Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-01-03

some Embarrassment attending the Prepa-
rations-A Lack Of Money.

rations-A Lack of Money
The Secretary Of the Navy is having consid-
cradle embarrassment in making the necessary
preparations for the Columbian naval review
IN April next, principally because Of the inter-
vening change in the administration.
1t Is big undertaking. and il happens al such
time that the incoming Secretary can do little
more than finish the preparations begun by his
predecessor and endeavor to put them into sue
cessfni execution. The present head Of the
department is therefore hampered III his earn
est efforts to make the demonstration worthy
OF the occasion BY desire to avoid the making
OF any arrangements that may not fully accord
with the ideas of his successor.
THE PRESENT AND NEXT srcRErARr
As the entire responsibility for the success
or failure Of the demonstration will rest on the
incoming Secretary, the present Secretary nat
urally prefers that he should have something to
say about the general plan of operation.
Inc review, however. follows so soon after
hi induction into Office that be will scarcely
have more than enough time to arrange the
minor details for the execution Of the
plans which will have been necessarily
prepared by his predecessor. Another
embarrassing feature of the case is that
Admiral Gherardi. wko has been assigned
TO the command Of the American squadron on
that occasion, will not reach this country in
preliminary arrangements. The government
Is committed to the affair and will have to
make the best of it. The maritime nations
OF the world have been invited and have all
promised to participate. and steps have been
taken TO secure the concentration at Hampton
Roads of all the available ships of the United
States navy. but beyond this very little else
has been done.
NO ARRANGEMENTS FOR RECEIVING THE FOREIGN
QUESTS.
No arrangements whatever have vet been
made for the reception and entertainment of
the foreign visitors or the movements and
maneuvers ofthe vessels after they have assem-
bled, and there are thousand and one other
necessary details yet to be arranged. One of the
principal obstacles to definite action at presen is
the lack of money, and unless Congress speed
ny complies with the request to at once provide
for the necessary expenses estimated at 900
600. II is predicted by naval officers that the
naval feature of the Columbian celebra-
ton viii be complete iasco. Rear
Admiral Gherardi's feet. consisting of
the Baltimore, Charleston. san Fran
cisco and Yorktown, now somewhere it, the
vicinity of Patagonia is expected 10 reach New
York about the end of February. The
North Atlantic squadron. Acting Rear
Admiral Walker commanding. consisting
Of the Chicago, Atlanta. Philadelphia
Concord, Nesuvias and kearsarge. VIII
De ordered to meet Admiral GherardIs
fleet in the West Indies. probably near the
Barbados, and accompany it to the United
States. Rear Admiral Benham's flag
ship, the Newark, and the gunboat
Bennington. which are TO convoy the caravels
representing Columbus original feet from Ca
diz. Spain, to the West Indies, viii probably
reach there in time also to accompany the
other American vessels to their rendezvous in
Hampton Roads, where the naval review proper
begins.
FORMIDABLE PROCESSION OF WAR SHIPS
This will make quite formidable procession
Of war ships and indicates the earnest purpose
OF the administration to do all it can to insure
the success of the naval celebration. From the
time he enters the waters forming
the North Atlantic station or home
station, as i. is generally called.
Rear Admiral Gherardi. as the ranking officer
present, will be in supreme command of all
vessels of the L. S. navy within its limits and
will be most important parsonage in all sub
sequent proceedings.