The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-03-14

WASHINGTON, March ls.-To-day,
unlike last Sunday when the published
f,atemcnts OF the desire for the recall
Of Gen. Lee and the protest OF the Span
igh government against sending war
vessels with relief supplies to Cuba
raused much excitement among official
circles, was comparatively Quieh There
had been no information bearing on the
tlolugs OF the court OF inquiry on the
Maine explosion received during the
day or any other dispatches calculated
10 cause conferences between the heads
Of the various departments There
were number Of the experts OF the
war department ordnance office at
their desks for short time during the
morning to attend to some pressing
matters, while at the navy department
tho board on auxiliary cruisers held n
final meeting preparatory to the de-
parture OF the special board to New
York.
Secretary Long was at the navy de-
partment for a short while. He stated
late In the afternoon that there was no
news OF any nature for the press and
added in response to 4 specific inquiry
that nothing had been received from
the court Of inquiry.
The board Of auxiliary cruisers met
In Assistant Secretary Roosever's room
during the morning. There were pres
ert In addition 10 the assistant secre-
tary. Chief Constructor HlchborE. OF the
bureau OF construction and repair;
Captain Frederick Rodgers, OF the ma
val board OF inspection and survey;
Captain O'Ne!l!. chief OF the ordnance
bureau: Lieutenant Sergeant. recorder
OF the board OF inspection. and L!euter-
ant Peters. OF the naval intelligence
bureau. Lieutenant Commander ]. d.
Kelly and Naval Constructor Towresey,
the latter now on duty at Cramps Ship
yards, were expected, but their orders
TO attend had evidently arrived too late
TO permit them to do 50. Each of the
bureau chiefs present was able to give
the hoard some information incident to
work tina. may be required to fit out
any chips that might be obtained.
Several Of the members OF the board
ca originally appointed to look into the
matter were unable to leave the city at
the present time, SO II was determined
that special board. of which Captain
Rodgers viii be president, should be
designated TO proceed to New York to-
night TO undertake the work In hand.
An Office will be opened at &c Courtlande
Street New York city Tomorrow
morning. at which owners and agents
for ships will be invited to make their
PROPOSALS for turr4ng over to the navy
such vessels US are OF value for con-
Fers.oR into war purposes
The naval officials say there will be
10 difficulty experienced In obtaining
al vessels that are desired as there are
hundreds available. Thanks to the
careful wark OF the naval intelligence
once the department. keeps in close
touch With the constructions of all craft
mat could be utilized In the event OF
HoStlIlt!es. ard Just now It has a rec
ORD CT forty such ships OF all sizes and
c!aSeS which will be inspected and
examined II their owners desire to part
win them. A number or these are ves-
se!s which have been constructed uH-
oer the subsidy act Of congress and are
engaged In carrying the malls. The
NsSSeIs 10 be examined will include all
GASES, from liners like the St. Paul
~ oce"n'Eo!nS tugs which can be OF
my material service for a number OF
purposes. Tonnage, draft, speed, con-
ditioHs OF boilers and machinery and
othsr attributes will figure in the thor
ough Inspection which will be UNDER
taken by the board before any charter
s or purchasing Is recommended.
DUH 'ne ordnance bureau and that en-
Gagged IN the work of construction and
IeI"ir are ready to take their part in
ntuhg out and equipping such vessels
us may be acquired. ~
At the Washington gun factory there
eFe now n various stages OF construc-
@ uoH no less than l5O guns OF formid-
an. S".e character on which work Ia being
no,le night and day with view to their
t"iiy completion. No new guns are
.selhs started but the entire efforts of
'Lo factory are devoted to finishing
.;;S .nose isow nnder way. A naval officer
sdi 'here VIII be enough OF them when
finished to constitute a fair Armament
Ior probably thirty more auxiliary
csulsers should such a large fleet be
dGuhu necessary to supplement the reg
ulhr warships. - %
me gunboat Machias, which has just
arrived Mt Norfolk from the Aaatic
station by way OF the suez canal, has
s,s zen found to be in fair shape rs a re-
su'o or the examinations by the nayal
Inspection board. a thorough over
hauling VIII be unnecessary In the pres
en- Instance and she will be sent TO
nos'on. where all necessary repairs
S%h be made to her in about twelve
;, Tho ordering OF the Helena and the
bancroft. row at the European station,
:" nc Urated States will leave Ad,
Mttai mira HoweI commanding that station
WIN but one vessel, viz: The San Fran
r,sco; NO explanation for the action Is
SG"uchsafed by the officials OF the navy
mhartment and Secretary Long when
nSKed to-day declined to say anything
auout the step further than that the
'"o SHIPS had been ordered home,
PRUDENT ,pREphRATIOEa