The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1898-03-26

the need or Interceptng TINS Meet was
urged by the highest naval authori-
ties.
From the standpoint Of the Spanish
government this movement was not a
menace, having been decided upon
many weeks ago on the contrary, the
Spanish government holds that the
extensive armament of the Dry Tor
tugas is a more direct hostile act
against Spain than any movement of
the flotilla. Instead Of stopping the
iotllla, the persent attitude of Spain
tends towards reinforcing IL with other
Spanish vessels, not as a menace, but
from what the Spanish government
feels Is requirement called for by
the existing condition of affairs.
Hardly less suggestive than the ap-
proach of the torpedo fotilla was the
information received yesterday by the
highest military authorities that the
Spanish government had hurried to
completion extensive fortifications on
the Island of Porto Rico, lying just
off Cuba, and the only Spanish pos
session in this hemisphere other than
Cuba. The exact character of these
new defenses has been made known
here, and they are being given weight
with the military authorities as show
ing the disposition of Spain.
The orders issued by the navy de-
partment during the day covered every
branch of naval armament. The "hy-
ing squadron" was definitely estab-
lished, with Commodore w. S. Schley
in command. He will hoist his COM
modores flag on the flagship Brooklyn
next Monday. The squadron is to con-
sist of exactly five ships, no more and
no less, despite conjecture as to pos
sible ships that might be added. Those
of the squadron viii be the crack
armored cruiser Brooklyn, the battle
ships Massachusetts and Texas and
the cruisers Columbia and Minneapolis
Other ships which are now or here
after at Hampton Roads will not be
of the flying squadron, but will belong
to the North Atlantic station, under
Captain Sampson. The flying squad
ron is to be a small compact fleet of
the best ships in the navy for quick
service at any point along the At
lantic.
At the same time the north Atlantic
station, under Captain Sampson, is to
be further augmented The cruiser
Cincinnati, the gunboat Wilmington
and the gunboat Vicksburg were yes
terday added to the fleet which now
consists, besides these three, of the
New York, Iowa, Indiana, Miantono-
mah Fern, Puritan, Terror, Marble
head, Montgomery, Dolphin, Castine,
Nashville, Helena, Vesuvius, torpedo
boats Foote, Dupont, Ericsson, Cush-
ing, Porter, Winslow, tugs Leyden and
Samoset.
Orders were issued yesterday to have
all the warships painted black, a color
that is better adapted to hostiliues,
because the vessels will not afford as
good target
The navy department was yesterday
Informed by cablegram from Lieuten-
ant Colwell, naval attache to the Uni
| ted States embassy at London, that
| agents of this government had pur-
chased "Schischau" torpedo boat that
had just been constructed for the Ger
man government. This new acquisi-
ton is of the general type of German
torpedo boats, and is regarded as a
valuable addition to our navy. She is
now ready for sea, and it is expected
that in a few days she will leave for
the United States. She is a 90 knot
vessel and about $50 feet long.
Word reached the navy department
officials that the Spanish authorities
have taken steps to supplement the
existing Notifications at San Juan de
| Puerto Rico, the main port of the
Island of Porto Rico. The news is re-
garded as significant. Porto Rico is the
only other possession which belongs
to Spain on this hemisphere besides
| ,ft ,fI Il
fled after the style prevalent in early
days. The Notifications are being
strengthened and the armament has
| been increased.
General Flagler, chief of ordnance of
the army, had a long conference with
Secretary Alger with reference to ad-
ditional guns and gun carriages. A
few days ago Secretary Alger allotted
to General Flagler $1,6OOO00 from the
| emergency appropriation made by con-
gress. This amount was not, in the
opinion of General Flagler, sufficient
to meet the requirements of the pres
ent emergency, and his conference with
the secrtarY was to obtain an addi-
tional allowance. Secretary Alger gave
General Flagler a liberal additional
allotment, but no information could
be obtained as to its amount.
The enlistment of men for the naval
service is progressing satisfactorily at
the Washington navy yard, and a good
class of men is being obtained.
The navy department yesterday sent
an order to the Mangrove to proceed
to Havana and convey to the United
States the officers of the Maine in that
city. A dispatch received today an
nounces that Captain Sigsbee and his
associates are now homeward bound.
Lieutenant Colwell, at London, has
been directed by the navy department
to urge the builders of the recently
purchased cruiser Albany formerly the
Brazilian vessel Abreuall, to hasten the
construction of the shin with all pos
sible speed. In the ordinary course of
work the vessel would not be COM
pleted before next December but it is
believed that If the builders are placed
under pressure she can be made ready
for sea With three months, and per-
haps in lit le less time