The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-04-25

Fort Monroe, Va, April 24.-(On
board flagship Brooklyn. For STRAIT
egic purposes and for the protection Of
information that might be OF value 10
the enemy, Commodore Sehley OF the
flying squadron has issued practical
censorship over those in his command
relative to the diVulging of the reason
for any movements made or TO be MADE
by the squadron or individual ships OF
the squadron.
To more fully carry out that plan OF
protection to government interests
only commanding officers are made
aware of such movements and the re-
sponsibility is thus minimized.
1t is for these reasons that the actual
destination of the Minneapolis and Co
lumbia is merely of newspaper con-
lecture. The actual mission of the big
cruisers is not and will not be mace
public, the navy department, Conlmo-
dore Schley and the commanders of the
vessels being the sole possessors OF in
formation on the subject
MANY CoNJECTUREs.
The conjectures as to the object fer
which Commodore Schley ordered them
to sea last night are many. Protection
of the steamship Paris, assistance TO
the battleship oregon, capture OF span
ish gunboats and convoy for the trans
port Panther, now at Hampton Roads,
are some of them. The latter theory
is partially discrediIed, because the
Panther. with her human freight OF
nearly 700 officers and marines, lies IN
safety with the remaining ships OF the
squadron off Fort Monroe, and evil
IDENTIFY il is in no hurry to move. AS
a matter of fact, the Panther itself has
some protection, being pretty well
armed with eight rapid-fire guns, which
could be used effectively. All of the
700 men on board of her are in excel
lent condition, no patients occupying
the sick bay.
The departure of the Columbia and
Minneapolis last night created great
deal of excitement. From the time the
signal was made on the flagship to the
time the Minneapolis went by on her
way to sea was less than an hour, and
the Columbia followed in few min
TJeS.
QUIET SUNDAY.
Sunday here passed very quietly. The
Maryland reserves, who are TO man the
Yosemite and Dixie, arrived by boat
early this morning. The two converted
boats will be ready in a day or two,
being at Newport News yards, under
going improvements.
When the Maryland reserves passed
the Brooklyn they cheered heartily.
The Sioux, a converted tug, under
command of Lieutenant Gherardi, and
which mounts several rapid-fire guns,
left this afternoon, and the men on the
Brooklyn gave her a hearty cheer as
she passed out.
The hospital boat Solace left Newport
News for Norfolk, where she will take
on medical stores.
Tonight the preeaution was begun of
putting out a patrol fleet of steam cut
tiers fully equipped TO fight and to give
warning If an enemy appeared.
FORTIFICATIONS.
The work of Strengthening the forti- !
f1cations at Fort Monroe continued all |
day, with a large working force, as did !
also the work of laying mines in the |
harbor. Where the old eight and ten
inch converted rifles used to stand will !
be mounted a battery of modern rapid |
fire guns, which are expected to COM |
mand Hampton Roads and Chesapeake |
bay, and make it impossible for tor |
pedo boat of the enemy to enter. These |
guns, it is thought, will be in fighting |
condition at the end of this week.
The work is not confined to the fort !
itself by any means, for active prepar- !
atoms for a possible conflict are being /
made at the Pines battery" and on !
the beach of Chesapeake bay, midway /
between this battery and the fort. |
be mounted behind breastworks of the |
most modern and substantial kind.
Obstructive MILE RANGE.
In addition to this, the immense bat
terry of smooth-bore guns is ready for
use, and, at a range of one mile, will
prove terribly destructive.
At Willoughby spit, opposite Fort
Monroe, and which point controls the
entrance to Norfolk, Newport News
and the James and Potomac rivers, q
board OF naval officers has made an
inspection with a view of constructing
Z fort at a point to cooperate with
Fort Monroe.
1t is expected that active prepara-
tons on the fort viii begin this week,
and be pushed to completion without
ielay.
This fort is to be erected on super
structure of steel supports, forming an
srched chamber, with turrets, in which
he guns are to be operated. The fort
will be temporary in structure, but,
manned, will prove a formid-
.ble defense in case the enemy should
lttempt the invasion OF the harbor.