Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-08-16
GREAT NAVAL REVIEW.
Sampsonsf|set VIII Rendezvous
in New York Harbor.
A SPLENDID AFFAIR II WILL Be,
The Washington Officials Nov Consld-
erIng Such a Demonstration
TO FIRE A SALUTE AT GRANTS TOMB.
Ships viii Be on Sandy Hook Soma
Time Friday.
Perhaps His Retirement from the
secretnryship VIII Follow This
step-Reconstructi of Affairs in
CubR and Porto Rico.

WASHINGTON, August 15.-The recon-
struction of affairs in Cuba, Porto Rico.
and throughout the Spanish West Indies
is receiving earnest consideration In Off
cal quarters and at the White House
to-day the President saw a number of
reconstruction i'm our new insular depen-
dencies General Fitzhugh Lee spent
some time with the President, going over
the condition OF Cuban affairs. While
no announcement was made, the impress
sion prevailed that General Lee would
be one Of the Cuban military commits
soners, to be named within few days.
DAY WILL TAKE A VACATION.
Acting Secretary Allen, of the navy,
also saw the President concerning the
affairs of the island. 1t is probable that
an American naval vessel will go to
Habana harbor before long, and at least
two more will be ordered there when the
military commission assemblies in the
city TO determine upon the details of
Spanish evacuation. Secretary Day also
conferred with the President, and later
determined, the peace terms being ma
tured, to take a weeks vacation. He
will leave either tonight or tomorrow
morning going. probably, to Canton. As
sistant Secretary Moore will be acting
Secretary of State during Judge Days
absence The Secretary's retirement from
the head of the department is likely
to follow soon after his return from
Canton, and, indeed, it may come during
his absence, although there was no out
ward evidence to-day that he was about
TO close mis- connection with State De-
partment affairs.
NAVAL REVIEW OF SIMPSONS
FLEET.
The Navy Department decided during
the day to yield, as far as practicable, to
the public desire at New York for a
naval review of the ships of Admiral
SIMPSONS fleet. Accordingly, Acting
Secretary Allen issued the following or
der:
"The department is much gratihed at the
warships and cruisers recently ordered
home, and so far as practicable IS desi-
rous OF carrying out the wishes or those
citizens who wish to see the ships. But
neither the officers nor the men OF the
fleet are In condition to participate in
street parade. The department is taking
the opportunity of the armistice to put
these ships at once into the best possible
condition for such uses as may hereafter
be required OF them. 1t is said all other
work will be suspended and the entire
available force of the navy-yard directed
to this work in order to secure the great
est possible dispatch"
A SALUTE AT GRANTS TOMB.
The department will direct that upon its
arrival In New York harbor the fleet shall
steam up the North river as far as Gene
raj Grants tomb. fire a salute, and steam
back to the anchorage. 1t is said that the
fleet will reach New York on Saturday,
the 10Th instant
The plan is TO have Admiral Sampson
met off Sandy Hook with orders for the
procession up the North river. 1t is ex-
pected that the fleet will be off Sandy
Hook some time Friday night, but VIII
lie outside the harbor until Saturday
morning.
TO REDUCE THE NAVAL MILITIA.
The Navy Department Is taking steps
TO reduce the force OF naval militiamen
called into service from the several States.
The Minneapolis is to transfer part Oh her
crew 10 the Yosemite. thus releasing the
Michigan naval militiamen who man the
Yosemite. The Columbia Is also TO trans
fer her crew 10 the Dixie and other
auxiliary craft thus allowing the naval
,ou,,,amen ON these auxiliaries to go
homo In this way the naval service will
speedily be returned into the hands OF
tho regular officers and crews.