will Be Equipped With Modern Guns. Cruiser Columbia Ordered to Sail for Key West as Soon as Possible. Special Dispatch to The Call. PHILADELPHIA, March 6.—To-day was a repetition of last Sunday in the general activity at the League Island Navy Yard. Workmen were busily en- gaged upon the cruiser Minneapolis, the mouitor Miantonomoh and the ram Katahdin. In addition work was going on in the mold loft, and several forges were in operation in the blacksmith shops. The utmost reti- cence prevailed among the officers, sailors and workmen at the yard, and it was impossible to obtain any official information as to the detalil of the work going on. It was evident, however, that all work was being hurried as | rapidly as possible. The work on the Minneapolis and Miantonomoh was all below decks and was said to consist of repairs and in- spection of the machinery. On the Katahdin, the standards for the rapid firing guns were being erected and some small repairs were going on be- low. The work in the mold loft con- sisted of attention to small boats and spars. The immense crowds which flocked to the naval station last Sunday ° ere largely increased to-day, but no one was allowed to get close to the war- ships. Sentries were posted at the en- trance to the wharves and only work- men and those on business were al- lowed inside the lines. The old single turret monitors in the back channel—relics of the late war— were an attraction to thousands, and It was reported that five of these will be taken from their berths as soon as pos- sible and modern guns put aboard. Those now in the turrets are of the smooth-bore kind. The information as to the trial of these boats came from one of their caretakers, and was not official. The boats which, it is said, will be tried are the Montauk, Jason, Manhattan, Lehigh and Canonicus. The purpose of the trial with modern guns is to determile whether they will maintain their center of gravity suffi- ciently to be available for use in any emergency. It was reported to-day that the cruiser Columbia, now in dry dock, had received orders to start for Key West as soon as possible. This could not receive official verification. The cruiser has had her bottom scraped and the to- morrow. WE SHALL NOT BE CAUGHT NAPPING Our Boats in Readiness and Can Be Equipped in Short Order if Necessary. BOSTON, March 6.—Lieutenant-Com- mander Willlam Hemsley Emory, U. S. N.,wasinterviewed at the Hotel Bruns- wick here to-day. At the present time Lieutenant-Commander Emory is in charge of the Bureau of Inspection and Survey stationed in Washington, where he holds consultations daily with-Sec- retary of the Navy John D. Long. He said: “I suppose you want me to talk about the navy, and yet I do not know whether there is really much to talk about.” “Have you formed any opinion on the Maine disaster?” was asked. “Now that is something of which T am as ignorant as yourself,” answered the lleutenant-cdmmander. . “Is it true that unusual activity is manifested at the Navy Department in ‘Washington at the present time?” “Yes, in a_way. Such work as we have had under consideration has been pushed forward. Our boats are in read- iness and could be equipped in a very short time if the occasion demanded. Secretary Long, however, is the man to whom the nation naturally looks for information concerning the movements of his department at this time. All his movements are perfectly public.” —_——— PREPARATION FOR EMERGENCIES SQUADRON OF TORPEDO-BOATS Small Craft ot War Ready to Start From Spain. Will Be Escorted Across the Atlantic by the City of Cadiz. The Liner Herself Equippsd With Heavy Cannon as & War Transport. Special Dispatch to The Call. Copyrighted, 138, by James Gordon Bennett. MADRID, March 6.—A Cadiz corre- spondent writes that much interest is taken in the coming voyage of the tor- pedo destroyers and torpedo boat squadron. Its novelty and the manner in which the boats will be rigged is much debated on, and may be of in- terest to naval men. In the Rayo and Azor alone has it been necessary to re- pair the machinery. On the torpedo boats Terror, Furor and Plunton, a temporary rigging is arranged for three masts and for small sails to be used if possible. The magazines have been emptied of material so as to carry coal, in order to augment the radius of their action. The destroyers’ artillery on deck has been dismounted to make them seaworthy. All these guns have been placed in such positions that they can be remounted at a moment’s notice. The trans-Atlantic steamer City of Cadiz will accompany the squadron. She is filled with coal and provisions literally up to her scuppers. She is now fitted as a war transport, and has on her deck four cannon of twelve centimeters caliber, two of nine centi- meters, two mitrailleuses and two rapid firing guns. In her bunkers she car- ries a large supply of coal solely for the squadron. One hundred tons is in sacks for immediate use. In order that the trip may not be delayed more than is necessary, on the decks of the trans-Atlantic steamer is fixed a large sprint and two pipes, which will serve to launch into the water airtight cases, which will con- tain water, victuals and fresh bread. In this manner all provisions will he distributed during the voyage. It is estimated that the squadron will travel at the rate of ten miles an hour, a speed which cannot be exceeded, ow- ing to the fact that this trans-Atlantic steamer will have to tow the Azor, the smallest of all the torpedo boats, which is not able alone to accomplish the voyage. Forty days’ time the trip will take. The squadron will have to be re- coaled three times during the passage, victualed each day, and the start de- the pends upon condition of the weather. Admiral Matthews Will Retire. WASHINGTON, March 6.—Rear Ad- miral Matthews will relinquish his du- ties as chief of the Bureau of Yards and Docks on the 15th inst. He will retire in the autumn and probably will be assigned to duty on the examining or retiring board until that time. Cap- tain Sigsbee and Captain Dickinson, the latter being assistant chief of the Bureau of Navigation, are among the officers talked of for the successor to Admiral Matthew: ———— American Warships Expected. LONDON, March 6.—A dispatch to the Mail from Hongkong says that six additional American war vessels are expected there shortly. “*Continual wear away a rock.” ing can withstand a wear- dropping will Noth- ing away process. And you' ought to know that your constitution is not a rock by any means. But on you go! On go the drains! “One drop In a bucket' is an expression that you may have heard. But Yyour poor weakened constitu- tion can stand only a very few more of the drains on big system—even 1t you were a strons. man. your For a moment drop your folly. TRY to wake up to the necessity of your case. Spots before your eyes; tremor in your speech; noises in your head: weak knees: no will power. Why will you not be a man? Right away will your trou- bles fly if you want them to. The doctors of the grand old Hudsonian In- stitute will send you a great deal of good advice without cost if vyou but consult them. No public- ity. Go and ask yourself as fo how much of a man you are. Then write and tell the doctors of the Insti- tute all about it. Your case is curable—don’t doubt that. If it were not cura- ble you would be told. GOES The great worry with you is that you do not try to help yourself. You not only expect the doctors to send vou advice and testi- monials free, but you do not seem to have energy enough left even to send your address. THE A rock s a firm thing R usually, but continuous ® droppings will wear It away. Are you interested enough in your strength to try to save it, or do you want it to go altogether? Make up your mind and act! To Cure a Cold in One Day Take Laxative Bromo refund The Essex a __l_:gx"ed“ln the Iow€r bay i HUDSON MEDICAL INSTITUTE. STOCKTON, MARKET AND ELLIS 8T8, 8San Francisco, Cal.