Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-03-27
A SCHEME TO AVOID CLASHES BE-
TWEEN ARMY AND NAVY.
STARTED OUT WITH A CLASH.
FOR THE OLD Mon
ITORs HAVE BEEN NAMED.
Other Officers and Crews VIII Be
Drawn From the Naval Militia
All Wnrships to Be Painted
Lead Color-War Prep
aratiOns.

by Secretaries Long and Alger to form
board composed Of one officer each from
the army and navy, to systematize and
harmonic the defensive operations along
the Atlantic seaboard. in order that there
might be no clashing between the two
great arms of the government. 1t Is un-
derstood that the proposition was consid-
cred favorably by both secretaries, and
they proceeded SO far as to appoint the
board, the representative of the navy des-
ignated by Secretary Long being Captain
Barker. his naval aide. and the representa-
tive Of the army, named by Secretary AL
ger. being Captain Dorst, one Of. the at
taches of the secretary. Some objection
was made by the army officers to the crea-
ton of the board and a day or two ago
Captain Dorst was withdrawn from the
proposed board. 1t seemed yesterday that
the whole proposition would be abandoned;
but to-day it was revived and Lieutenant
Colonel A. L. Wagner, chief of the bureau
of military intelligence, was designated by
Secretary Alger to act with Captain Bar
ker, as the representative Of the army.
In case Of hostilites, the work of the
board will be very important, as through
it the two great departments of the gov
ernment at all times will work in perfect
unison. 1t is believed by many of the war
and navy officials that the board, compos-
ed. as 1t is. Of two most efficient officers.
will prove of distinct value.
The navy department has issued orders
placing officers in command of a number
of single turreted monitors which have
recently been called into service. Lieuten-
ant R. G. Peck will command the monitor
Lehigh, which is to go to Boston; Lieuten-
ant w. NJ. Iron will command the Montauk,
which goes to Portland, Me-: Lieutenant
H. F. Fickbohm will command the Jason.
which goes to New York; Lieutenant S. c.
Richardson will command the Nahan,
which goes to New York. and Lieutenant
NJ. E. Hull will command the Catskill,
which goes to Boston. These naval officers
will be first in command of the several
monitors, and will be aided by officers and
men from the naval militia of Massachus-
etts, New York, New Jersey and elsewhere.
The monitors are still at the League ISL
and navy yard. being outfitted as rapidly
as possible, and reports received at the
navy department indicate that they will
be ready to proceed in from ten days to
three weeks.
Another order issued by the navy depart
ment to-day assigns Lieutenant 7. Noel
'at once to command the Nezinscot"
This craft is fine new tug which will be
used as supply boat. She is now at
New York, and when Lieutenant Noel
takes command she will proceed to Key
West to further augment the fleet there.
To-day's orders also give the Nezinscot a
full complement of officers.
The commanders of the various monitors
above referred to are drawn from the fac
ulty Of the United States naval academy
at Annapolis and from steel inspection, as
the emergency is such that these officers
can be better utilized for active sea serv-
Ice than for the educational work at the
academy and for inspection.
The assignment of Lieutenant J. L. JAYNE
to command the torpedo boat Rodgers, an
nounced to-day, In effect operates as an
acceptance of this boat and brings her into
commission. The Rodgers recently made
her trial run from Baltimore to Norfolk.
but she has not formally been accepted.
although the assignment of a naval COM
mander to her foreshadows her accept
ancs and commission. She doubtless will
be added to the fleet Of torpedo craft al
ready at Key West.
Secretary Long had an early conference
to-day with Senator Hale, chairman of the
senate naval committee. lasting over half
an hour. The secretary then had talk
with Lieutenant Commander Mark, judge
advocate Of the Maine court of inquiry
Mr.. Mark spent most of the morning at
the navy department comforting with the
judge advocate general and with Captain
Crowninshield, chief Of the bureau of navi-
CATION He maintained the strict reticence
he has shown ever since the report of the
court was confided to his care. He has
taken desk In the judge advocate gener-
ais office and will remain in Washington
while the report of the court of inquiry
is under consideration by the president and
cabinet with a view to answering inquiries
which may be made.
The navy department has advised to-
day that the monitor Terror had arrived at
Key West. where she will join Captain
Simpsons squadron. The Vicksburg has
| also reached Hampton Roads.
The flying squadron will not complete its
organization until the middle or latter part
of next week, although its nucleus will be
at Hampton Roads when Commodore
Schley hoists his pennant on the flagship
Brooklyn next Monday. At that time the
| Brooklyn and Massachusetts, will be the
only ships of the prospective flying squad
| ron, the Texas being at the New York
navy yard to receive her ammunition
| hoists. while the cruisers Columbia and
| Minneapolis are expected to be ready to
| leave League Island navy yard in time to
| reach Hampton Roads about the middle
| Of next week Already men and supplies
have been forwarded to League Island for
end of next week the flying squadron will
be complete In its organization of ships,
men and armament.
Yesterday 1t was announced that the
snowy white which has been the distinc-
! tive color of and has given the name to
| the navy squadron of the United States
| was to be changed to piratical black. To
| this color some objection was made by
naval officers. as 1t was thought to afford
| too striking a target for an enemy's guns,
and 1t was decided to make the color sea
green. Late in the day another shift was
made and Captain Crowninshield finally de-
| termined that all the ships of the navy
should be painted a dull lead color. This
was the color Of all federal ships during
the civil war and Is said to be the best
| fighting color
1t is understood at the navy department
| to-day that no additional orders have been
sent to the battleship Oregon. which sailed
| several days ago from San Francisco. The
| instructions to her commander were to
| await orders at Callao, and it is likely that
|