The evening times., 1898-05-16
THE BL1ekAl|NG FLEET
1t Will Be Augmented by The
Protected Cruiser Newark.
WILL BE THE FLAGSHIP
The Wsr Board WIN Be Disseaved
snd the Plan Of Operations WIN
BE Determil ed ca by officers mt
) the Scene of Strffe-Fitiing Out
Temporary warshfps.

1t has been practically determined to
make the Newark the flagship of the
blockading squadron in Cuban waters,
and as soon as she can possibly leave the
Norfolk navy yard. where she will b,
placed IN commission on Saturday next.
she will be sent south. Her command
ing officer will be Capt. A. s. Barker.
formerly in command Of the Oregon. and
now member of the Naval War Board
and the Army and Navy Board. Capt.
Barker and his subordinate officers have
been directed to report on board the
Newark on Friday next
Capt. A. s. Crowninshield, chief of the
Bureau of Navigation. has succeeded In
collecting a crew for the vessel. 30 that
she can proceed to sea within a few days
after her entrance into active service. As
result of the alterations made In the
Newark, she Is considered by naval ex-
perts to be the finest of her tonnage and
class afloat. She is now armed with a
formidable battery of twelve 6-inch guns.
besides smaller guns. and will be able to
give a splendid account Of herself in an
engagement with Spanish men-of-war.
As result Of the orders given to Capt.
Barker the Army and Navy War Board
will dissolve. and II Is proposed to place
authority for drawing up plans Of defer
sfve operations of a military and naval
character in the hands of officers on the
ground SO that they can take such action
as developments may make necessary.
Anticipating the passage Of the bill pro-
viding for the Organization and enroll
ment of the United States auxiliary ma
val forces" Assistant Secretary of the
Navy Allen have been making prepara-
tions for for the purchase and charter
of a large number of tugs and ferry
boats. which will be converted into ar
-.
ed. serve admirably the purpose for which
they are desired. The pending measure
appropriates s4.0OO.000 for procuring such
vessels as the department may deem
necessary.
Secretary Long has directed the board
of which Lieut.. Commander J. NJ. Haw-
ley is president, to examine the men,
bers of the Illinois Naval Militia, and
such as may meet the naval requirments
will be selected and sent to New York
for duty on board men-of-war. 1t is
probable that similar action will be short
ly taken with reference to the Ohio Naval
Brigade.
Instructions have been sent by Civil En-
gineer NJ T. Endicott. chief of the bureau
of Yards and Docks, to the various navy
yards and naval stations to commence
preparations for executing the public
works authorized by the naval appro-
priation law recently approved by the
President. At the Brooklyn navy yard
a large sum will be spent in making i'm
provements. Fifty thousand dollars is
available for continuing the work of
dredging Whitney Basin, $4,000 for the
construction of a quay wall between dry
dock No. and Main Street $50 900 to COM
plete the coal dock, 1880 for stores for
steel. si6. 800 for stores for oil and varnish.
$40. .s37 for replacing storehouses con-
demned as dangerous and removed, and
s2i. 800 for the conversion of building No.
s into storehouse for ordnance material.
Japs Praise Dewey.
Chicago May I6-Severai distinguished
Japanese naval officials passed through
this city yesterday route to PhiIadel-
phia where they will inspect the Japanese
battIeship Kasagi, which is now bein:s
built at the Cramps yards in that city.
The party was composed of Capt. n.
Kashiwabara who will command the bat
tleship; Lieut.. Commander NJ. Tsuschia
torpedo expert; H. Karahahi. chief engi
neer. and other Japanese officials. They
could not conceal their admiration of
Dewey's conduct of the battle of Manila.
They said it was daring and brillian:
feat.
The New Orleans.
Newport News, Va. May l6-The cruis-
er New Orleans is still at Old Point. I;
is thought by many that she will be de-
tailed TO guard the approach to the ship
yard here. but this cannot be confirmed.
The auxiliary cruiser Yosemite will sail
tomorrow morning and II is learned on
excellent authority that II will go north.
probably to the New England coast. Af-
ter a weeks cruise she will return and |
go out With the Dixie. which will be |
ready for sea by that time. |