The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-05-17
READY FOR SEA.
Orders Which Are Mystery in Naval
Circles.
Rushing Work on the Flagship New York
The Reason Is Matter for Conject-

l
| The Reason Is Matter for Ccnject-
ure.
| New York, May ia Washington de-
spatch to the Herald says:
| Orders have been sent to Rear Admiral
Montgomery Sicard to have his flagship,
the New York, made ready to go to sea
from New York at moments warning.
She is to fill up with coal to her full Ca
pacity. The haste with which she is to
prepare for sea may be judged from the
fact that, although she needs only about
one hundred and seventy tons to fill her
bunkers to their full capacity, this amount
| tomorrow.
| am informed that the New York S
engines have been taken apart, and that
she is undergoing a general overhauling
of her motive machinery at her moorings,
off Tompkinsville, S. l., but the engineer
| ing force Of the cruiser is doubtless al
ready at work putting the engines to-
| gether, and it is believed that she will be
ready for sea by Monday next.
Concerning the flagship's destination
nothing can be learned at the Navy De
partment. Secretary Long told me to-
night that there was no significance to be
attached to the orders issued to the New
York Five or six days ago orders were
given to Rear Admiral Sicard directing
him to drill the crews Of all the vessels
of his squadron at their guns to ascertain
what may be termed their tactical gun
ability, and to exercise them thoroughly
in target practice. The object of these
orders is to drill the crews into a high
state of efficiency and to discover any de-
fects that may now exist in the present
battery arrangement of the ships. Ad-
miral Sicard may send the ships out sim
gly or collectively, but that their depart
ure from port has any bearing on the
Cuban cause is denied by the Secretary.
1t does not seem possible that these
routine orders cover the case of the New
York. Not only would there be no haste
about getting her ready for sea if target
practice and gun exercise were all that
was intended, but there would be no
necessity for filling up her coal bunkers.
With about 100 tons already slowed the
cruiser could remain at sea a couple of
weeks without running short of fuel The
rush to get the remainder of her coal on
board indicates long voyage.
1t has been suggested that the Navy
Department may intend to send the New
York to England with the Brooklyn, but
there is no probability of such destina-
tion for Admiral Sicard' s flagship. Rear
| Admiral J. N Miller has been ordered to
the Brook lyn, and it would be absurd to
send two flag officers to a station with
only two ships.
Even if Admiral Sicard shifted his flag
to another vessel, leaving the New York
free to report to Admiral Miller, there
would be no reason for driving ahead
with the New York. preparations in such
two weeks before the Brooklyn will sail
for Spithead, England.
1t has been suggested that Consul Gen
eral Lee has renewed his request that a
naval force be kept within short dis
tance of Havana for the protection of
American citizens in that city against
mob violence. 1 can find no corrobora.
ton Of this theory, but the belief among
navy officers is strong that the New York
is to be held in complete readiness to &c
to Key West, at n moments warning.
There does not seem to be any other ra
t1onal explanation of the orders that have
been sent to the cruiser.
The new gunboat Wilmington was
placed in commission today
Commander W. W. Reisinger has been
transferred from the Portsmouth Navy
Y.rd to the command of the Pensacola
Navy Yard; Chaplain M. M. Goodwin,
from the Columbia to the Wabash; En-
ign ]. L. Sticht, from the New York
s. the Massachusetts,.
The Detroit has arrived at Bermuda and
the Marblehead at Puerto Cortez, Hon
duras.