The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-01-06
The COMPLICATIONS WITH SPAIN.
The Monitors Canonicus, Mshepas, Manhattan,
WyandOtte, Sausus, Ajax, Colossus
81 and FrOlic Preparing.
"IRON.CLADS MEAN WAR.

tsrt WASHINGTON Jan. s. 1871.
The Iroa.CIads Ordered TO sea-Dislike Of
Naval Om~ers 90 Servo In Them-What q
DlpIsmas says-Tho Spanish Minister On
rho SisuRtiop. .e
The naval orders to-day assigning Officers 60 the
Nonrtors Canonicus and Mahopac officially con-
Nrmed the announcement In these dispatches OF
yesterday. number OF the onlcers selected are on
duty in Washington, ana, dreading the pentup life
ON vessels OF this class have sought through innu
entail friends TO be relieved from the orders issued.
Secretary Robson refused in every case to change
the roster, stating that 1t was important that
those assigned to the Canonicus and Mahopsc
should obey with all aaority the orders Of the De-
partment II Ii rumored that the unfinished IRON
clad Colossus Ia to be completed without delay.
The Brolic, at the Washington Navy Yard, will be
placed In commission early next week. The Canaan
daigua, ct New York, 10 reported nearly ready,
while the wyoming and Worcester have botn their
enlcers and crew. and will be ready IN few days
70 proceed 70 Havana Beside the Monitors Maho-
pac and Canonicus there are nve others which can
Be got ready for service IN short time
IL would be absurd TO say that all the warlike
preparations Deing made mean nothing. Retrench-
ment 10 the watchword OF the administration, and
10 other Cabinet oflcer mas boosted more than the
Secretary Of the Navy OF the reduction Of expenses
IN his Department. and the irugality with which
the APPROPRIATIONS have been expended.
One OF the foreign Ministers said to-
eight that the report abroad OF our govern
mont ordering into commission two monitors would
10 more 70 convince European nations OF trouble
apprehsnded than the fitting ont OF all the wooden
vessels Of the navy; .for'' said be, "irigares now
adays are merely adjuncts OF diplomacy, Dut IRON
ciads mean war;"
cna uiuh Nsufof all of rho
leading papers OF the country, and hav.
ing had experience In Journalism is bet
ser capable, with his acquaintance Of the American
people OF Judging OF the true condition OF sffairs
WAile ne not &c liberty 10 speak oficay, he does
not hesitate to say that between Spain and the
United States there Is not single variance except
ing the one which will DO the subject Of immediate
diplomatic correspondence-the boarding OF the
Hlorida-but he does not anticipate trouble. Out
size Of oicial and diplomatic circles there Ia end
less discussion OF the prospects Of wi tn Spain.
Protection TO American shipping-The Ohiciai
Observation-Disclosures the North Atlantic
Elect.
The Canonicus dron-cladl at League Island, just
on1cored, Ii Of the fourth class, mounts two guns
and Is $50 tons burden. The Mahopac, OF the same
class and capacity also oficered to-day lies at the
Washington Navy YARD. other vessels will soon be
placed In commission and arrangements for that
purpose are now being made at the Navy Depart
ment While It is not admitted In Official
quarters that there is an exigency for these
preparations It Is well known that the
North Atlantic neet Is to be strengthened
for protective purposes and to present force sum-
GENTLY large to guard American ships from molesta
ZION and illegal search on the high seas by Spanish
cruisers A month ago the force on that station
consisted OF ten ships, mounting seventy guns.
flY1o nf fhoua fhoO hor
neved a. she Is destined for the South Atlantic. but
others Will supply her place. Care is taken In
the selection Of the commanders the utmost
confidence beng placed In their competency TO
faliy carry out she orders OF the government While
the utmost caution enjoined. the policy OF protec
ton will be rigidly enforced.
Preparations ut League Island.
The iron-clads Canonicus, Manhattan, Wyandotte
Baugus and Ajax are now fitting out at the Navy
Yard, Philadelphia. It Is supposed, for Cuba.
Important Naval Orders.
Commander A. e. X. Benham Is ordered TO the
command Of the Canonicus; Commander o. f.
stanton to the command OF the Monocacy, In the
Asiatic squadron; First Assistant Engineer william
q. Nicoll to the Bureau OF Steam Engineering Sec
0nd Assistant Engineer J. J. Barry to duty at New
York; B0atswain Andrew Mime TO the naval sta
Is detached from the washington Navy Yard and
ordered TO command the MahopAc; Command er
spsctor Of Supplies at the New YORK Navy :" Yard
and placed on waiting orders; Commander Edward
nonocacY and ordered TO return to sne United
States; Lieutenant Commander +. I. DicKins Is de-
taohed from torpedo duty ana ordered to the re-
Navy Yard, and ordered 70 the hydroaraphic ONCE;
Assistant Paymaster Joseph 7. Addicks, from the
pas; First Assistant Engineer Sidney p Smith,
nn@ orGeped To the NagyT
First Assistant Engineer JEFFERSON Brown
os..a e tho S1 sI1 e @ ssa
henry A. Mc0ee, from the Washington Navy Yard,
and ordered 70 the 0anonicus; FIRST Assistant Ensi
neer ]. q. Brosnahan and Second Assistant Henry
Webster from the washington Navy Yard and or.
4sred 70 the Mahopac; Lieutenant Commander
Executive 0nhcer; Lieutenant F: A. Miller and First
Asslstant Engineer George y. White, TO the
second Assistant Engineer Edward F. McEiweli, to
and as
Oncer Of the Manopac; Assistant Surgeon 3. 8.
MscEs ron re nay. Hospital 3: and
lnson from the Naval Academy, and ordered to the
Sahopao; Assistant Paymaster 4. K: Calhoun and
the Philadelphia Navy Yard and ordered TO the
Canonicus
Looking to Our Land Defences.
A despatch rom Fortress Monroe says that Gen.
eral William T. Barry mas been ordered to New
IOrk IOr the purpose OF consulting with the Engl-
neer Board now In session there on the subject OF
Notifications He leaves tonight for that pur-
pose.
Our Relations with Spain.
EFrom the Worcester spy republican, ex-Congress.
man Baldwin,, Jan. ST.
There 10 some reason to apprehend serious
trouble with SPAN. The recall OF Mr. Roberts, the
present spanish Minister at Washington, and the
appointment of Admiral Polo To succeed him are
thought at Warrington to indicate that the feeling
Of the Spanish government toward the United
states, II not positively hostile, Is at least not
friendly. No Official intelligence Of Mr.. Roberts
recall mas been received, but the change has been
reported BY cable, and this report 10 believed to be
well founded This OF itself would be unimportant
4 nam NJ oYo had not Hoadx IN