Show a SECRETARY TRAC1 DENIES IT The Pleasant Galley Yarn About a Roving Trip Around the World Special to TIE HERALD Examiner Dispatch WASHINGTON May Secretary Tracy was seen last night and his attention called to the carefally prepared programme by which the Atlanta Boston Chicago and Yorktown were t go around the world on a voyage lasting two years The writer mentioned the various points to be visited and said this flying squadron would be commanded com-manded by Commodore Walker There is not one word of truth in the matter the secretary said Such an idea has never been thought of by the department depart-ment officially or otherwise The first intimation inti-mation I had of such a state of affairs was aaeing it printed in one of the New York ff pers yesterday The Chicago is in no condition to put to sea and will not bo for two months or more Considerable changes will have to be made in her boats and some alteration made in the rearrangement of her interior The departnent has arrived at no decision regarding the disposition of these four vessels The Yorktown has no battery and her work was hurried along for the purpose of enabling the ship t take part in the centennial cen-tennial ceremonies It will be several jfseks before the guns are ready The Atlanta and Boston are in good trim and are most excellent ships To what squadron ron they will be attached is as yet undecided unde-cided With the loss of the Trenton Van dalia and Nipsie the supply of available cruising ships i not overabundant l is not likely that I would send four c the very best ships in the service around the world on a roving expedition when there are so few ships that can housed The new cruiser Charleston is on her trial trip somewhere down the coast of California She will be a great addition t the service and will be a most excellent fighting ship I cannot imagine how such an absurd story could have been started There is not t least semblance of truth in the state irfciit and must partake of that character of yarns1 stories which we sailors denominate galley YOU can deny most emphatically for me 7 that there is not one iota of truth in the article |