The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-03-25
FLOTILLA COMING.
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speeches of Senators Gallinger and Thurs
ton have created. The President undoubt-
edly is most anxious to have the support
of Congress in every move that he may
wish to make. and it is believed now that
he will take no step that has not this
support.
The indications were yesterday that the
plan of sending relief to Cuba is now
uppermost in his mind. Explicit state
ments to this effect were made by scna-
tors who had conferences with him yes
terday But it is certain that he has not
yet pledged himself to this plan.
The developments in the Cuban situa-
tion yesterday. aside from the sailing of
the Spanish torpedo fiotilla. We're import
ant. They We're war preparations of the
most realistic description. and they We're
many. The chief event was the retire
ment of Admiral Sicard from the com
mand of the gulf squadron and the ap-
. pointment of new officers
Admiral Sfcard Relieved
AS announced in The Times several
days ago Admiral Sicard's health has
been so bad recently that the necessity
of relieving him from the command of
the fleet has been apparent to the Navy
/ Department The move was determined
upon several days ago. The formal order
relieving Admiral sicard came yesterday
! Capt w. s. Sampson, of the battleship
Iowa. the finest ship in the fleet at Tor
( tugas and in the entire navy, was given
the command OF the fleet Capt. Sampson
has been nearly half a century in the
navy, and is the senior captain. He is
very highly regarded for his abilities in
! the Navy Department and among naval
officers Capt Robley d. Evans was as
signed to fill Capt. SIMPSONS vacancy as
commander of the Iowa. He is as highly
[ esteemed as Capt. Sampson, and is one
of the best-knOwn officers in the navy.
An equally important assignment made
yesterday was that of the command of
the fleet at Hampton Roads to Commo-
dore w S Schley. The order giving
/ Commodore Schley the fleet was written
yesterday, but was not signed and Off
( cialIy the order has not been made yet.
Unlimited EnIistments.
!
Iistments in all branches of the naval
service be received in unlimited num-
bers and practically without any restric-
tons except that the applicants be Of
sound health. Such a wide open order
has never been made before except in
time of war Engineers. seamen, coal
/ passers and firemen are all to be taken
as fast as they apply and a large number
of new enlistment stations were ordered
opened that no one who desires 10 enter
the navy need have any trouble. The
new stations are at Boston. Newport,
New York. Erie. Washington, Philadel-
phia, Norfolk. Key West. Galveston.
( Gloucester, Annapolis. San Francisco. st.
Paul. Portsmouth and Savannah. In adj
dition to this effort of the Navy Depart
ment TO get men for the navy the travel
ing enlistment board is making every
effort and with considerable success.
though there is still a great hole in the
number of men that is needed The
board is now travelling along the lakes
and securing the excellent seamen that
have learned their trades on the inland
! seas.
Movements of Vessels.
The dispatch boat Dolphin went into
commission at Brooklyn navy yard yes
terday with the usual ceremony. Com
mander Henry W. Lyon took charge OF
/ the ship and set the crew to work at
once in placing the Dolphins new high
power guns. The Dolphin will sail for
Key West within a week.
The two monitors Terror and Puritan
are already on the way TO Tortugas 1t
is believed that the sailing of the Castine
and the Cincinnati from jamaica South
of Cuba also means an addition to the
fleet in the gulf
The Texas arrived at Hampton Roads
yesterday afternoon ana the Massachu-
sets will be at that place this morning.
The fleet will then be complete as far as
it has been arranged for. Commodore
Schley is expected to take command i'm
mediateIy If the fleet is TO be used in
any counter demonstration against Spain
as a result of the sailing of the torpedo
boat fotilla. he may have active duty
first in the coming war
The War Department has decided 10 ex-
pend the whole amount of $l.G66.0l) al
lotted to the department in procuring
heavy coast defense guns and projectiles
in the foreign market. Plans for the
work of preparing emplacements to re
ceive these guns at various points on the
Atlantic and Gulf coast are being hur-
riedly made by the engineers of the
army.
vt the White House.
Yesterday was the busiest Gay at the
White House since the Maine disaster.
and the President was engaged with lead
ers in the Senate and House from 10
o'clock in the morning until late in the
afternoon.
The conferences were for the purpose
of ascertaining views on the Cuban stu
alton. and those with Secretary Long and
Assistant Secretary Day To arrange a
program fo- the reception Of the report
of the Maine Court of Inquiry.
Among the callers during the day were
Senators Jones. CuIIom, Fairbanks
Lodge. Spooner. Aldrich ard Wellington
and Representatives Bailey of Texas. Say
ers, Payne Bland, Grosvenor. i'alzeH
Smith of Illinois and BrowIiow. Assist
ant Secretary Day called three times.
Secretary Long twice ana Secretary