Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-03-29
NAVY PREPARATIONS CONTINUE.
Talk Of Peace Seems Futile In the Face of
These Proceedings.

Washington. March 2s.-I-The custo-
mary activity which prevailed in all
ranches OF the war and navy depart
nents for the past month was appar-
mi again today. Particularly was
this the case in the latter, where Sec
retary Long and Assistant Secretary
Roosevelt were on hand holding con-
terences with bureau chiefs and
number of visitors who had business
Of Importance. Among the public
men who saw Secretary Long was
Senator Frye of Maine.
At 10 o'clock the secretary left the
department. for the White House, In
tending not to return until 2 O'Clock.
There was no additional information
at the department regarding the loca-
ton OF the Spanish torpedo boat flotil-
Ia now on Its way to Puerto Rico
from the Canaries, excepting that 1t
was advancing steadily. The highest
naval authorities continue to say this
movement is the most formidable
menace to the ships of our navy that
has yet occurred.
1t was disclosed for the first time by
one OF the naval orders issued today
that the department had determined
upon the formation OF an additional
new feet to be known as 1.-THE
Mosquito Fleet" to he composed of
tugs, steam yachts and other small
vessels which may be obtained which
are to be used as u sort of mobile de-
Tense Of seacoast cities.
The department also issued an order
delaching Commander Horace NJ Ell
mer from Cramps ship yard and or
Gerlng him to duty in the Mosquito
neet This auxiliary organization of
lhe navy Is TO he called into service in
ume OF war. The fact that the organ
tauoh is to be composed exclusively
VI sfnall craft of all descriptions that
may ne available gives the cause for
designation as 1.-THE Mosquito
net Its prospective formation Ia
,ne result Of the observations and
ara SUrN OF the naval college for the past
ny years and the officials believe
ual with the material that may be
Up.alhable. and the manning OF the
ssseM by the naval militia of the
4 .ss, formidable organization of
~, ana VIII result, The naval militia
Me states, however, will not he re-
upon entirely to man the ships but
IN sase OF necessity resort will be had
plrtsS a' , Wherever they may be
Commander Elmer is at the navy
y.atd, which will be the center ~ hts
n i.suIe operations. His duties resnant.
Az me selection of craft of the fIeet
a fot,rsSa attly the same as those per
pas, ny the board which for the
Il IN tHo weeks has been engaged in
the s nlr,upn nf merchant vessels for
thelr sallaiy defense preliminary Ia
TSathashese IN the navy department.
lnto sr,un OF ordnance will be called
arm,rt'te 70 assist in furnishing
" war nv Tor vessels in the event of
"a to ths , ~ navy officers win be assigned
a local eseuirlinand Of each of the several
a Of ", Ne ys naval fleet In the vicinity
a dillon , mest received an important adj
Il Cruiser quay IN the arrival of thc
n wilm,n,,s cincinnati and the gunbonts
II were AZ IN and Castlne which
II last hsers Antonio, Jamaica. when
Castlns from. The Cincinnati and
> Atlantic ssornnrised the recent South
d home sluadron and We're called
a sells are 'yhle weeks ago. These YES.
"a tondltIn, usleved to he in exceller,
II be retail, 'ur active service and viii
n sent n,., al Key West for tho nres
i cinna,l n'nnng to great speed the c,n
4 FLYING ~ probably be added 10 ~
4 adlvsab,s luadron," In case II Is deemed
Tho ~, "a enlarge that fleet
\ cablad ,rvt that Admiral Walk.
nartmen, m Nicaragua TO the STATE az
home announcing his denartura a.,
likelhoos the Speculation n,'to ~
Of tho uu ot one Of the highest "a, o ~
placed navy active or retired h,.,.l
onera,io, charge OF the entire ,n
Cant sn Including the faet , mnsa,
"rlyir.s sampson. Commodore s,,,i usl
squadron and any auxiliarv