New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-03
BUSY DAYS AT FORT MONROE.
PRACTICE DRILLS WITH MORTARS AND
DISAPPEARING GUNS.
MUCH INTEREST ~ THE FLYING SQUADRON IN
COMMODORE DEwEY's ACHrEvEMENT-cOM
MoDoRE scHLEY Still. AWAITING oP
DERs-GUNBOAr BANCROFT To RE
PORT TO ADMIRAL SAMPSON.
PORT TO ADMIRAL SAMPSON.


PORT TO ADMIRAL SAMPSON.
fRr TELEGRAPH To TIE rRIBrSEl
Newport News. Va. May 2-Commodore
Dewev's signal victory over tho Spanish squad
ron nj Manila and the reported hombardment
of the town created the greatest excitement
among officers. crews and guests az Old Point
Comfort today All of tho officers are person
ally acquainted with the Fighting Commodore.
as they have already dubbed Dewey. and are
loud in their praise ~ the deliberate plan OF
action which resulted 50 successfully.
Commodore Schlev stated his complete salts
faction with his brother officers glorious
achievement and said T. could not have been
better or more quickly effected. Captain Cook
Of the Brooklyn. Captain Higgnson Of the Mas
sachusetts and Captain Philip Of the Texas
were equally ready to compliment Commodore
Dewey's excellent display ~ strategy. skill and
fighting strength.
Other officers Of the Flying Squadron spoke
freely Of the result. and all complimented with
out criticism The success with which the
Asiatic Squadron has opened the great war Of
! 1898 has fired the officers and crews Of the war
ships and raised their hopes for opportunity
10 show what their squadron can do against the
Dons
RI'MORS OF SAILING ORDERS
With r7imors of sailing orders for the Flying
Squadron and alleged discoveries ~ Spanish
| spies lurking in the shadows Of tho massive
walls of Fort Monroe by night. the guests at
! Old Point have had plenty 10 gossip about TO-
day 1t is stated cvervwherc that Commodore
| Schley has actually received his orders ana
oven tho officers admit that their stay in Hamp-
ton Roads Is now limited 70 hours. but. strange
10 say. il is all news 70 Commodore Schley. VINO
Is anxious to get under way for action. but IS
seemingly at sea as To the destination ~ MS
squadron when II does start
As an officer said to day. any man can readily
understand why Commodore Schey knows moth
/ ing Of tho actual nature Of his final orders. when
/ il ia taken into consideration that tho Flying
| Squadron is designed TO defend the coast against
/ tho attack ~ an enemy. and as yet whore that
enemy may br IS unknown 10 the naval straie-
! gsts
! Hcvond doubt tho safest and most central ron
dezvous for tho ships ~ the Flying squadron
! until the exact aim ~ IT, enemy can be deter
mined Is Hampton Roads. inside. or the vcin-
! ity Of iho Virginia capes. outside. and night
hero they Will stay until the time for quick ac-
tion arrives The BROOKLYN tho Massachusetts,
and the Texas are fuy prepared TO e. out and
IAN move almost At command
BANCROFT oN HER WAY TO CUBAN
WATERS.
! The little glnboat Bancroft. Commander Rich
ardson Glover. passed he Virginia capes at
O'Clock this afternoon. and arrived at old Point
ar hour later She comes from Boston. The
pennant ~ Commodore Schley was saluted as
usual and the bancroft passed ~ the Ports
! mouth Navy Yard for some slight repairs The
! little fighter caught the tail end ~ the Atlantic
/ gale last week but she weathcred II In I'm"
/ FORM. aud II is not believed that an" sustained
any serious damage.
The necessary work accomplished IN m
/ hour and the Bancroft passed out NJ 800
/ O'Clock N tho way 20 cuban waters. where
Commander clover VIII report TO Admiral Samp-
son The torpedo gInboat Scorpion went out al
/ day break this morIinS. and returned rgain this
afternoon when the Bancroft came In.
F!rty Cubans arrived At old Point this morn
Ing on the steamer from Cape Charles, and at
once proceeded to Norfolk and boarded train
ror Tampa. following the large pdgtt mat passed
through Norfolk last night for Oh" South. All
u these Cubans cam" from New YORK II was
said that every man was armed with A revolver
and "A siilctto. but Of course. this was not sup
posed 10 DE- known
PRACTICE DRILL. WITH RIG GUNS.
This has been busy A. FOR the men AT Fort
Monroe Every available hour IS now put In
by the officers and men in practice drills with
the sixteen 1o-lnch and 12-nch mortars and the
three lO-inrh disappearing guns The mortars
have been I'm position for somc time. out tho
battery ha.- only heel named within the last
few days
The officers and crows for each gun got down
10 work every day and 20 through dumb drill
lasting for several hours. The men who have
charge 81 the high disappearing guns have their
work down fine and train these modern
rifles on any point IN Hampton Roads FOR dis
lance Of tea miles
Rumors OF the alleged workings ~ spies
nround Fort Monroe almost numerous
AT Old Point here. In Newport News how
ever there 70 much better foundation for N"
rnmors and every day finds evidence II un-
seemly curiosity on the part - certain foreign
crs who are known to be in the city. and whose
m ,vem.nts are clos", watched.
one alleged Spanish spy was run 10 earth to-
GAY and he proved 10 be p cuban. by the name
Of Joseph Bravo. who arrived here Sunday
from Baltimore. He Is practical m"chan,.
having learned his trade In this country. and
TODAY succeeded IN securing place At the
shpyard-
To Tho Tribune corr spondent tonight
naval attaCha at the shipyard stated that the
DELAY in in. work the auxiliary cruisers
Dixie and Yosemite is the fault ~ the Depart
mcnt AZ Washington. which has been neGllgently
slow I'm deciding certain questions that have
arisen I'm connection with the conversion Of tho
former merchantmen into uarshps
NEWS ON THE FLYING SQUADRON