The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-03-29

at Tortugas in $50 days and at Key
West in 40 days. The machinery Is
TO be installed ard ready for service
ten days later.
CUTTERS ORDERED TO NORFOLK.
Formal orders were issued today by
Captain Shoemaker chief of the rev.
enue cutter service, for the eight reve
nue. vessels called into the service Of
the navy to rendezvous a the Norfolk
navy-yard. The instructions given to
the commanders Of the ships were to
report at Norfolk between the 18th Of
March and the 5th of April and there
to have the necessary alterations and
repairs made upon them at the earl
lest possible moment. AS heretofore
announced, the ships will proceed to
Key West as soon as they can be got
ten ready for service.
TO ARM LIGHTHOUSE TENDERS.
Preparations are making by the light
house board to turn over to the navy
department the lighthouse tenders and
instructions were issued today by the
board to the commanders of the tenders
TO make a complete inventory Of the
present furnishings and equipment of
the vessels. The equipment CT the ves-
sells and the other necessary work upon
them will be done at the Norfolk navy
yard.
For several days a proposition has
been under consideration by Secretaries
Long and Alger to form a board COM
posed of one officer each from the army
and navy to systematic and harmoniZe
defensive operations along the At
latte seaboard, in order that there
might be no cFashing between the two
great arms of the government. Today
Lieutenant Colonel "A. J. Wagner, chief
hl1red91J of iYfe
was designated by Secretary 'Alger to
act with Captain Barker, as the rep
resentative Of the army. Late this af-
ternoon Captain Barker and Colonel
Wagner had an extended conference
with Assistant Secretary Roosevelt in
the 1atter's private office. Preliminary
plans for the operation of the board
were formulated along the lines indicat-
ed above, but no definite statement
concerning the nature of the boards
work could be obtained from amy of
the parties to the conference. In case
of hostilities the work of the board
Will be very important, as the two
greatest departments at all times will
work in perfect unison. 1t is believed
by many of the war officials that the
board, composed as it is, of two most
efficient officers, will prove Of distinct
value.
TO CALL OUT NAVAL RESERVES.
AS rapidly as possible the navy de-
partment is pushing the work of prep
aration for calling into active service
such of the naval militia Of the various
states as may be needed and will VOL
unteer for service.
"a large contract for disappearing
gun carriages was awarded today to
the Walker Company, of Cleveland, o.,
whose immense foundrieS and machine
shops have been placed at the disposal
of the government. The company will
run it's plant night and day to rush the
work for rapid delivery. 1t is probable
that the first deliveries will begin in
about three weeks. -
EXCITEMENT AT KEY WEST.
Key West, Fla, March 26.-Intense
excitement was caused here by the AS
sociated Press bulletin to the effect
that the United States government has
notified Spain that hostilities in Cuba
must cease.
"a torpedo boat was at once Dispatch
ed to Captain Sampson, on board the
Iowa, notifying him Of the latest de-
velOpment.
Captain Chadwick, of Ney York, is
lyn and Captain Simpsons flag will be
transferred to the New York.
The work of painting the warships
was carried on this afternoon with
redoubled energy. Read admiral Si
card was on the point of leaving Key
West and knew nothing of the action
taken by the United States.
The Indiana, iowa, New York, De-
troit, Nashville, Marblehead and Mont
gomery are being painted.
All the officers here regard war as
being imminent.
Rear admiral Sicard, with his wife
and daughter, left Key West this after
noon ON the steamer for Miami. They
are going to Nassau and thence to
Palm Beach. The admiral expects to
spend several weeks resting at Florida
winter resorts. Captain Sampson has
taken formal charge of the fleet. The
usual ceremony in the change Of flags
was omitted.
RUMOR OF THE FORT PLANS
STOLEN.
Newport News, Va, March 26-The
disappearance of a German sergeant
named Tscherning from Fortress Mon
roe caused the report to be circulated
today that plans of the Notifications
had been stolen. The commandant at
the fort attributes Tscherning's absence
to spree and says no plans are miss
ing. Other officers say that Tscherning
could have drawn plans of his own if
he had been disposed, as he is a skilled
engineer.
Norfolk, Va, March 26.-The monitor
Terror, which put in here for coal on
her way from New York to Key West
has proceeded, and will be repainted on
her way south in obedience to the or
der issued by the navy department yes
terday to change the color of all the
war vessels. She will stop at Charles
ton for more coal.
WHAT THE SPANLARDS SAY.
Madrid, March PA general il the
army, who declines to permit the use
of his name, said today that it was
increditable that the report of the
American court of inquiry into the
Maine disaster should attribute the
destruction of the vessel ito a subma-
rine mine. Mot even among savages,''
he asserted, would such minis
be placed in their ports. Moreover,
our own ships would have incurred
1oaI 41>e