Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-04-18
Movements of Troops and Ships
at Various Points.
ACTIVE WAR PREPARATIONS


way. which they did by putting up few
signal flags as covers to the steps. Captain
Philip said tits morning: THE story is out
| rageous. We are men Of little comm
sense, and are not doing ridiculous and
| nensensical things. If war was declared
tomorrow we would not offer any such in
| suit to the Spanish nag"
The Minneapolis of the squadron has a
broken valve in her steam. steering gear
but 1t will be repair led by night. All of the
ships OF the squadron had calls to quarters
this morning and cleared their decks for
action. The tremendously heavy work of
clearing the deckseand preparing for firing
was done so quickly as to surprise even
Commodore Schley. All the ships reported
clear and ready to fire in fifteen minutes
Clearing includes the removal of every
ttirg that is destruct1bia or in the way OF
the guns. and the closing Of all compart-
ments. In going to sea this would be done
before starting. Commodore Schley said
today that he hoped to have the New
Orleans and San francisco attached TO the
fleet. but as yet had received no notification
from the Navy Department of such an
assignment. 3
Mosquito Fleets Movements.
NEW YORK, April 1S-Two vessels of
the mosquito fleet" were in the lower bay
early this morning. The Eagle, formerly
the yacht Amy, which had gone down.
from the navy yard yesterday. will probably
sail during the day. The steamer Hawk.
formerly the yacht Hermione. circled about
the bay testing her machinery, and then
passed out the Hook to sea. The steamer
Hornet, formerly the yacht Alisia left tine
navy yard this morning and passed quar-
antine at 9:23 am. bound out.
The Eagle passed Sandy Hook at 9:45 a.
H.. and the Hornet fifteen minutes later.
Outside they joined the Hawk and all three
proceeded under full steam to the south
ward.
Saturn Ready for Sea.
1t was Learned at the Brooklyn navy
yard today that the collier Saturn. which
has been in tie yard about three weeks. is
ready for sea, ana will sail tomorrow in
charge Of CAPTAIN Very
The steamePf Yorktown. which was re-
Gently purchased ~ the government from
the Old Domihion line. will go to the yard
of the Morgan iron works today, where a
gang of workmen will give her over
hauling under the direction of the naval
authorities. JAS yet no instructions have
been receiveds at the commandments Office
as to the alterations to be made on the
New Orleans,5 butd orders may be issuel
for the necessary work today. The Prairie
and Yankee are still in he yard, and al
though there was q rumor that there would
be change1 in the command of these YES
sells, it was officially denied today. One OF
the first changes to be made on the Nahant
will be the replacing of the old wooden
Geek which covers the steel deck by new
one
A draft of men. mostly recruits. is ex-
pected from Philadelphia today.
CharlestOh's Armament Ready.
MARE ISLAND, Cal. April 1s.-The last
6inch rapid-fire gun was mounted on the
Charleston today, completing her armament
with the exception of the small rapid-fire
guns which will be placed In the tower
She will be sent out in the stream tomor-
row, giving place in the dock to the moni-
tor Monadnock.
St. Paul ut Cramps.
PHILADELPHIA. April 1s.-The auxil-
larry cruiser st. Paul is coming up the bel
aware river, being last reported as passing
the Marcus Hook, Pa, station fifteen miles
below this city. at s:45 o'clock this morn
ing. She will probably be in her dock at
Cramps shipyard before noon. A large
force of workmen is ready to begin the
work of Transforming the St. Paul into a
warship as soon as she arrives at the yard.
Gen. Skaters Troops.
SAN FRANCISCO. April 1s.-The troops
at the Preside ordered to New Orleans and
Chicago will probably leave San Francisco
today. but it Is possible their departure
may be delayed until Wednesday.
General Shafter has arrived at Bakers
partment headquarters. Efforts are being
made to have the troops parade through
the city on their departure SO they may be
given an ovation. in which it is proposed
all the public school children will partici-
lively today that any part of the National
Guard would be ordered to the Preside.
Col. Bacon's New Command,
CHICAGO, April 1S-Col. John NJ. Bacon
Of the 9Th Cavalry. Fort Meade who has
succeeded to the command of the DEPART
inents Of the lakes and of the Dakotas. in
the absence OF their commanders, has tele-
graphed army headquarters in this CITY
that he will reach st. Paul today. He will
be stationed at that place while directing
the affairs of the two departments.
Bergen Cavalry Troop.
NEW YORK, April 18.-The Bergen
Troop, new cavalry company. organized
at Westwood.. NJ. j., has offered its SER
vices through Representative Stewart to
J the government iAocase of hostilities with
Spain. The officers of the troop received a
letter from Mr. Stewart today, thanking
them for their offer. and notifying them
that their services. would be accepted in
the event of war. 80.
Start Wednesday.
HELENA. Mont: April accompanies B
and C. I'd Infantry. have received from the
department headquarters orders to be pre-
pared to start for tha regiments new sta
ton at Mobile. Wednesday.
Order for Cavalry Boots.
VINEYARD, N. J.. April 1S-Charles
Keighley & Sens. shoe manufacturers, have
received an order from the United States
government for ! 900 pairs of cavalry boots.
The instructions are to rush the order as
fast as possible.
Old Monitors In Commfssiou.
PHILADELPHIA. Pa, April l8.-rwo
moro OF the old monitors. the Montauk and
t~AH