Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1898-11-23
They Have Been Doeked and Re. paired WhlIe Peace Terms
 We're In Progress.
STAINS NAVY HAS
 GRADUALLY DWINDLED.
Even Work on New Vessels Has Been Stopped Since the Sign sss@ ing of the Peace Protocol
 By Spain.

Washington, Nov. 23.-Though con- fident that hostilities will not be re- sumed, Secretary Long has made it a point since the peace protocol was sign l ed to put the men-of-war of the service in the best possible condition. During the latter part of last week instructions were sent to the commandants of the navyyards at which ships were under going repairs directing them to expedite the completion of the vessels in order that they might be in condition for im- mediate use should developments i'll the internal situation require their employ ment.
 The departments attention was first directed to the battleships and armored cruisers, and as result of the extra work put on them they are we'll ad- vanced and some are ready for service. The Indiana is the only armor-clad which is new undergoing extensive re- pairs, and in case of necessity overtime work would promptly place her in con- dition to join the squadron to be sent to Spain.
 Secretary Long is now endeavoring to get smaller vessels away from the navy yards. He has given instructions to commandants of navyyards to rush the smaller cruisers and gunboats which are wanted for service in Cuban waters and Porto Rican waters for patrol purposes. The decision not to use the old turreted monitors for service i'll southern waters has caused the officials to look around for more serviceable vessels and the smaller cruisers and gunboats will be used for this purpose. It. is authorita lively stated that no overtime work has been authorized on any of the ships ex- cept in the case of the Indiana, and this was only for few hours each day. So far as the North Atlantic squadron is concerned therefore, it would not take long to mobilize strong fleet. The New York is now at Hampton Roads fully coaled ready for sea; the armored cruiser Brooklyn and the battleship Mas sachusetts, which arc at New York can sail within very short time and the battleship Texas is having her propeller sleeve replaced.
 Besides these vessels the department would probably attach to a fleet sent abroad the cruiser New Orleans, which will be ready for service in few days, several gunboats and fleet of colliers The battleships Iowa and Oregon, which are at Rio, are also available for opera. tions in Spanish waters, being about thu same distance from Spain as are the ships now at New York.
 Should hostilities be resumed it is thought that Secretary Long will again call together the war board consisting of Rear Admiral Sicard, Captain Crownin. shield and Captain Mahan. Before the adjournment of tho board plans had been prepared for the dispatch of Rear Ad' miral Sampson and a squadron under his command to the Spanish coast. It was not contemplated then that the Cana.
 
 ries should be seized, but there is reason now to believe that if the peace negotia. tions are interrupted the authorities will seriously consider the advisability of directing the capture of these islands.
 The withdrawal of the Spanish peace commission from Paris would be the signal for the dispatch of instructions tt Rear Admiral Sampson to come nortf on the gunboat Topeka and resume duty as commander-in.chiefo of the North At lantic squadron.
 Rear Admiral Dewey would send hi vessels to destroy the Spanish fortifca tions at Iloilo; troops would be trans ported to that point and the city would be occupied With the fall of this poin
 the last Spanish stronghold in the Phil ippines would have disappeared and i would be an easy task to station troop among the various islands to protec 1 American interests Besides the Phil
 ippines the American flag would als'
 be hoisted over the Carolines It vii be impossible for Spain to prevent tn, l United States from carrying out it's will l either i'll the Atlantic or i'll the far east -ky ssxss-.Es~-