The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-04-02

washington. Aprll line HElnE
squadron is to remain in Hampton
Roads for the present at least. This an
nouncement was made late this after
noon by Secretary Long, and set al
/ rest the reports which had been current
| throughout the day that a movement
| of the squadron was imminent The
secretary stated that the department
| believed that the present rendezvous
] of the squadron was the most available
one from which the ships under Com
modore Schley could operate in carry
ing out the purpose for which it was
formed, that is, the protection of the
North Atlantic seaboard. He added
that no orders had been issued to Com
modore Schley, and that none were in
immediate contemplation.
PHASES OF THE SITUATION.
In the various phases of the situation
today, the flying squadron stood out
prominently, both as a center of public
interest, in connection with rumored
orders for its sailing from the Roads.
and as matter of consideration by the
department. 1t is said on reliable au-
thority that the department discussed
the question of ordering the ships to
sea, presumably, though not officially,
as stated, in connection with the ap-
proach of the Spanish torpedo flotilla.
1t has been an open secret for some
days that the naval authorities have
regarded the approach of the Spanish
f1otilla with apprehension, and their
feelings in this regard were strong
enough to call the matter to the at
tention of the authorities. After con-
sidering the matter, however, it was de-
cided that no orders should be issued
looking to a movement of the squadron.
While the decision is understood to
have been based primarily upon the
fact that it would be unwise to remove
the ships from their present strategic
position, yet it is believed that diplo-
matte considerations also had some
weight.
HOSTILE ACT.
It was pointed out that the sending
of the squadron in the direction of the
West Indies, even though its mission
were not to intercept the fiotilla, would
be regarded as a hostile act, not war
ranted by the present condition of af-
fairs 1t is also understood that ii was
deemed wise not to permit any move
ment of the flying squadron whatever
just at present, as public interest is so
largely centered upon 1t that such
movement would be liable TO miscon-
struction, and might give rise to ru-
mors that would tend only to aggra-
vate the situation. The flying squad
ron will be completed tomorrow with
the arrival of the Minneapolis at
Hampton Roads, and then the Swlftest
group of warships ever gathered in
one community will be assembled I'M
der Commodore Schley's flag.
NAVAL MILITIA.
Supplementing the action taken yes
terday by the navy department IN re-
ouesting governors, of states to drill
and equip the naval militia so as to be
ready for any emergency, Assistant
Secretary Roosevelt today sent letters
to the governors of those seacoast
states not having such organizations,
to take steps looking to the formation
of naval militia, so far as is possible
under the state laws. 1t is hoped by
the naval officials that each of these
states will be enabled to promptly ac-
quiesce in the department. request,
and be prepared to assist in the naval
auxiliary work. These coast states not
haying naval militia organizations are;
Maine, New Hampshire. Delaware, /
Texas and Alabama. The following is
a COPY of the letter sent to the officials
of those states which already have
naval militia organizations, the frst
one going to those on the coast and the
second to interior states on the lakes:
1.-The department requests that you +
will Immediately proceed to put the
naval militia OF your state in thorough (
condition to meet any sudden call for
their services by the president Of the ,
United States.
1.-The divisions should be recruited to /
their full strength and thoroughly !
drilled A careful inspection should be f.
made of all vessels in the ports of your !
state that can be utilized for mos /
auto fleet, in accordance with instruc-
tons and blanks sent to the adjutant I
general"
LEFT HAVANA.
The navy department received infor-
nation today that the cruisers ViZcaya .
and Oquendo, the two fine Spanish .
cruisers which have been lying at Ha-
yana; had left that port. Their des-
-ination is not known, but there is rea- /
son to believe they have gone to join
The torpedo flotilla.
The naval officers continue reticent /
'egarding the acquisition of new vessels
FOR the auxiliary fleet and the negotia- /
lions for the purchase of ships of var
abroad, but there were indications to-
Law that in spite of the announced he
ief of the department that no more
ships were to be looked for in hat
luarter all hope has not been aban-
Toned. No confirmation of the cable !
dispatch from Denmark that negotia
ions were under way for the purchase
If two Danish cruisers could be Cb-
aimed. but at the same time it was
lot denied. Assistant Secretary ROose-
xuhan asked the question Oirapt .