Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-03-29

nation several months ago. and. IL current
rumor Is to be believed, he will probably
be arraigned for trial on charges of mis-
conduct at the Nashville exposition. con-
viction of which may possibly involve his
| dismissal from the army. His friends are
| confident of his acauittal, however and
that he will render a good account of him.
self in the future.
| A Busy Morning.
Secretary Long had busy morning be-
lore going to the cabinet meeting confer
ring with bureau chiefs and with Senators
| Gray Of Delaware. McBrice of Oregon and
| Representative Henry of Massachusetts,, a
member CT the House committee an foreign
ahairs Secretary Alger also had his hands
full, his callers including Representative
| Cannon, chairman of the House committee
| on appropriations; Representative Heming-
way Chairman of the House subcommittee
en- Notifications. and Senator Carter.
For Purchase of the Creole.
| Negotiations were practically closed at
| the Navy Department today for the pur-
chase Of the Cromwell line steamer Creole
| which the medical department of the navy
proposes to convert into hospital ship in
case of war. Capt. E. v. Gager who has
had command Of the vessel for some time
mas written letter to the Secretary of the
| navy rendering his services to the govern
| ment in the case of hostilities. and indicat-
Ing his desire to serve on the Creole in
case she goes into the naval service Capt
eager is commodore of the Cromwell line
fleet, and saw considerable active service
during the war in the volunteer navy, and
| was at one time acting master of one of
| the monitors.
! A RumOr Revived.
| The departure Of the cruiser Columbia
from League Island for Hampton Roads
has revived the rumor to the alleged
| purpose of the government to send the fIy-
| Ing squadron to sea for the purpose of In
| tercept:ng The Spanish torpedo boat fotilla
now On its way from the Canaries to Porto
| Rico. Additional color is given to this ru-
! NOR from the fact that the government is
hurry:ng the work on the cruiser Minneap-
| OILS at the LeagIe Island navy yard, with
view TO her INN ediate dispatch to Hamp-
ton Roads Unless present arrangements
are miscarried. the flying squadron will be
| fully organized IN Hampton Roads, with
the exception OF the battle ship Texas. by
| the end of the present week. BY that time
| II is expected that the flagship BROOKLYN.
the battle ship Massachusetts and the swift
cruisers Columbia and Minneapolis will be
assembled there for any duty that may be
assigned them.
In view of the present pacific state of
the negotiations between the two countries.
1t Is not believed to be probable that the
United States will make any effort to in
terfere with the movements of the Span
ish torpedo fleet. 1t is recognized on all
hands that such an act would be a casus
beiii, and, as such, contrary to the avowed
DOllcy of the 81 fraff
voking hostilities with Spain. The state
ment is reiterated in Madrid that Spain
VIII consider it an act of piracy If the
United States prevent the Spanish f3otilla
from reaching its destination.
A telegram was received at the Navy De-
partmeEt this afternoon announcing the
arrival of the monitor Terror at Charles
ton. S. c.. on her way from New York to
Key West, where she will be attached to
the already formidable fleet of war ships
under command of Capt Sampson, com
manding the North Atlantic station.
Garrison for the Tortusus
By direction of General Miles, command
ing the army, orders were Issued today to-
the transfer of the 25th Regiment of In
fartry to the Dry Tortugas. The fact that
this regiment is made up of colored troops
is regarded as quite significant in showing
the purpose of the War Department TO
concentrate colored troops in the vicinity
of Cuba, inasmuch as it is recognized that
their physical characteristics make these
soldiers better able to withstand the rigors
of tropical service.
A high official Of the department said
that the climate in Cuba was to some ex-
tent like that of Africa, with the same
intense heat and febrile conditions 1t is
said alSO ha of
latorers in the southern cotton fields is
Cue to their ability to Withstand the heat
during long continued exposure.
The 18th Infantry is located at Forts
Missoula, Assiniboine and Harris, Mont,
where they have been for the past eight
cen years. There are about $50 men in all
end are urder the command of Col A. S.
Burt. The movement will begin in about
two weeks. and the troops, on arriving at
Tortagas. will go into camp there being no
regular barTack accommodations at that
place for them.
1t was announced some time ago that the
department would detail a company of ar
tfiiery TO man the improved caliber guns
which the ordnance bureau intends 10
mount at Fort jefferson. Two colored
troops upon their arrival will, it is presurn-
ed, be instructed in artillery practice, and
10 assist the artillery company In its work.
Their principal duty. however, will be to
protect the government works from pos
sible attack by a landing party.
There are three other colored regiments
in the army. and the aggregate colored
strength is 2.1SS. The regiments are the
24th Infantry. all at Fort Douglas, Utah,
Col. ]. F. Kent. commanding; the 9th cav
airy, Fort Robinson. Neb.. headquarters,
Col David Perry. commanding: the 10th
Cavalry. headquarters. at Fort Assiniboine,
Mont. Col. Guy V. Henry. commanding
The only colored officer is First Lieutenant
Charles Young of the 9th Cavalry, who at
Present is on duty at the Wilberforca INT
versity. The four colored chaplains are at
tached to the respective colored regiments.
INSTALLING STEAM PRESSES.
several Being Put in Position fn the
Engraving bureau.
Several Of the steam presses recently or |