The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-03-14

malities of presenting his credentials.
| He is first attending to the social duties
| incumbent on new minister. After
calling on the President today he spent
the rest of the day calling on ambassa-
doris end ministers.
1t is said that less than an hours work
would be required in the bureau office
here to complete all the plans for the
transformation of two of the best ships
on the Atlantic into auxiliary cruisers.
The detailed work of reconstruction could
be accomplished with like dispatch at the
League Island navy yard. Work on the
battleship Alabama is now in process at
| Cramps yard but as there Is no present
prospects of completing her the large
force of men could be set at work on the
auxiliary cruisers. 1t is not doubted that
the Cramps yard would give the govern
ment every facility in the way of work.
men at their disposal. The same readi-
ness for quick work of construction exists
at Newport News and at Norfolk. The
| large dock atsthat point gives an addition
| al facility.
The Secretary of the Navy has directed
that recruiting station be opened in
Washington Immediately to secure ordin-
airy seamen and machinists. Lieutenant
Robinson will be in charge of the station
which will begin business in the yard
next Monday morning.
The naval inspection board has gone
down to Norfolk to examine the Machias
just returned from the Asiatic station. 1t
| is probable that extensive overhaullng
will be necessary to put the vessel In
prime condition, but in view of the large
amount of emergency work on hand and
the desire of the department not to be de-
priyed of the use of the ship for any con-
siderable time, it is probable that the
board will reduce repairs to lowest posi-
BILE dimensions.
The Fern, laden with supplies for
suffering Cubans, arrived at Matanzas
today. Captain Cowles merely reported
his arrival to the Navy Department,
without making any mention of the con
dition of affairs at Matanzas. After dis.
charging the stores there Captain Cowles
will proceed with his vessel to Sagua and
leave the remainder.
Civil Engineer A. j. Menocal has been
detached from the League Island navy
yard and ordered to Key West. This is
regarded as indicating a purpose on the
part of the Navy Department to make
Immediately and considerable improve
ments at the naval station in Key West.
For several years past Engineer in Chief
Melville has been urging upon the depart
ment the advisability of erecting good
machinery repair shop. at the naval
station, pointing out that the great vol
ume of shipping passing from the Gulf of
Europe and the eastern states at present
had no place in which to effect even tenn
porary repairs on their vessels, without
going considerable distance out of their
way.
The battleship Iowa sailed from Key
West for Tortugas today and the Torpedo
boat Dupont arrived at Key West. The
gunboat Wilmington reported her arrival
at Barbados.
Brigadier General John M. Wilson,
chief of engineers. at the War Depart
ment, returned today after trip of over
5000 miles which he accomplished inside
OF one week. Naturally his visit to south
ern coast points has excited much COM
ment. General Wilson declined, however,
to discuss In any way this phase of his
trip. 1t is understood that he visited
Cum berland River, st. Johns river and
the works at Tampa and Key West. He
did not go to Tortugas, Notwithstanding
the reports current while he was in the
South that he was examining this
stragetio point with view to having
hurried plans for it's fertilization put into
effect. The War Department. is making
every effort to execute the changesin the
great military departments announced in
the order to which reference was made
yesterday. The important change was
Gulf by the combination of the old De-
partment of Texas With the southern
portion of the Department of the East.
The other changes made were in the
direction of rectifying the lines of the
Central Western Departments so as to
make them more symmetrical and easily
accessible in all portions from their re-
years attached to the Department. of the
East, has been thrown into the Depart
ment of the Missouri, which now rejoices
in the name of the Department of the
Lake, a change of name made, 1t is said
at the War Department, for purely senti-
mental reasons.
General Graham telegraphed the War
D6phIUIu0uO bOucbf uuou llC WOul0 ~ W
Atlanta on Monday next to establish his
headquarters there.
Senator Bacon of Georgia was at the
War Department today and expressed his
qualification that Georgia had been made
the centre of the new department., with
headquarters at Atlanta. This step, Mr..
Bacon said. was due entirely to military
considerations and no political motives
had figured in the transaction.
WANT TUGS AND BARGES.
Taunton, Mass. March 1s.-The Staples
Coal company of this city has received re-
quests from the United States govern
ment asking for the selling price of the
two large and powerful ocean steam
tugs, owned by the company. The gov
eminent is also endeavoring to purchase
eight barges belonging to the company
which are now being built at Bath, Me.
Mr.. Edward A. and Willis e. Carter
sailed on the Labrador Saturday for six
weeks trip abroad.
TOTHE PUBLIC.