The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-04-19


WASHINGTON, April 1S.-Probably
with the view of availing himself OF
the large experience of Rear Admiral
Sicard. Secretary Long has revoked
the sick leave of that officer and or
dered him to duty in his own office at
the navy department The admiral at
present is at his home in New York
state and is expected to report at the
department within the next twenty
four hours. Being thoroughly familiar
With every detail of construction and
the strength and weakness of all of the
vessels of the fleet under Capt Samp-
sons command as well as those now
lying at Hampton Roads under COM
mand of Commodore Schley, the ad-
miral is epected to be of great assis-
lance to the department in the ar
rangements of any plans of campaign.
The st. Paul is at League island. 1t
is believed that about ten days time,
working day and night. will suffice to
make the necessary alterations in the
vessel. She will be given light arInored
protection over vital points such as the
engines, boilers and gun mounts. 1t is
not expected that she will undertake
voluntarily to cope with full-fedged
warships carrying heavy guns and
armor protection, but she is fleet
enough to escape from such craft and
her field of operations probably will be
confined to the running down of craft
of her own kind that may be commits
stoned by the Spanish government as
prlvateers or commerce destroyers.
The reports that have reached the
navy department from England tend to
discourage the idea that the boat Of
the United States now lying at Fall
mouth under convoy of the cruiser To-
peka can be safely trusted to cross the
ocean under her own steam. This
might be accomplished in mild summer
weather. but the little boat was never
designed by her German builders to
undertake an Atlantic passage in the
tempestuous spring time. 1t is thought
it may be possible to bring her across
On the deck of some big English tramp
steamer.
The navy department has changed
its plans as to the Venezuela, Just pur-
chased from the Red D line. Instead
OF using the vessel as an auxiliary
cruiser as originally intended, she is
now destined to be employed as
transport for marines. These will be
gathered up at the principal Atlantic
ports, placed on the Venezuela and
transported to Key West and Hamp-
ton Roads for detail to the fleets there.
The Venezuela is ait present at the Nor
gan Iron works, New York, where work
has been begun upon her.
IL was zStdeeu DIT the navy department
this afternoon that the efforts to Sc
cure the Chilean battleshfp O'Higgins
have been practically abandoned and
that there is no longer any prospect
That the United States desires or will
DE able to secure any more Warships,
either belonging to foreign nations or
being built in foreign ship yards.
Assistant Secretary Roosevelt said
this afternoon that it was more than
probable that the department would
conf1ne its efforts in this direction to
the requirement of yachts, tugs and
small craft generally for the purpose
of the auxiliary navy.
Secretary Long today decided to as
sign Commodore Howell to command
the newly organized patrol feet, con-
s1stiEg eff the Yosemite. the Prairie,
the Yankee and the Dixie. This detail
for Commodore Howell is a solution
OF difficulty which has been con-
fronting the department ever since his
return from the European station.
Secretary Long was very anxious 20
avail himself Of the experience of Com
modore Howell, but found some diff
fcuity in doing SO, in view of the fact
that he outranlss both Commodore
Schley and Capt. Sampson In epm-
naand of the two fleets. Neither of
these officers could in Justice have
been relieved to make room for Com
nodore Howell, and the creation of
the new fleet solves the difficulty. 1t
is probable that the San Francisco
will be retained by Commodore Howell
as his flagship, thus materially inereas-
ing the strength of the coast squad
ron.