Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-04-04
Reports Received Indicate a General
Movement.
ADDITIONS TO THE AUXILIARY NAVY
Allotment of Million to the Ord
nance Department.
DISCUSSING PREPARATIONS

| for the concentr alton of additional war
| sfips at Key West and other points on the
| coast where their services may be re-
| quired in the event of hostilities. The mon
| ltor Terror, the gunboat Newport and the
| tub Leyden have arrived at Key West.
The fleet cruiser Minneapolis has arrived
at Newport News for duty with the flying
| squadron. The gunboat Bancroft, recently
| detached from the European station, ar
| rived at Boston, and will be at once put in
| condition for active service. She is said to
be in need of a general overhauling
| The yacht Mayficwer, recently transform
ed into dispatch boat, has arrived at
| Norfolk, and this is taken as an indica ation
that she will be assigned to duty with the
| Tying squadron. The revenus cutter Hud-
! son has also reported her arrival at Nor
| 1o!k, where she is to undergo reclnstruc-
ton into gunboat. The torpedo boa t
| Scmers, purchased in Germany, arrived at
| weymouth this morning on her way to the
United States. The monitor Monadncck
mas arrived at Mare Island, California.
The steam collier Saturn has arrived at the
brooklyn navy yard. The yacht Josephine
| recently purchased of Mr. Widener of
Phliadelphla,. arrived at League Island
navy yard this morning, and will be at
~N-SS NSAA'S tCo iLltO d DOat de-
stroyer. 1t has been practically decided to
change her name TO the Vixen.
Ten More Vessels Waited,
Assistant Secretary Roosevelt today sent
Instructions to the naval auxiliary board in
session at New York, to secure Immediate
| iy, II possible, ten frst-class steam vessels
ol from 400 to 5000 tons burden for use in
the auxiliary navy.
Mr.. Roosevelt stated that the department
mad no information to what vessels the
board would select, full discretion being
allowed these officers to buy such ships as
they deemed most suited to the present
needs OF the navy. 1t is very probable that
the purchases will include some of the
coast steamers, there being few ships of
as great tonnage 5000 available out
Side OF these lines. These vessels will be
used as cruisers In the proper sense of the
term' and they are not to be classed in
the mosquito fleet" of yachts and tugs
Inc larger boats will make formidable ma
val crafts there being few cruisers in the
navy OF a tonnage exceeding 5000. 1T is
understood that orders will immed,eta,y
De issued placing the newly acquired yes
sells in ship yards for the necessary ratt-
ting.
quiremert of any of the transa1lantic lin
ers, such as the st. Paul or the st. Louis
which are of much greater tonnage
The full report of the board on auxilIarv
SHIPS for the navy have been received at
the department. 1t is an exhaustive review
Oh their work in eastern seaports for the
past three weeks, and contains a list of
several hundred vessels of all classes from
tugs to transatlantic liners. A detailed
description OF each vessel examined is
given Special attention has been paid
10 structural matters, with suggestions as
to the adaptability of these boats for con-
version into naval craft. The report is
accompanied by large number of pho-
tographs and drawings. The report has
been referred to Chief Constructor Bicb
born, who will review it and submit 70.
the Secretary his opinion on the vessels.
On his report will largely depend the Sc
lectIons to be made hereafter
Work on FortiIcatfons.
Gen. Wilson. chief of engineers, has taken
prompt action for the immediate utiIiza-
ton of the additional allotment of 81 OOO.-
200 made to his department by the Presi-
dent out of the S5O.OOO, 600 emergency ap-
preparation Orders have been given for
the resumption of work on fortifcations
ed because of the want of funds and ar
rangements were made also for the estab-
lishment of a system of submarine mines
and torpedoes at harbors along the coast
where such means of defense are deemed
essential in case of hostilities. These or
ders have necessitated partial rearrange-
ment OF the engineer department as at
present organized. Nearly all the younger
members OF the corps engaged in river
and harbor works in the interior have been
detached from such duty for the present
ana ordered to report to the officers en-
gagged In strengthening the defenses of the
coast by the erection of batteries and SUBJ
marine mines for duty in that importa Mt
and pressing line of work under their direc
ton. This action will not result in any
neglect in the prosecution of river and har-
Dor work in progress, as other arrange
ments have been made for that, but. on the
other hang, will enable the department to
expedite the preparations for the national
defense
Another Million Allotted.
The Secretary of War has made an addi-
ttcnal allotment of s., 100000 TO the ord
nance department of the army for the pur-
chase and construction Of guns and the
purchase of ammunition for use in prepar-
Ing for the national defense
Committing Gen. SchoAeld.
Lieut.. Gen. Schofeld, who formerly COM
manded the army, was at the War Depart
m7nt today, in consultation with Secretary
Alger in regard to the formation of the
proposed volunteer reserve army, of which
he is the commander-in-ehief- The move
msnt for the Organization OF this reserve
meets with the hearty approval of Secre-
tary Aiger. who. has expressed his COM
mendation of the scheme In letters to its
promoters. Arrangements have been made
for ethe introduction In Congress of a hill
which will give the reserve army an Official
standing. step urged by the promoters
as Necessary to its Incorporation in the ils-
tlonA1 military force In case OF emerxenc5.
Among the other callers on Secretary
Alger today were Senators Morrill, of Yer
mont and Bate and TURKEY OF Tennessee.
caIsers ON Secretary Lon..
Secretary Long had many callers during
the day. the list including number of
members OF Congress and OF persons who
had business Of Importance 70 transact.