The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-03-23
THE NAVAL DEPARTMENT.
Big Squadron Being Concentrated at
Hampton Roads.
SPANISH FLOTllLA BEING WATCHED
Mckinley Has Not Protested Against
Its oSemcnts-nifhcnity in GET
ting IL ConIing station.


Washington, March 22.--outside OF the
cabinet meeting the day WIS exceptionally
quiet. Secretary Long was able to clear
his desk at $3.50 o'clock for The first time
since the Maine disaster occurred aud he
left the department before office hours
closed TO enjoy n walk. During the after
noon the bureau OF navigation posted The
notice that the batlleship Massachusetts,
had sailed from Key West to Hampton
yesterday. About the same time Colu-
mander Schley, who has been suggested as
The proSabie commander OF the llying
squadron centerod at Ham ton kCt is,
called ut the department and had Il ecn-
ference With Assistant Secretary Rose
Welt The cruiser Brooklyn is az Newi ort
News and the monitor Puritan is andcr
orders to proceed there SO that these yes
sells will be near hampton Roads rendel-
vcus if it Is determined TO establish the
squadron there. Orders for this move
ment have not yet been made, lowScr,
nor has Commodore Schley recAvad dly
information from Officials that he would he
placed in command OF the squadron.
The navy department continues 10 icop
informed us 10 the Spanish torpedo doc ia,
now stopping at the Canary Islanas. Word
OF it's departure has not yet retehei tic
department, 1t can be stated positively
that the report that President MchiAiey
had protested against the coming OF ibis
honlia is unwairanted. There has been no
such protest.
AT the navy department nothing Is
known OF the reported ordering home Of
the Maine officers now at Havana. ', is
said that these orders, If given, would
come from Admiral Sioard and hol IRON
the navy department.
The several Maine survivors who ar
rived here last Saturday came IT. response
to orders from Admiral Sicard ana it Nca
for this reason that their arrival was st
surprise TO the naval officers here. 1t IS
not expected that Captain Sigsbee. Lvepten.
ant Commander Wainwright aud others
who are assisting in the work Of wreckieg
will leave Havana until the salvage oil The
Maine Is completed.
Serious attention is being given by The
navy department officials to the question
of the acquisition of n suitable location for
Il coaling station somewhere IN the West
ladies. Steps have been taken already 10
establish such a station at the Dry fGrtu-
gas, but this ii is said, is the only deep
water harbor available for big w7lrshius
between Hampton Roads and the RIO
Granae Deeides ii IL nrnctically urnro-
tectod nj present ana fleet would have
ia bc stationed there 10 protect tho coal
stored whirh il unsntigfactory. Tn, or
ficiaIs therefore have been cesfip., about
Tor a location which would serve the pur-
Ir,Itod Statcs mint arnuire either by mr.
| cboss or cnseion froln ono nj ne frieialy
eoyornnonta
| ."rbnra s,a n ,,,r,bor of fin. bnrhors
| ar,nne, ,be Wost tnSiss . ,ail ua,,nl or
f,cn,. fo5ay "oIa In one of'tbese we ought
| - hove co,Iin, ststio, ssrrefery , ,5rn
" 49, -, a. -. nSat."r "a :, ,.nh
al,c tbat II ~, ,nysrnn,enr c.,f make the
ne~assarv a,r,,,ce,,,ants a stoffo, 1;,iIl h,
soo,,tad ,i,re I,n,,nrta,,ce of nec,iri,,r on,
~ o-,.o,o a., ~ ,i,o a',,t 81 host;ti,te, o,,,
hin n,i,hp he mn 10 ,root Observation-Disclosures
""'i' ~. So ~ - " 60, ~