New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-31
PRACTICE FOR THE DIXIE'S GUNS.
yosr,r1rp LIKELY TO GO TO SEA WITH
SEALED ORDERS-GOvERNMENT WANTS
LA GRANDE DUCHEssE.


SEALED ORDERS-GOvERNMENT WANTS
LA GRANDE DUCHEssE
Newport News Va. May 80 (SpecaD.-The
United States auxiliary cruiser Dixie Com
mander Davis, after lying in Hampton Roads
forty-eight hours. weighed anchor at noon to-
day and proceeded 10 sea for the purpose or
testing her guns and engaging In target practice
The principal work will be with the 8-inch guns
and the 0-pounders.
The practice with the regulation charges will
be different from anything the Maryland Naval
P.s.rves have yet had Their ship will be rising
and falling with the swell OF the ocean, and
their targets will be boboing on the crest OF the
wav.s making heavy target practice extremely
unlike sub-calbre practice on calm day. Tho
new steel decks Of the Dixie. within range OF ths
e-inch rifles. will also be tested. 10 see whether
or not they are sufficiently strong 70 resist the
reco,l and forward thrust Of the guns.
Commander Emery OF the Yosemite received
orders from Washington to-day. which are said
70 contain important instructions Their nature
cannot be learned. but II is quite likely from the
preparations that are being made that the 70
semits's stay in Hampton Roads is limited. ana
that Commander Emery will go TO sea In rev
hours under sealed orders. The decks or the
Yosemite which were badly torn up on the nrst
gun test have been sheathed with steel plates ny
h.r o,sw and are now regulated TO Withstand
the shocks produced by tho discharge OF her D.
inch guns.
Tomorrow afternoon. one battalion or the
Maryland infantry. in camp at Fort Monroe
will march down to the Pines Battery ABOUT
mile below and go In camp In the large ciearlns
which has been made by the soldiers In the last
two days. These men will do picket duty IN inc
woods surrounding the mortar battery which Is
one Of the strongest features OF the defences Oh
Fort Monroe.
1,.ut.nant-colonel Hasbrouck. the new COM
mandant at the fort, was busy yesterday anu
,o-dav receiving the congratulations Of the off,
Gers in this vicinity on his promotion 10 oe
hr,gadier- general He is popular with all OF the
soldiers under his command ana mas Hlauo many
friends at Old Point.
Tho Government is anxious TO have the use or
,hs nalatial Plant Line steamship La Grande
Ducbeeee and wants her as soon possible
,rhs Plan, Line has a contract with the Newport
Nav.s Shipbuilding and Drydock Company 70
have the vessel ready for sea not later imam
June L. and for every Jay over tnat time me
shin il necessarily detained az the yaro the
company will forfeit 10 Mr.. Plant the sum or
SJOO ~,
II Is NOT stated what use the Government will
make OF the Duchesse. but II Is UNDERSTOOD 'hat
Creole was when she was converted into a nos
pital-ship and renamed the Solace IL Is ru-
rnored that the Plant Line has promised the
Navy Department that the Duchesse Will be
ready to 60 where directed by the 10th or next
month.
There was an interesting celebration today at
Camp Warburton sub post No ]. Of Fort Mon
roe The Northern and the Southern women OF
Newport News united in raising fund severai
weeks ago. and to-day presented the camp WIN
q handsome post flag, and Batteries ana I
oh VII gultOn.
There were speeches and patriotic demonstra-
tons as the flag unfurled its folds 70 the breeze.
the batteries saluted. the band played The Star
Spangled Banner" and the crowd OF five thou
hoarse. 49,,
In making the presentation speech, K u Blck-
ford one OF Virginias eloquent speakers. said:
when YOU return to your people. tell them that
Southern breezes can kiss the Stars and stripes
as loyalty lovingly and tcnderly as any other'
Take this flag as Vrginia's tribute 70 Pennsyi-
vania who for the first time in thirty-seven
years has sent armed troops INTO the ou 10
mnon. ~ w.
II IL quite likely that Batteries and {, Penn
svIvania Artillery will shortly be ordered to go
n Tampa 10 accompany the army OF invasion.
General Hasbrouck. at Fort Monroe. has re-
ceived from the War Department query as 10
the condition of the batteries and their readiness
IN move South when ordered, Captain Barclay
" Warburton commanding the sub post. con-
ddently expects TO go South in the next rev
weeks
PRAISE FOR THE STATE NAVAL MILITIA
Tho following communication has been received on
board the New Hampshire:
Commanding Ofncer Naval Militia New-York
The Commander in Chief desires acknowl-