Evening star., 1898-04-15
Pleased at the Arrival of the Cruisers
From England.
ORDNANCE and STORES }, DROUGHT
Captain Fo|ger to Command the
New Orleans. ~..
CALL FOR M1LITIAMEN

days overdue, is a matter of qualification
to the military authorities, as well as to
naval officials, for the reason that they
bring a large supply oe ordnance and ord
nance stores for use in the national de-
fense. The New Orleans in particular Is
feaviiy laden with munitions of war. in
GLIDING twenty-five Maxim-N -Nordenfeldt
rapfd-fire guns and a large supply of am
n.unitlon for the same. These arms will
be used as part of the coast defense, and
mainly for the protection of submarine
mines and torpedoes from attack by small
beats sent to dislodge them. The govern
ment is somewhat short of modern arms of
this character, and is in special need of
them just at this particular time.
Commander Of the New Orleans,
There will be no delay whatever in put
ting the New Orleans into active service
Arrangements were made at the Navy De-
partment today with that end in view
Captain William NJ. Foiger, formerly chief
of ordnance and now in charge of the New
York light house district with headquar-
ters at Tompkinsville, was ordered to take
command of the New Orleans at once, and
full complement OF officers was assigned
to duty under him. 1t is expected that the
New Orleans will be taken to the New York
navy yard and fitted out for service imme-
diately. AS is well known, this cruiser was
built in England for the Brazilian navy,
under the name of the Amazonas, and has
just been acquired by the United States.
Her trip across the Atlantic served as an
excellent practical trial of her sea-going
and other qualities, and that they were of
a satisfactory character is demonstrated
by the orders issued today to put her into
readiness for immediate service.
Commodore HovelPs Position.
The return of the San Francisco presents
a troublesome problem to the Navy De-
partment. This vessel was the flagship of
Commodore Howell, commander-in-chiefo of
the naval forces on the European station.
That station was recently abandoned in or
der to utilize all the warshfps attached to
1t in the proposed OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES and
defensive-in the neafby waters of the
United States. The squadron. at the time
of its d.sbandonment. consisted of the San
Francisco, Helena ard Bancroft. The last
two named vessels arrived home several
days ago and are now attached to the
home squadron under!1 Capt. Sampson. 1t
is expected that similar action will be taken
with the San Francisco. This will necessi-
tate the detachment Of Commodore Howell
and leave him without,a command. He has
been at sea only a few months, and Under
ordinary circumstances, would have con-
tiLued in command of his squadron for at
least two, years. In View Of the fact that
he outranks both Commodore Schley, COM
manding the flying squadron, and Capt.
Sampson, commanding the North Atlantic
Squadron. he cannot be assigned to any
duty in connection with either flee: With
out displacing either of the officers named
of command rank. =
Inasmuch as the department has no in
tention of making any change in the two
commands mentioned, 1t is not improbable
that Commodore Howell will be temporari-
ly assigned to special duty at the depart
ment in Washington. A rumor current in
the department today was to the effect that
Commodore Howell might be placed in
charge of one of the naval bureaus in Or
der to permit of the assignment of officers
junior to himself to more important duty
at sea. The only bureaus in charge of line
officers are the bureau of equipment, of
which Commander R. b. Bradford is the
chief, and the bureau of navigation, of
which Capt. 1. S. Crowninshield is the
CHEF. Commander Bradford is understood
hostiiities with Spain, but it is said that
Commander Crowninshield prefers his pres
ent duties at the Navy Department. The
statement is made, however, that there is
10 likelihood of any immediate change in
either of these bureaus, and that some 9TH
er provision will be made for Commodore
Howell comm ensurate with his rank.
The American Line Vessels.
Most Of Secretary Longs time this morn
Ing before he went to the cabinet meeting
was occupied in consultation with Presi-
dent Griscom Of the American Line of
steamers, Mr.. g. c. Neal, the attorney for
the company. and Senator Sewell Of New
Jersey, who accompanied them. The con-
ference related to the acquisition by the
government Of the four large vessels owned
by the American Line for use in the auxil-
larry navy. Later these gentlemen and
Judge Advocate General Lemly of the navy
accompanied the Secretary to the White
House, where they talked with the Presi-
dent and his official advisers regarding the
matter.
Work ON FOrtifcations.
General Wilson, chief of engineers, said
today that all the emergency work devolv-
Ing upon MS department was well under
way and that everything was being done to
the full limit of the allotments made. The
work Of building emplacements for the. es-
tablishment Of batteries had begun at Mi
ami, ST. Augustine and at the mouth of the
st. Johns river. Florfda, and the fortifca-
tions at Cumberland spdnd are being rapid
ly put in order.
There is general demand for fortifica-
tions all along the Atlaptic, and gulf coasts.
and it is being compiled with to the full ex-
tent of the funds availlablss for the purpose.
1t has been deemed advisable to keep the
sites of new fortiacations rs quiet as posi-
BILE for the present o..a,-.
Pay Director Edwin Stawart is receiving
the congratulations of his many friends to-
day on his reappointments sas chief of the
bureau of supplies and accounts, with the
rank and title of paymastef general of the
navy. He has already ,nifed that RESPONSE
bls position for two terms,s covering a pc
riod of eight years, aQd his reappointment
for another term of four years is almost
without parallel in the history of the naval
establishment. 1t is certainly without pre-
cedent in the pay department. and his con-
tinuance in Office at the head of that de-
partment shows the high esteem In which