The record-union., 1898-03-29

tending not TO return until . O'Clock.
There was no additional information
at the department regarding the loca-
ton Of the Spanish torpedo boat TO
tiIla now on it's way to Porto Rico
from the Canaries, excepting that II
was advancing steadily The highest
naval authorities continue to say this
movement is the most formidable men
ace TO the ships of our navy that has
yet occurred.
It was disclosed for the first time by
one Of the naval orders issued today
that the department has determined
upon the formation OF an additional
new feet to be known as the Mosquito
feet" to be composed OF tugs, steam
yachts and other small vessels which
may be obtained which are to be used
/ as 4 sort of mobile defense of sea-
coast cities. It was further developed
( in this connection that the naval mi
/ litia Of the several States is to be
! called upon to man this auxiliary
! fleet.
/ The fact that the organization is to
composed exclusively of small craft Of
/ all descriptions that may be available
gives the cause for it's designation as
'the mosquito fleet" Its prospective
/ formation is the observations and work
/ Of the Naval College for the past five
years and the officers believe that
with the material that may be OBJ
tainable and the manning of the yes
sells by the naval militia of the States.
/ a formidable organization of its kind
viii result. The naval militia Of the
/ States. however will not be relied upon
+ entirely to man the ships. but in ease
/ of necessity resort will he had to sea-
men wherever they may be picked up.
/ Commander Elmer is at the navy
! yard, which will be the center of flu
/ ture operations. His duties respecting
I the selection of craft for the fleet are
exactly the same as those performed
/ by the board, which for the past two
/ weeks has been engaged in the inspec-
/ tion Of merchant vessels for the aux
iliary defense preliminary to their pur-
] chase in the Navy Department. The
| commander and his assistants vii visit
various places along tlie coast and Will
| communicate by letter with persons
and firms owning small craft with q
! view to determining just how many
are available. and at what price the
owners would sell or charter them to
! the Government.
AS far as practicable it is the inten-
tion of the department that there shall
/ be separate set of ships for the de-
| fense of the sea coast cities. the whole
to compose the mosquito fleet In
! the event of necessity for a rendez-
Vous of several of these local fleets. and
it can be arranged the primary idea is
for each local fleet to form the mo-
! bile-defense of the particular city
| where it is made uD.
The Bureau of Ordinance will be
called into service to assist in furnish
| ing armament for vessels in the event
of war. Naval officers will be assigned
! to the command of each of the several
/ local fleets.
The most significant of the naval
! orders issued by the Navy Department
/ to-day was the detachment of Com
mander Horace NJ. Elmer from Cramps
/ ship-yard and ordering him to duty
''in the mosquito fleet" This auxiliary
organization of the navy is to be called
J into service in time of war. and is
i to be composed of small crafts of all
! kinds that may be obtainable by the
! department upon which a gun may be
| mounted and other defensive devices
placed.