The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-17

WASHINGTON. May l6.-An order post
ed this morning and signed by Secretary
Long relating to the publication OF news
emanating from the navy department. had
the effect today Of considerably ourtaillng
the supply of information that heretofore
has been rather freely given out.
The secretary's order was directed TO
CATION bureau, and he IN turn gave 1t out
by making an order In his own name that
no person connected with his bureau in
any capacity should have any CONVERSE
.ion whatever on subjects in anyway per-
tanning to the navy with representatives
of the press
AS an offset, ii was ordered that bulle-
tins of such acts as have actually oe-
Cured and are proper for publication and
ara not connected with existing or pro-
jected movements shall be prepared and
posted ON the bulletin board The sum
total of the information published by the
bulletin board today under this rule, was
a notice of the intention to start the
Philippine relief expedition and of the
permission gwen 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 projected move
ments OF naval vessels, with the result
that the war board has been Obliged 10
completely revise It's plans, in the knowl-
edge that the Spanish had promptly taken
notice OF the publications and were pre-
pared TO profit by them. Complaint was
made 10 Secretary Long that the news
papers were working injury TO the gov
ernment In such cases.
I5 is not the purpose of the secretary 10
prevent the press having any information
that is not calculated to cause a miscar-
riage of the plans OF the department but
4. remains to be seen whether the naval
officers to whom the order has been a.
rected, Will not, by their ironclad inter-
pretat.on OF it, bring about a modification
In the interest OF lberali,y.
The opening of the blockade to admit
5z.IlZ
that may lead 10 very considerable. wild
ening OF the blockade itself. so that in the
end neutral vessels not loaded with con-
traband or supplies. the carrying of which
into Havana would interfere with the naya,
and military operations. may be allowed
20 enter. The statement that the navy de-
partment still hopes 10 make an exchange
OF prisoners at an early date shows tha.
the mission Of the Uneas yesterday was bv
no means a complete failure, as has bsan
stated.
Intimations have beer received here ,hat
Capt. Gen. Blareo al Havana is very sha-t
Of ammunition. In which case the POWERFUL
batteries az the entrance OF Havana bar-
Dor. OF course would be deprived 81 a
large part OF their defensive strength
This statement OF affairs may lead To s5rna
desperate attempts a; blockade running On
the part OF the Spaniards. in the homes ~
getting more ammunition Into Havana T.
is believed tina, tho supplies 50 frequently
referred 10 as being on the Spanish fsv-
ing squadron. were OF this character rath-
er than food supplies. when makes I. af
The more important tina, sampson and
sehley should succeed In keeping Admiral
Cerxera from reaching Havana or Glen
fuegos, or any port in Cgha connected with
Havana hy RAJ. Commodore Sehiey prob
ably is now well down on the Florida coast
and should be able 10 guard fha Fs1rsysa
straits by torrorrow or next day. His an
neararce on shat side u Cuba would en-
able Sampson 10 bring his troncladz with
perfect safety into Clenfuegos or tn. south
side, and with this disposition of our naval
force ard ,hs free use % cur scouting yes
sells. II Is hard IN see how the SPANISH
fsec, could escape frgm ,ha GUT Of Mexi-
co or the Caribbean sea
The navy department Is getting a better
aud hstser quality os ssuor - the coa-