Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-05-17
|hlZZLE ON IHE PRESS
Wholesome Order Issued by
ny" Secretary Long, IS.
WHY THE STEP WAS ADOPTED
Important Plans Divu|ged by
Unpatriotic Newspapers.
REASONABLE CENSORSHIP
BIanco Said to be Short OF Ammunition.
Desperate Attempts Mt Blockade Run
M. Corps Commanders Most In,por-
tant Development YESTERDAY.
why THE STEP WAS ADOPTED
REASONABLE CENSORSHIP

tant Development Yesterday
.. (By Telegraph) ..
WASHINGTON, May 16.-An order
posted this morning and signed BY
secretary Long relative to the publi-
cation of news emanating from the
Navy Department had the effect today
OF considerably curtailing the supply
OF Information that heretofore has been
rather freely given out.
The Secretary's order was directed to
Captain Crowninshield. chief of the
navigation bureau, and he in turn gave
1t effect by making it an order III his
own name, that persons connected with
his bureau in any capacity Should have
no conversation whatever upon subjects
in any way pertaining to the navy
with representatives OF the press. AS
an Offset it was ordered that bulletins of
such facts as have actually occurred.
and are proper for publication and are
ed movements. shall be prepared and
posted ON the bulletin board The
sum total of the information published
by the bulletin board today under this
rule was notice of the intention to
start the Philippine relief expedition.
and OF the permission given to some
foreign neutral vessels to pass the
blockade at Havana.
In explanation of the issue OF the or
der the naval authorities say that some
of the leading newspapers have been
So far lacking in patriotism as to print
plans Of campaign and projected move
mentS of naval ships With the result
that the war board has been obliged
to completely reviS, its plans by the
knowledge that the Spaniards had
promptly taken notice OF the publica-
lions and were prepared to profit by
them.
Complaint was made to Secretary
Long that the newspapers We're work
ing injury to the government, lit such
cases. .a
It is not the purpose of the of the
secretary to prevent the press having
any information that is not calculated
to cause a miscarriage OF the plans
of the department.
The opening of the blockade at TIa-
vana TO certain vessel is a rather Gu
rious proceeding that may lead to Il
very considerable widening of the
blockade. so that in Vie end the neutral
vessels not loaded with contraband OF
supplies, the carrying of which into
Havana would interfere with the ma
val and military operations of our gov
eminent. may pass the blockade under
suitable regulations laid down by the
United States.
The statement that the Navy De-
partment still hopes to make an eN-
change OF prisoners at an early day
shows that the mission of the Uncas
yesterday was by no means complete
failure as has been stated.
The troops going to Manila are to be
prepared for six months campaign
In the number of rations furnished.
and preparations for their departure
are being pressed with the greatest en-
ergy. The Charleston should have sail
ed today from San Francisco. The ma
rines who have been lying in Key West
harbor on board the Panther. swelter-
ing under q semi-tropical SUM- are to be
transferred to to a more comfortable
vessel. the Resolute, which will easily
accommodate the men on board
Intimations have been received here
that Captain General Blanco. at Ha-
yana Is very short OF ammunition, In
which case the powerful batteries at
the entrance of the barbor, of course.
would be deprived of large part OF
their defensive strength.
This state Of affairs may lead to some
desperate attempts at blockade running
on the part of the Spaniards in the
hope Of getting more ammunition to
Havana. 4...,l "rs,
1t is believed that the supplies.
SO frequently referred to as being on
the Spanish flying squadron were Of this
character rather than food supplies,
which makes it all the more impor-
tant that Sampson and Schley should
succeed in keeping Admiral Cervera
from reaching Havana OF Cienfuegos or
any other port in Cuba. connected with
Havana by rail. Commodore Schley is
probably well down on the Florida
coast now and should be able to guard
the Florida straits by tomorrow or next
day. His appearance on that side OF
Cuba would enable Sampson to bring
his ironclads with perfect safety to
Cienfuegos on the south side, and with
10 diGn0Sif5nn nj force
the free use of considerable number
of our scouting vessels it is hard to see
how the Spanish fleet can escape from
the Gulf OF Mexico or the Caribbean
sea. Ivy T
The Navy Department is getting a
better quality of armor as the contracts
expire; 13-inch plate tested at Indian
Head Saturday with a 10-nch gun
showed itself to be equal or superior to
any piece OF armor that has ever been
made, for with the highest velocity at
1.945 feet per second, the shot penetrat-
ed only 1-2 inch without cracking the
plate It was the very last piece to
be delivered under the existing contract
and is intended for the Kentucky.
The War Department rushed ahead
it's preparations for the mobiliZing and
thorough equipment of the volunteer
army, and the progress which Is being
made is most gratifying.
The important development Of the
day was the definite se1ection-'of the
corps of commanders. The announce
ment. however. does not contain any
surprises. Though Major General Wes-
ley Merritt is accredited to the Depart
ment OF the Pacific, such designation
being made formally, It is known that
he will go to the Philippines to COM
mand the army there. and will be ac-
companied by Major Geneal Otis.
The designation OF General Fitzhugh
Lee as commander Of the Seventh
corps, with Headquarters att Tampa,