The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-03-22
SHIP MARKET IS CORNERED
UNCLE SAM IS ABLE TO SHUT
SPAIN OUT IN EUROPE
War Vessels, the DOms, at Least,
VIII Not Be Able to Acquire Them
Routine Preparations on u
Gigantic ScaIe-MOvements of
Craft Reported to Secretary Long.

interruption, although they have now
become so regular as to lapse into
routine on gigantic scale. No further
purchases of warships were concluded
today, and the negotiations are not as
Stunning promising aspect, except in
showing that the United States can
command the market as against Spain.
According to the orders to naval ofh-
GERS, issued by the department today,
the battleship Maine is still in exist
ence. AT least two Of the orders would
seem to give that impression. They
read as follows:
Lieut. A. w. Catlin, u. S. NJ. c., de-
tached Maine and home; Lieut.. G. F.
w. Holman, detached Maine, home and
wait orders"
1t is presumed that the Inflated bat
tleShip will not be stricken from the
naval register until after 1t has been
finally established beyond the POSSIBLE
ity of doubt that the shattered hull
cannot be raised and reconstructed into
at least a semblance Of her former self.
Although there is scarcely ground
for the hope that the vessel can be
raised and restored to the navy, the
department Will not abandon Its efforts
in that direction until the wreckers
now at work upon it report that 1t is
impossible.
The navy has particular need of
regard the recovery Of the main bat
terry of the Maine as a contamination
devoutly to be wished. Although there
is not much prospect of raising the
Maine with its reported broken back
bone, there is great reason to peneVe
from the reports Of the divers that
many. if not all of the guns may be
recovered eventually from the wreck
and put in places where they may be
q b1o n render good service.
Men Wanted.
The enlistment branch of the navy
department today issued a large poster
advertising for men for the United
States navy. The putting into COM
mission of the cruisers Columbia and
Minneapolis and the prospective de-
mands that will be necessary as re-
suit of the acquisition of the Brazilian
ship Amazonas and the American yacht
Mayf1ower require the enlistment Of
additional men.
Enlistments will be made at the fol-
lowing places: The navy yards at Bos-
ton, Brooklyn, Philadelphia, Washing
ton, Norfolk and Mare Island; sc South
street. New York city; U. S. S. Michi-
gan at Erie, Pa; custom house at New
Orleans, ard the custom house at
Gloucester, Mass.
The following classes of men are
wanted: Seamen, eighteen to thirty
five years Of age, at $24 per month;
ordinary seamen, eighteen to thirty
five years of age, at $19 per month;
chief machinists eighteen to thirty-hve
years of age, at $40 per month; ma
chinists, first-claSs, eighteen to thirty
five years Of age, at $55 per month,
and machinists, second-class, eighteen
to thirty-five years of age, $40 per
month.
The battleship Texas started north
ward from Key West today, thus set
ting the question as to the formation
of a second squadron at Or near Hamp-
ton Roads. 1t is expected the Massa-
chusetts will follow in few days, but
the final orders for that move have
not been made.
The navy department received a pre-
liminary report today from one of it's
agents who Is at Havana watching the
progress Of the wrecking. 1t is under
stood that this refers mainly to the
technical work of salvage and not to
the question of cause.
The sailing of the coast defense YES
sells Monadnock and Monterey today
from San Diego for San Francisco has
been reported to the department. The
two ships have been in Lower Califor-
gagged in target and other practices and
their departure for the Golden Gate is
said to be in accordance with the usual
custom each spring of sending them
there for any repairs that may be found
necessary. The vessels will add much
to the naval defense of the city,
should hostilities occur. They will,
in part, take the place left vacant by
the departure of the battleship Oregon
Flying Squadron.
Lieutenant Commander J. E. Pills
bury, commanding the dynamite cruis-
err VesuVius, which has just arrived at
the Washington navy yard from Flor
ida, was at the navy department today
in conference with the officials regard
ing the future of this unique craft
The pneumatic gear used in operating
the dynamite tubes is undergoing re-
pairs which it is calculated will take
about two weeks time. 1t is consid-
cred probable, in view of the speed
power of the Vesuvius, that she may
be attached to the so-called flying
squadron, which, it is alleged, is soon
to assemble in Hampton Roads.
According to the present plans the
squadron to be organized at Hampton
Roads will consist of the battleships
Massachusetts and Texas, and cruis-
ers Brooklyn, Minneapolis and CO.
lumbia. The Vesuvius would be per-
fectly at home in such company, being
faster than either of the battleships
and nearly the equal in speed of the
pennant holders Minneapolis and CO.
lumbia.
Although no orders to that effect
have been given, it is generally believed
in naval circles that Commodore How
ell will be assigned to the command Of
this fleet. He was recently in COM
mand of the European squadron which
has just been abandoned by recall to
the United States of the three vessels
comprising it, the San Francisco, Hell
ena and Bancroft. Commodore Howell
Is now on the San Francisco, and will
accompany her On her cruise to the
United States as the convoy Of the
cruiser Amazonas. 1t is expected that
these vessels will soon start from Eng
land on their voyage across the At
lantic ocean, and the probabilities are
that they will make Hampton Roads
their destination.
Naval Bill.
The house committee on naval affairs
completed the naval appropriation bill
this afternoon, and it will be reported
to the house tomorrow While the
footings Of the various items were not
completed when the committee adj
journed, the bill Is roughly calculated
as carrying between s36, 600, 900 and s37,-
100000, of which about So, 10000 will be
O " npn6pd nr1y