The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-05-17

Washington, May 16.-An order
posted this morning and signed by Sec
retary Long relative to the publication
of news emanating from the navy de-
partment had the effect to-day of con-
siderably curtailing the supply of in
formation that heretofore has been
rather freely given out. The secretary's
order was directed to Captain
Crowninshield, chief of the navigation
bureau, and he in turn gave it by max
ing an order in his own name that no
person connected with his bureau in
any capacity should have any conver-
sation whatever on any subjects in any
way connected with the navy depart
ment with reporters of the press AS
an offset, it was ordered that bulletins
of such acts as have actually occurred
and are proper for publication and are
not connected with existing or project
ed movements shall be prepared and
posted on the bulletin board. The sum
total of the information posted on the
bulletin board to-day under this ruling
was a notice of the intention to start
the Philippine relief expedition and of
the permission given to some foreign
neutral vessels to pass the blockade at
Havana.
In explanation of the issuance of this
order the naval authorities say that
some leading American newspapers
have been so far lacking in patriotism
as to print plans of campaign and pro-
jected movements of ships, with the
result that the war board has been
compelled to completely revise its plans,
with the knowledge that Spain had
promptly taken advantage of the pub
lications and were prepared to profit by
them. Complaint was made to Secre-
tary Long that the newspapers were
working injury to the government in
such cases.
1t is not the purpose of the secretary
to prevent the press having any nfor-
nation that is not calculated to cause
a miscarriage of the plans of the de-
partment, but il remains to be seen
whether the naval officers to whom the
order has been directed will not, by the
ironclad Interpretation of it, bring about
a modification in the interest of lib
erality.
The opening of the blockade at Ha-
vana to certain vessels is a rather curl
Gus proceeding that may lead to very
considerable widening of the blockade
itself. so that in the end, neutral ves-
sells not loaded with contra band or sup
plies, the carrying of which into Ha-
vana would interfere with the naval
and military operations, may be al
lowed TO enter.
The statement that the navy de-
partment still hopes to make an ex-
change of prisoners at an early day
shows that the mission of the Uncas
yesterday was by no means complete
failure, as has been stated.
Intimations have been received that
Captain General Blanco at Havana is
very short of ammunition, in which
case the powerful batteries at the en-
trance of Havana harbor of course
would be deprived of large part of
their defensive strength. This state of
affairs may lead to some desperate at
tempts at blockade running on the
part of the Spaniards i'm the hope of
getting more ammunition into Havana.
1t is believed that the supplies so fire.
quently referred to as being on the
Spanish squadron were of this charac-
ter rather than food supplies, which
makes il all the more important that
Sampson and Schley should succeed in
keeping Admiral Cervera from reach
ing Havana or Cienfuegos, or any port
in Cuba connected with Havana by
rail. Commodore Schley probably is
now well down on the Florida coast
and should be able to guard the Flori-
da straits by tomorrow or next
day. His appearance on that side of
Cuba would enable Sampson to bring
his ironclads with perfect safety into
Cienfuegos on the south side, and with
this disposition of our naval force and
the free use of our scouting vessels, IL
is hard to see how the Spanish fleet
could escape from the gulf OF Mexico
or the Caribbean sea.
The navy department Is getting a
better and better quality of armor as
the contracts expire. A 13-inch plate
tested at Indianhead Saturday with a
l0-inch gun showed itself to be equal
or superior to any piece of armor that
has ever been made for the govern
ment. With the highest velocity at l.
945 feet per second. the shot penetrated
only L. inches. without cracking the
plate, the very last piece to be deliv-
cred under the existing contract. and
which is intended for the Kentucky.
The important development of the
day at the war department was the
definite selection OF the corps COM
manders. The announcement. how
ever does not contain any surprises.
Though Major General Wesley. Mer-
ritt is accredited to the department of
the Pacific. such designation is made
formally. and il is known that he will
go to the Philippines in command of
the army there, and will be accom-
panied by Major General Otis The