The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-04-29

WASHINGTON, D. C.,April 2s.-THE
slIELLING OF THE MArANzAs
BATTERIES WAS THE TOPIC OF
ABSORBING INTEREST THROUGH
OUT NAVAL AND OFFICIAL CIR
Giles GENERALLY TODAY. IT,
WAS DISCUSSED ON THE BASIS OF
THE PRESS REPORTS FROM KEY
WEST, AS THE NAVY DEPART
MENT RECEIVED NO g1NFoRMA-
TIoN WHATEVER ON THE SUB
JEcT. SECRETARY LONG SAID AT,
4 O'CLOCK THIS AFTERNOON AS
HE CLOSED UP HIS OFFICE WORK
OF THE DAY, THAT NO REPORT
HAD BEEN RECEIVED FROM ADJ,
MIRAL SAMPSON NOR WAS THE
NAVY DEPARTMENT ADVISED IN
ANY WAY OF THE sHELLING OF
MATANzAs.
MR. LONG ADDED THAT HE
FELT NO DISPOSITION TO KEEP:
FROM THE PUBLIC ANY NEWS
CONCERNING SUCH AN IMPORT
ANT AN EVENT AS A NAVAL EN-
GAGEMENT OR "A BATTLE. WHILE
IT WAS ESSENTIAL THAT FUTURE
STRATEGIC MOVES SHOULD BE
GUARDED WITH THE GREATEST
CARE. YET MR.. LONG MADE IT
CLEAR THAT IRIS DID NOT AP-
PLY TO EVENTS AFTER THEY HAD
ACTUALLY ocCURRED,FoR AS TO
BATTLES AND THEIR ATTENDANT
CASUALTIES HE RECOGNIZED
THAT THE PUBLIC WAS ENTITLED
TO KNOW WHAT HAD OCCURRED.
THE SECRETARY SAID THAT IN
THE ABSENCE OF ALL OFFICIAL
INFORMATION HE WAS INCLINED
TO BELIEVE THAT THE SHELLING
WAS CONFINED TO THE EX-
CHANGE OF A FEW SHOTS AND
DID NOT ASSUME THE PRoPoR-
TONS OF A REGULAR BOAIBARD-
MENT. WHEN HIS ATTENTION
WAS DIRECTED TO REPORTS
THAT THE SHELLING WAS THE
RESULT OF DIRECT ORDERS FROM
THE PRESIDENT. THE SECRE-
TARY SAID THIS WAS NOT SO AS
THE PRESIDENT WAS GIVING NO
DIRECT ORDERS ON ANY OF
THESE MOVEMENTS.
War Fund Exhausted.
The navy department has completely
ceased its purchase Of ships for CONVEX
sion into war vessels owing to the ex-
haustion OF the s5O,ooo,0 900 war fund. It
Is confidently expected that Congress
will come to the relief as the depart
nent Is still in need OF auxiliary vessels.
The news OF the safe arrival at Liver
pool, Of the big American sailing chip
Shenandoah was gladly received at the
department. Consul Boyle, at LIVER
pool, forwarded the information.
The Port Royal dry dock, according
20 welcome official information would
be accessible 10 warships, even the big
sest Of the fleet, should they meet with
accident during the campaign. The re-
port frnm the constructor In charge
shoWs that the entrance to the dock IS
now dTedged and clear. The work OF
dredging the basin is still IN progress
una While this Is not absolutely neces-
sary 1t Is extremely degirable in order
10 insure the safety Of the ships In dock
ing and the department Is endeavoring
70 hasten the contractors in their work.
lhey estimete that about fifteen days
more Will suffice to complete It.
Three New HsttIeahips.
The board Of bureau chiefs met to-day
10 begin the consideration OF the plans
lor the three new battleshlps authorized
by the naval appropriation bill, end
progressed SO far that circulars will be
seh1 out tomorrow inviting bids from
the snip builders. The vessels will. be
~ Me main similar to the battleship
LIN, a,,ihois now building OF Newport News.
ihey VIII be about 1850 displacement,
10 ieet beam. 2Sis feet depth. 16 knots
6peed. VIII be covered with heavy ar
NOR and armed with 13 and 6-inch guns
ier!cs. = :. ! :. = -. a
II can be stated authoritatively that
,aete IS no present prospect Of a change
w. " the head Of the navigation bureau.
me present efficient chief, Captain
ts,own!nsh!eld, thought anxious to take
as place In the fighting line. has Yield
ME personal ambitions to the urgent
osnands OF Secretary Long and the
resident, and will remain ut his post.
nell In good health notwithstanding the
ssSefe strain to which he has been sub
Preparing for Invasion.
rather striking situation OF the sm-
N'hence of the invasion OF Cuba was
contained in the charterlng to-day by
"'e war department OF eight large
Sieamers OF IN average capacity OF
~ ayous 1000 tons and able to carry from
wy 70 l.2o0 passengers each. These arc
"pe used as transports for the convey
cnce OF the FIRST military expedition to
S.. EuDa. The names OF the boats are the
pp.Yette p.Itte and the Florida, of the
rrsaht line now in the gulf, the
S"uthern Pacific company's stea-
.er Arkansas, tho New York
rnn NV, Texas Company's vessel Co.
m" ma'' now at New York, and the Mala-
NV NV now en- route to the gulf: and three
rn,e n,e sn!ps Of the Boston merchant and
.ho liners line In Baltimore, the Allegheny,
nv, nv berkshire and tho Decatur Miller.
;i"aIb %f price paid for these vessels Is from
Sno wSI" TO $4,000 for the thirty days for
,,." ch they are, engaged. They will be
Jsn sen charge Of by tho quartermus,crs