The record-union., 1898-03-10

yards. two ironclads at La Sienns
France and three torpedo boat oatohers
at Stettin. Germany. Cons darable pay
monts have been made on these and they
have become largely the property OF
Brazil. 1t is claimed, however. that the
report of a treaty between Brazil and
Chile, which would prevent either from
selling a ship unless the other sold one
at the same time. IS erroneous.
WASHINGTON, March 9.-There
were fewer signs of excitement and
haste at the War and Navy Depart
ments to-day. and preparations beng
made toward putting the army and navy
into efficient condition are now going on
with more method and less exhibition OF
the feverish spirit Of apprehension that
characterized the proceedings of the last
few days. There Is q general expression
Of belief that for the time at least there
is no prospect of hostile collision ard
that what seemed TO be a crisis has sale
l. 3assed.
| Secretary Long paid several short Yis-
its to the White House during the day.
Secretary Day was among the callers
there and Secretary Alger went over
from the War Department to see the
President, all Of which Ted to the sur
Mise that special Cabinet meeting was
likely to be held. But it turned out that
these visits We're not prearranged, and
Were connected only With matters OF
business pending before the respective
departments represented by the Secre-
taries
In the Navy Department the officials
We're devoting their attention largely to
tho fitting out of the triple-screw cruis-
ers Minneapolis and Columbia Thanks
to the ability with Which the officers of
the Navigation Bureau have carried cut
the plans formed by Secretary Long for
the creation of a reserve list of naval
vessels, both of these fine ships are in
excellent condition and can so into SER
! vice in an incredibly short time COM
pared with the period that would have
been consumed had they been put out Of
commission, as is the practice whenever
it is found expedient to keep them in act
i've service. While lying in reserve at
League Island, they have been in fresh
| water and SO have not accumulated 81
crop of barnacles or retarding marine
vegetation. AS to the destination of the
two flyers, it is said at the Navigation
Bureau this morning that that point
had not been settled. These ships were
designed especially as commerce de-
stroyers.
The first one launched. the Columbia,
was nicknamed The Pirate" long before
the Navy Department. could formally at
tach name to the ship. They are not
calculated to fight warships, and owing
to their light batteries would make a
sorry showing against anything that
| carried guns heavier than six-inch cali
| ber. provided they Were cornered and
prevented from flight, which would be
a strong point in such case. But for
running down fleet merchantmen and
| probably for looking after such mer-
chant vessels as might be pressed into
the navy from the auxiliary lists they
would be of inestimable value. 1t is like
ly that the two vessels Will go to Hamp-
tor Roads as soon as they are fitted out
and manned which is expected to He
about the 10Th inst. according to the
dates upon which the officers are ordered
to Eeport 1t is desirable to get them
down the Delaware safely without un-
due haste and at Hampton Roads they
will be ready for quick work. There they
will meet the Brooklyn.
The detail of officers to command the
cruisers were announced at the Navy
| Department The detail for the Col
tumba is as follows:
Captain j. II. Sands. to command the
vessel with Lieutenant j. H. Moore,
| detached from the navy yard at Wash
| ington, as executive officer; Lieutenant
j. F. Parker. detached as Supervisor
| New York Harbor; Lieutenant H. c..
Stafford Lieutenant w J. Maxwell;
Ensign G. w Williams, Ensign J. j..
Prngle. Paymaster l.. G. Bogg, Passed
! Assistant Engineers w. n. Smith and
w. II. McGramm, Acting Boatswain
! A Omasen and Surgeon c. G. Hendon.
For the Minneapolis the detail is as
follows:
Captain T. f. Jewell, detached as
Inspector in charge of the Tenth
| Lighthouse District: Lieutenant G. T..
F,mmons. Lieutenant f. T. Wright
Lieutenant w, p. White, Ensign c. d.
/ Stearms, Ensign J. L. Sticht, Pay
master l.. c. Kerr, Passed Assistant
! Engineers A. AiaritZ and L. NJ Nui-
ton, Acting Boatswain w. Brooks. Sur
geon n. H. Drake.
! Work in blocking out the two new
| regiments of artillery authorized by
| Congress is now under way In the
/ War Department Necessarily there
viii be some men now enlisted in the
| artillery arm OF the service assigned
! to the new regiments in order to IN
struct and acquaint the recruits with
| the nature Of their duties. while in
| turn some of the latter will go to the
regiments now formed The officials
of the department believe there will
| be no difficulty in obtaining all the men
! needed
! Lieutenant-Colonels Edward 3. Will
iston and William Sinclair, who will be
advanced to the grade of Colonels viii
have command of the Sixth and Sew,
enth Regiments, respectively. while
Majors Wallace of the Randolph and
! Tully McCrea, who will be advanced
to the rank Of Lieutenant Colonels,
will take the places held by Wiliiston
and Sinclair in the Third and Fifth
| Artillery. respectively
| General Miles has about decide,
| finally to locate the Headquarters Of
the two regiments at Forts Slocum
and Wadsworth, n. Y. although the
determination regarding the latter
| place is open to change
| At the Spanish Legation the view
prevailed that the situation was mucn
| eaimer than it had been at any time
since the critical juncture began. Senior
| Dubosc is preparing for the arrival OF
| the new Minister, Senor Polo Barn
abe. who reaches New York to-day
and comes directly to Washington.
! Pablo Soier. First Secretary of the Lc-
| cation. has gone to New York to meet
| him. Mr.. Dubosc's services as Charge
| happen to come during tha most try-