The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-09-20

dent from Foreign
Washington, September 15.-Captain
Robley D.. Evans called at the navy
department today and had a long talk
with Secretary Long, the immediate re
suit Of which was the issue of an or
der relieving him Of the command of
the battleship Iowa. which is now be
ing repaired at the New York navy
yard. This was done at Captain Evans
request. He has served more than the
period Of time required by regulations
and practice for a captain to COM
mand, and his next sea service may
be in flag rank. Secretary Long this
afternoon decided to assign Captain
Evans to duty as a member Of the ma
val inspection board and he will as
sumo his new duties after a brief va
cation.
The next commander Of the Iowa will
be Captain Silas Terry, now in com
mand of the receiving ship Franklin
at the Norfolk navy yard. He will
take the ship around South America
and over to Honolulu in company with
the Oregon and some Golfers. 1t is
said at the navy department today
that the sailing orders to the battle
ships have not yet been issued and
that when they are they will take the
ships only as far as Honolulu. 1t is not
denied that they will ultimately pro-
coed to join Dewey's fleet at Manila if
it should be deemed eXpedient to re-
1nfOrCe him, but as the journey around
South America will occupy nearly four
months, and many changes in the sit
uation as to the Philippines may be
expected to occur before the expiration
of that period of time, it cannot be
certainly fOretOld whether or not the
Oregon and the Iowa will ever reach
Manila.
MILES SICK.
General Miles is confined to his bed
with a touch of fever resulting in part
from the work and exposure of his re-
cent campaign. The attack causes no
apprehension to the generals friends
1t is said to be of a malarial character,
like much of the fever developed at
ter exposure in southern attitudes.
Secretary Long assigned Commodore
kaUsZ, at present in command of the
naval training station at Newport, to
command the Pacific station, in place
of Admira Miller, who is to retire in
the course of a few weeks, being the
senior admiral of the navy. Admiral
Miller is now at Honolulu and Com
mOdOre Kautz has been directed to take
the steamer from San Francisco for
that place by October 10th.
THE CABINET IN SESSION.
The cabinet met in special session at
3 o'clock this afternoon and adjourn
ed at 4 o'clock. All of the mber
were present. except Secretary Alger,
who is not in the city. All united in
the statement made after the meeting
that they had agreed to say nothing
more of the result of the deliberations
than that the peace commissioners had
been fully instructed. OF the nature
of these Instructions they conveyed not
a word. Each one pointed out that to
do SO would be extremely impOlitic and
would amount to arming the Spanish
commissioners in advance. The peace
commissioners who were approached
on the subject made a similar response,
thus closing all official avanues of in
formation.
THE PEACE COMMISSIONERS.
1t is not to be understood that the
commissioners go under irOnclad and
Interchangeable instruction at all points,
for there is a certain amount of f1eXi-
bility in the Instructions. else, as one
of the abine members put it, the
president might just as we'll have re-
duced his wishes to paper in the form
of an ultimatum, otherwise, there is
no reason why the commissioner
should not be able to carry out the de-
sires of the administration, and at the
same time have the opportunity to
somewhat shape those desires by con-
veying information they may acquire.
For instance, it is expected that at
Paris the commissioners will meet
General Merritt, fresh from Manila.
and, in addition, they will there have
the benefit of a special report from
H. H~.- W. -.ll 1~~f A.,
greatest value for the commissioner
are not acquainted with the Philippines
question in detail and even the infOr-
nation that is 10 be acquired from the
Spanish peace commissioners is not to
be despised when it takes such an Off
Cial form hat it can be relied upon as
to accuracy.
All arrangements have been cOmplet-
ed for the departure of the commission
and its staff. Most of the party will
leave Washington at 4 o'clock tOmOr-
row afternoon for New York, but cir
Cumstances may detain some of the
commissioners until the midnight train
The Campania sails at 2 o'clock p. m
Saturday and explicit instructions
have been given all the members OF
the party as to being on hand at hat
time. Special baggage tags have beer
printed for the belongings of the mem
bers. and a small paper paster. show.
ing red and blue bars crossed on 6
white background gives a handy way OF
making a red. white and blue identi
fcation of the personal and genera
luggage of the party.
A number of stout cedar chests havt
been made to carry the books pam
phlets, typewriter papers, etc, form
ing a part of the American case. The
chests are like a shallow steamer
trunk, so that they may be showed un'
der the berths and thus be available
on the passage over instead of goins
with the baggage in the hold of The
steamer. This will permit considerable
work on the trip and it is expected tina
the commissioners will hold meeting:
on shipbOard. The party will go direc
from Liverpool to London. and Their;
STOP for a DAVIS rest. then proceed t