The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-04-04
LOOKING FOR ANOTHER ROUTE.
Naval Officers Fail TO Put Pacific Interpre-
tation on Retention OF Torpedo Flo
tilia at Verde Island.

Washington, April 3.-There was COM
paratiye quiet about the White House and
the department today The members of
the cabinet did not call on the President
during the early part of the day, ncr did
they visit the department. The White
House was in it's usual state of Sunday
quiet Assistant Secretary Day was the
only forenoon caller remaining with the
President for about half an hour. Judge
Day did not go to the state department
and it is presumed will do most of his
work Of preparation for matter to be in
corporated in the Presidents message at
his home. Several of the higher officers
of the state department and clerks in
charge of translat1ng cypher cables were
on duty. Some cable messages were re-
csived during the forenoon, but it was
stated that noEe of them was on matters
of much Importance. It was stated that
the department had no official informa-
tion about the consuls of the United
States going to Havana for safety.
Secretary Long did not visit the navy
department, but his mail was sent to his
residence. Assistant Secretary Roosevelt
was at the department. for short time
attending to his, s,correspondence.
A number of naval officers and clerks
were at their desks, principally those
who have charge of active operations and
preparations that are progressing for
equipping and supplying the navy.
The naval officers read with interest
and discussed the Associated Press Madrid
bulletin regarding the movement Of
Spanish ship and torpedo fiotilla 1t was
said that the fiotilla perhaps had encoun
tered bad weather it had attempted to
sail direct for Porto Rico and might
have been driven to the Verde islands.
1t was also said that the experienced nav
Igators wers of the opinion that the flo.
tilla had taken the course il had in order
to avoid adverse winds and find a better
course by way Of the Verde islands than
by taking a direct route This course
would save coal, as sail power, could be
used to advantage. Some naval officers
were of the opinion that they could not
trust wholly to Madrid concerning the
movements Of Spanish war vessels at
present anu especially Il tuO OlisAiSiI dll-
1niralty thought advantage would lie
6 gainee by misleading the A merican navy
department.. Both the war and navy de-
partments have been considering base of
Supplies In the event of hostilities and
ali the avail ,ble ports on the southern and
gulf coasts have received attention The
general belief is that the gulf affords
more and better places than the Atlantic
coast, Pensacola, Tampa, Mobile and
New Orleans are all believed to be avail
able. No one place will be depended upon.
The water stages given are Pensacola,
% feet; Mobile, %; Tampa, 20 and the
Mississippi, 26. This is the low water en-
trance. It is not intended that the big
war vessels should be taken into these
places to receive supplies, They will
be eoaled, proyisioned and receive am
munition from lighters which can be sent
over the bars into the harbors.
1t is regarded as impracticable to at
tempt to get the big ships to wharves,
and moreover the coming to land would
not tend to increase the efficiency and
discipline of the crew. 1t is said that
Punta Gorda. farther south than Tampa,
is being considered by the war depart
ment as point of embarking troops and
supplies in case an army was to be sent
to Cuba. Light draught vessels can
easily enter this bay for such purpose.