Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-04-20
Many Vessels Offered to the Govern
ment,
REORGANIZING TIE STRATEGIC BOARD
Admiral Walker May Succeed Mr..
Roosevelt.
T E MOSQ UITO FLEE Z

| The Navy Department presented a scene
| of great activity, and Secretary Longs WIS.,
J ftOrs included not only a considerable list
of congre Ssmen, including Chairman Can
non of the House committee on appropria-
tons, but number of persons who are try
| ing to sell vessels to the government The
/ latter were referred to Assistant Secretary
Roosevelt, who has taken special charge of
| the ship purchases. The department has
almost concluded arrangements for the
purchase of one or two vessels in England
| TO be used golfers. but in advance of the
| completion of the sale the officials do not
| deem it prudent to make public their
/ rames. There was every disposition on thu
| part of the officials to limit the purchase
| to ships of American construction and own
ership. but in view of a number of bare
faced attempts at extortion by the owners
| and agents of SOM of these craft, the de-
| partment feels warranted in going abroad
| and securing sui able vessels at very mod
crate cost.
Rear Admiral Hughes, a retired naval Of
| ficer of the mature aga of seventy-six years,
! residing in this city, filed his application
with the Navy Department today for resto-
| ration to active service in the event of hos
tilities. While ii is not likely that the de-
partment will BE Obliged to avail itself Of
| this offer, Secretary Long was gratified at
| the patriotic spirit entertained by the ''old
sea dog
To Command the Mosquito Fleet.
| Seer tary Long has designated Command
| er Horace Elmer to have charge of what is
! known as the mosquito fleet Commander
| Elmer has been engaged for several weeks
! past. under orders of the department. in
| preparing a list of vessels suita BILE for the
| wants of this auxiliary to the naval estab-
.lish1na Mt. There are numerous small craft
! in all portions of the country which will be
| utilized in this service in the event of war.
| The ships will be manned. when possible, by
| the naval militia of the several states. A
naval officer probably will be assigned to
| the command of each one of the fleets.
| Their work is to be mainly in the direc ton
| of local defense.
| Latest Naval Orders.
The following naval orders were issued
| today:
Assistant Surgeon J. c. Pryor. from the
hospital at Mare Islan1 to the Albatross.
Lieut.. H. K. Hines, from charge of the
! branch photographic Office at Savannah to
the Niagara.
| Ensign r. Mclean, from the Franklin
| to the Armenia.
Chief Ensign f. c. Denig, from the
| Constitution to the Niagara.
! Lieut.. G.. c. Hanus, from the Newport
| to await orders.
The following officers are detached from
| the Newport and were ordered home plac-
| ed on waiting orders: Lieut.. ]. Fehrby,
Lieut.. A. Rust, Lieut.. E. T. Witherspoon,
Ensign f. L. Bissett, Surgeon c. Biddle
and Passed Assistant Surgeon c. H. T.
| Lowndes.
Lieut.. Commander ]. c. Wilson, sick
| leave extended ten days.
| Assistant Engineer f. Winship, from the
| Bennington to the Alert.
| Chief Engineer Fl. T. Cieaver from the
Alert to the Bennington.
| Passed Assistant Engineer E. T. War
burton, from the Bancroft to the New
| Orleans
Commander II. Elmer, ordered to take
charge of the mosquito fiotila.
Lieut.. F. II. Brown, from the Adams to
| the Pensacola.
| Passed Assistant Engineer W. P. Win
chell, from the Adams to the Pensacola.
Lieut.. ]. H. l. Holcombe. from the
Adams to the receiving ship independence.
Ensign c. ]. Lang, from the Adams to
| the Pensacola.
Chief Engineer j. s. Ogden, from the
| Bennington to await orders.
| Passed Assistant Surgeon c. P. Eagg
| from the Adams to the Pensacola.
, Paymaster C. W. Slanner, from the Wa
bash to the Franklin
Passed Assistant Surgeon A. Farenholt
from the Independent to the hospital at
| Mare Island.
The Board of Strategy.
The proposed transfer of Mr.. Theodore
| Roosevelt from the navy to the military
| service will necessitate a reorganization of
| the. naval strategic board, charged with
the important duty Of preparing plans of
naval operations. AS at present organized,
| this board consists of Assistant Secretary
| Roosevelt, Rear Admiral Walker. retired;
| Captain A. l.. Barker, Commander Rich
| ardson Clover and Commander Crownin-
| shield. In addition to Mr. Roosevelt, 1T is
probable that Captain Barker and Com
mander Clover will shortly be assigned to
I other duties. In fact, Commander Clover
| is already under orders to hold himself in
| readiness to command the gunboat Ban
| croft, forming part of the defense of the
| ha rbor of Boston. Captain Barker has also
| applied for sea duty, and he will undoubt-
| eddy be given good command at the first
opportunity. II is probable that he will
| be placed in command of the cruiser New
| ark This vessel has undergone extensive
repairs at the Norfolk navy yard and is
| expected to be ready for service within a
| lew weeks.
| Rear Admiral Sicard, formerly in COM
mand of the North Atlantic squadron, and
now on duty in the Office of Secretary Long
| in an advisory capacity, will probably be
| made a member of the strategic board. a
| duty for which he is known to be especial
| ly well fitted.
New Assistant Secretary.
Although not yet settled, there is ground
| for the belief that in case Assistant Secre-
| tary Roosevelt adheres to his present pur-
| pose of entering the military service he
| will be succeeded In the Office of assistant
secretary of the navy by Rear Admiral
| Walker. now his chief assistant on the
strategic board. Admiral Walker is on the
| retired list, and is said to have been a can
didate for the Office of assistant secretary
at the time of Mr.. Roosevelts appoint
| ment. Many naval officials regard him as
specially well equipped for the duties of
| assistant secretary, both by reason of his
| naval education and experience and his
calm and conservative judgment.
The Attack ON Havana.
at horo caid nrominent naval nficar