The New York herald., 1873-11-25
IMPORTANT FROM WASHINGTON.
The Secretary or the Navy Department
Counterman nds Previous Orders.

The Secretary OF the Navy Department
Countermands Previous Orders.
WASHINGTON, Nov. a. 1873.
The Secretary Of the Navy to-day directed that
orders be issued to suspend work on the iron-cads
ana TO detach from the large vessels recently or
dered into commission all officers, to await fur
ther orders. transportation OF ordnance stores
to Key West will also be stopped.
There s possibility, it is said, of settling the
diplomatic controversy between Spain and the
United States for many months to come, which ac
counts for the orders for retrenchment.
Lieutenant Colonel James Forney, of the
Marine corps, while the Spanish war fever was
at its height applied for permission to take
command Of a battalion Of marines. The
war cloud having bloHn over, the order for the
formation Of the battalion has been counter
manded. Had there been occasion for the services
Of the battalion, 1t is understood that Lieutenant
Colonel Forney would have been assigned to the
command
Marshal SerranO Said To BE the Coming
Man in Spain-The War Feeling De-
Go On-Speculations as TO Where the
Spaniards Would Attack Us and Their
Poor Chances Against Us-Navai Com
tracts.
WASHINGTON. Nov. "a, 1879
There ie nothing really new to-day in regard
60 Spanish affairs except the intimaton,
merely through British sources OF proba-
bility OF Marshal Serrano being declared military
dictator. It will be recollected that Marshal
Serrano was, in the summer OF 1872, charged with
the formation OF o Cabinet. At that time he was i'm
the Pyrenees at the head OF the forces operating
against the CarlIsts. An unforeseen phase in the
situation was suddenly caused by an order issued
by him granting extremely liberal terms to the
Carlists In Navarro, in which ii was stipulated
they should Immediately cease hostiities and give
UP their arms
THIS ACT OF CLEMEHCY,
assumed to be the result OF an understanding with
the Carlist chiefs in the Basque provinces, at
once characterized and denounced as the conven-
ton OF Dsstger rfeja old woman, and so violent
and universal were the expressions OF dsapproval 1t
encountered that even the President OF the Council
ma Interim, Admiral Topetc, yiededt to the pressure
30 far as to admit in his place in the Chamber Of
Deputies, that public opinion had found
iust occasion for alarm in the reported
terms In the transaction. This declaration was
'"inseuasciy ionoWeu Dy tne resignation VI MaIsnai
Serrano, not only OF his military command, but
also OF the Presidency OF the Council OF Ministers.
The return OF the Marshal TO the capital at once
stored his prestige. His late colleagues heard his
explanation and assured him OF their support. The
Cabinet OF MARSHAL Serrano left oice after the very
brief tenure, even In Spain, OF seven DAYS with
this Cabinet the United states succeeded In adjust
ing several OF the questions then pending between
the two countries.
ABATEMENT OF THE WAR FEELING-oUR NAVAL DE.
FENCES IN CASE OF NEED.
The war feeling in Washington seems TO be upon
the decline, although naval preparations are as
active as ever and large numbers OF officers are
being detailed for duty daily. Three iron.clads win
be ready for sea in ten days and four or i've more
will be ready In SIX weeks. Much has been said
about the formidable Spanish ron-clads entering
our ports In case OF q with Spain; but old and
experienced naval officers here express the opinion
thatno one OF the Spanish ironclads or any armored
ship OF the foreign Powers could enter New York
unrbQT except in case OF an extraordinary
tide, and then great care wouId have TO be excr
cised' Even u they SHOULD get ~ tney would be