The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-06
MAY BE TRICKY.


fculty in obtaining the title to sufficient
ground at Point Wilson, Wash, on which
1t is proposed to erect fortifications. This
is because of the fact that the owners of
much Of the lands are scattered over the
country and trouble has been experienced
in securing their addresses The matter is
now i'm the hands of the nanartrnent of
Justice, which is doing everything possible
to settle the question: The nature and ex-
tent Of the works TO be erected will depend
on the money available.
I'VE are pressing work on Notifications"
said an official of the War Department to-
day, Just as we have been since the per-
manent system of coast defense was in
augurated by Congress about two years ago.
We aim to spend all the money Congress
approprates yearly, so that the legislative
body will continue to authorize expenditure
for this necessary adjunct of national de-
Tense. Naturally the public is now taking
great interest i'll what is going on and prob
ably observe with closer scrutiny every
thing that is being done. This, coupled
with the fact that no one except members
of Congress is allowed to enter the fortif-
cations, and they only with the consent of
the secretary of war. apparently makes the
matter all the more MYSTERIOUS No
would not be at liberty to tell of any steps
that are being taken as the result of the
pending excitement, even if 1 knew of
SUCH"
AUXILIARY CRUISERS.
A visit to the Navy Department, one of
those made at not infrequent intervals in
the course of duty by Lieutenant J. d. J.
Kelley, U. S. N, caused the immediate cir
culation of a report that the government
is embarking on the large undertaking in
the inspection of all vessels of our mer-
chant marine that might be available for
naval service in case of need. For more
than six months Lieutenant Kelley has been
charged with the duty OF inspecting vessels
of the merchant marine to ascertain If they
complied with the terms Of the so-caied
subsidy act, and are thus fitted for naval
he
passed several years ago, appear to be de-
signed to secure the creation of a class of
vessels under the American flag, built in
American ship yards, that shall be, first
suitable for the rapid and safe carriage of
the United States mails, and second, suit
able for transformation in case of need into
auxiliary cruisers for the navy. Ever since
the passage of that act the Navy Depart
ment has had officers at work inspecting
merchant vessels, either in their prelimi-
nary stages of construction or after compile
ton, when their owners ought to take ad-
vantage of the act and claim subsidies for
their ships. Many vessels have been so in
spected and the naval officers have reported
to the postmaster general their fitness or
stated, Lieutenant Kelley is now in charge
of that particular branch of the navy, and
has been prosecuting 1T with diligence.
Without doubt the public excitement of
the last few weeks induced a number of
vessel owners who have never before sought
to take advantage of the subsidy act to
submit their ships to the Navy Department
now for examination, and this has resulted
in unusual activity on the part of the in
speeding officers Probably everybody who
has ship under construction which by any
possibility could be metamorphosed into q
war vessel has written to the Navy Depart
ment offering their ship for sale to the gov
eminent. There is a strong tincture or
war prices in the figures named by many
of these patriotic citizens a selling price
for their craft Some offers have also come
from abroad but so far as can be gathered
all these e re t and NsTy bet
partment.
THE BROOKLYN AT LAGuAYRA.
The armored cruiser Brooklyn arrived at
Laguayra, Venezuela, yesterday and re-
ported last night by cable to the Navy De-
partment 1t is the intention of the authori-
ties to keep the ship at that point for
few days, or at least until it is demon
strated that the insignificant revolutionary
movement in the eastern portion Of the
country is shown not to endanger any
American interests. Then the plan is for
the Brooklyn to proceed to Colon and await
orders from the department The Newport,
with the Nicaragua canal commission
aboard, arrived at Colon yesterday with the
expectation of remaining until the 10th
instant. The training ship Essex has sailed
from Fort Monroe for TompkinSville.
1t was decided this afternoon 10 abandon
the projected order to the flag ship Olympia
to return to San Francisco from Hong
Kong. Without this fine ship the Asiatic
squadron would be made of gunboats and
unprotected cruisers without any great de-
gree of defensive and no offensive force
against armored ships. The cruiser Balti-
more, now at Honolulu, has been selected
to take the powder to be brought to that
port by the Mohican further along to Hong
Kong for the vessels of the Asiatic squad
ron. Whether or not the ship will be at
tached to the squadron permanently has
not yet been determined The torpedo boat
Winslow which has been under repair at
the Norfolk navy yards sailed to-day for
Key West to join the flotilla.
Senior Du Bose the Spanish charge
d affaires, called at the State Department
this morning and had snort talk with
Judge Day concerning recent filbustering
movements. The department desired to get
fuller information than had thus far been
furnished 1t is understood that SPANS
purchase of war ships and other subjects
which have attracted much interest within
the last few days were in no way referred
to, as Senior Du Bose has received no in
formation on these subjects, and they are
not open to diplomatic negotiations
The departure of General Wilson, chief
of engineers of the War Department, for
the South, it is now admitted, is for the
purpose of inspecting Notifications and
river and harbor improvements. He has not
been on such tour in the direction he has
taken since appointment to his present
office. His trip may extend to Dry Tortu-
gas, in the Gulf of Mexico.