The herald., 1898-03-27
20 90 TO FOREIGN RELATIONS
COMMITTEE
THE CONSERVATIVE SENATORS
Hope to Avoid Immediate Debate on
the Matter-War Preparations
All Along the Line
Associated Press Special Wire

WASdlNGIOlNp MdICH 6o.~1l 10 ~ az
tically settled that when the report Of
the Maine disaster reaches the Senate 1t
will be referred to the Committee on
Foreign Relations. which claims juris-
diction because of the international
character Of the question. Senator Hale,
Of the Naval Committee, said that he
did not expect to make any objection
to the report going to the Foreign Re-
lations Committee.
The hope Is expressed by all the more
conservative senators that che presi-
dents message and the accompanying
papers will be allowed to go to committee
without debate or comment whatever IN
the Senate. A large majority OF the
Senators have tacitly agreed that tnis
shall be the course, but there were few
from whom no promise has been secured
and there is some apprehension that
some of these may make objection to
immediate reference or may offer reso-
lutions providing for direct tnterven-
tion.
There is. however, a persistent effort
to prevent such action, and it may sue
ceed.
NAVAL ORDERS ISSUED
WASHINGTON, March 26.-The Navy
Department issued orders today placing
officers in command Of number OF the
single-turreted monitors. which have
recently been called into service. The
commanders are drawn from the facul-
ty Of the United States Naval Academy
at Annapolis and from the Steel Inspec-
tion Board. Lieut.. r. G. Peck will COM
mand the monitor Lehigh, which is to
60 to Boston; Lieutenant w. r. Irwin,
the Montauk, which goes to Portland.
Me-; Lieutenant H. F. Fickbohm, the
Jason, which goes to New York; Lieu
tenant c. S. Richardson, the Nahant.
which will go to New York, and Lieu
tenant NJ. e. Hunt, the Catskill, which
goes to Boston.
These naval officers will be assisted by
officers and men from the Naval Mill
tia of Massachusetts, New York, New
Jersey and elsewhere.
The monitors are still at the League
Navy Yard, being outfitted as rapidly
as possible, and reports are that the
Navy Department will have them ready
to proceed in from ten days to three
weeks.
Another order issued by the Navy De-
partment today assigns Lieutenant Y.
NOEL to command of the Nezcotte, fine
new tug, lying at New York. which will
proceed to Key West to augment the
feet there.
Secretary Long had an early confer
ence today with Senator Hale, chair
man of the Senate Naval Affairs Com
mittee. The Secretary then had a talk
with MI,
ge-Advocate Of the Maine Court of
Inquiry.
Mr.. Mark spent most of the morn
ing at the Navy Department, comforting
with the Judge-Advocate General and
with Captain Crowninshield, Chief of the
Bureau of Navigation. He maintained
strict reticience. He has taken desk
in the Judge Advocate Generals Of
flee and will remain in washington while
the report of the Court OF Inquiry is un-
der consideration by the President and
Cabinet, with a view to answering in
Quiries which may be made.
The Navy Department has been ad-
vised today that the monitor Terror has
arrived at Hampton Roads. en- route to
Key West, where she will join Captain
SIMPSONS squadron. The vicksburg has
also reached Hampton Roads.
PAINTING THE SQUADRON
WASHINGTON, March 26.-Secretary
Long has deferred to the judgment of
Assistant Secretary Roosevelt as to the
color which the vessels of the navy are
to be painted. Yesterday it was an
nounced that the snowy white, which
has been the distinctive color which has
given the name to the naval sQuadrons
OF the United States, was to be changed
to q piratical black. To this color some
objection was made by Naval officers
as it was thought 1t offered too striking
target for an enemy's guns. Secre-
tary Roosevelt this morning had a con-
ference with Captain Crowninshield,
Chief of the Bureau Of Navigation, at
which Mr.. Roosevelt announced that he
would leave the painting of the ships to
squadron commanders and orders to
that effect will be promulgated. 1t
seems likely that the color to be select
ed by the squadron commanders will be
dark green. That color will furnish
q poor target and the vessels will not be
discernible, 1t is said, at so great a dts
tance at sea.
DYNAMITE GUNS
NEW YORK, March 26.-Work on the
three dynamite guns at Fort Hancock,
Sandy Hook, is being rushed. Lieuten-
ant-Colonel Ludlow, Chief of the Engi-
neer Corps. who is in charge Of the work
of fortifying the lower bay and the Hook,
expects to have the guns ready for SER
vice within a week. In case Of emer-
gency the guns could be put in shape for
use in twenty-four hours. The guns are
OF different sizes and carry shells of from
eight to fifteen inches. From sixty to
hve hundred pounds of dynamite can
be carried In the shot, according to the
size. The shells are projected by air and
have an effective range Of two miles.
The dynamite in even the small shot ia
suhicient to blow up the most powerful
battleship. The guns are of stationary
carriage type and are each manned hv
three men.
THE RETIRED LIST
CHICAGO, March 26.-NayaI officers
on the retired list who are now resident
in Chicago have received notice from the
Navy Department that they are expected
to hold themselves in readiness for SER
vice and restoration to the active list
It is thought by retired officers here thai
similar communications have been
mailed to retired officers throughout the
country, and that in the event of hostili-
ties they will all be ordered into active
service, either in the fighting ships or as
commanders Of auxiliary vessels. Naval
militiamen of Chicago are preparing for
- 49,