The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-03-26


 point along the Atlantic. At the same time the North Atlantic station under Captain Sampson is to be further aug mented. The cruiser Cincinnati, which left Port Antonio three days ago un-
 der sealed orders, is to report at Key West and become a part of Captain Sampson's fleet. The gunboat Will mington, also en route from Port An tonic, will likewise report to Captain Sampson at Key West, as well as the gunboat Vicksburg, now at Hampton Roads. Late to-day the navy depart
 ment gave out the following list of yes sells as showing the exact character of each fleet as it stands to-day: The fol- lowing vessels compose the North At lantic squadron: New York, Iowa. In diana, Miantonomoh, Fern, Puritan, Terror, Marblehead, Montgomery, Del
 aware, Castine, Nashville, Helena, Will mington, Vesuvius, torpedo-boats Du- pont, Foote, Ericsson Gushing, Porter, Winslow and tugs Leyden and Samo- set. The following vessels compose the flying squadron: Brooklyn, Massachu- setts, Texas, Minneapolis and Colum-
 bia. Orders were issued to-day to have
 all the warships painted black, a color
 that is better adapted to hostilities be- cause the vessels will not afford as good a target.
 The New Torpedo Boat.
 The navy department was informed to-day by cable from Lieutenant Col well, naval attache to the United States embassy at London, that agents of this government had purchased a "Schis- eau" torpedo-boat constructed for the German government. The new acqui- sition is of the general type of German torpedo-boats and is regarded as val uable addition to our navy. One feat
 ure regarding her that affords special qualification to the officials of the navy department is that she is now ready for sea. It is expected that in a few days she will leave for the United States. She will be able to make the journey across the Atlantic without difficulty, as she is a good seagoing vessel and her coal capacity is ample for the trip. She is a twenty-three- knot vessel and about 150 feet long. While of the same general type as the Rogers and Foote of the United States navy, she is a trifle larger. The price paid for her the navy department off, cials declined to state, but it was said | to be very reasonable. Work on the vessel has just been completed. She never has been in service. She is sup posed to carry two torpedo tubes and two small calibre rapid-fire guns Nine to twelve men will require to man her. Fortifications at Porto Rico.
 yuo,1 ,xyoc ,,aoai1ra5 to-dav tb1t thp Spaniards have taken steps to supple ment the existing Notifications at San
 Juan de Puerto Rico, the main port of the island of Porto Rico. The news is
 regarded as significant. Porto Rico is the only other possession which be- longs to Spain on this hemisphere be- sides Cuba. The officials while ac- knowledging that information of the foregoing character has reached them will not give any details. The city of Porto Rico is fortified after the style prevalent in early day, the defenses consisting of walls which completely encircle it, of several forts at strategic points, while the only points of egress and ingress are through massive gates.
 These Notifications are being strength ened and the armament has been in | creased by two large guns of formida- ble pattern and calibre. San Juan has 23, 414 inhabitants.
 More Money for Ordnance Bureau. General Flagler, chief of ordnance of the army, to-day had long confer
 ence with Secretary Alger with refer ence to additional guns and gun car riages. A few days ago, Secretary AL ona Io rrJo 900 from the emergency appropriation
 made by congress to be used by the ordnance bureau in the discretion of | General Flagler. This amount al- | though large was not in the opinion of General Flagler sufficient to meet the requirements of the present emergency and his conference with the secretary | was to obtain an additional allowance. After careful canvass of the situa- ton, Secretary Alger gave General Flagler liberal additional allotment work the vessel would not be complet- nation could be obtained as to it's amount The sum must be a very considerate one, however, as General | Flag1er said that it was to be used to cover provisional contracts entered in to for the construction of the new guns of various calibres and their carriages. EnIisfments.
 Pending action on the report of the court of inquiry, Lieutenant Com mander Mark, the judge advocate of the court, will be on special duty in the office of the judge advocate gen. eral. The enlistment of men for the naval service is progressing satisfac- torily at the Washington navy yard and good class of men is being ob- tained. Heretofore the enlistments have been confined to ratings of ma- chinists, seamen and ordinary seamen.
 On the recommendation of Lieutenant
 Robinson, the recruiting officer in
 charge of the rendezvous, the navy de-
 partment has authorized him to include the enlistment of coal passers and fire
 men, so that now the enlistments com-
 prehend every rating of the enlisted service.
 Wish Construction Fastened.
 Lieutenant Colwell at London has
 been directed by the navy department
 to urge the builders of the recently
 purchased cruiser Albany, formerly the
 Brazilian vessel Abrouall, to hasten the
 construction of the ship with all possi-
 ble speed In the ordinary course of fromo the appropriations, but no infor- ed before next December, but it is be- lieved by officers of the navy depart