Omaha daily bee., 1898-05-17
CLOSES AVENUES OF NEWS
Navy Department COncenfs Every
thing Pertaining to It's Plans ana
Will Not Give Out Information.

WASHINGTON, May 16.-An order posted
this morning and signed by Secretary Long
relative to the publication of news emanat-
ing from the navy department, had the ef-
feet today of considerably curtailing the sup
ply of information that heretofore has been
rather freely given out.
The secretary's order was directed to Cap.
tain Crowninshield, chief of the navigation
bureau, and he in turn gave 1t out by max
ing an order in his own name that no rer'
son connected with his bureau in any cap3c-
ity should have any conversation whatever
upon subjects in any way pertaining to the
navy to the representatives OF the press.
AS an offset it was ordered that bulletins
of such facts as have actually occurred and
are proper for publication and are not
connected with existing or projected move
ments, shall be prepared and posted on the
bulletin board.
In explanation of tue issue of this order
the naval authorities say that some of the
leading American newspapers lave been 80
far lacking in patriotism as to print plans
of campaign and projected movements of
naval ships with the result that the war
board has been compelled TO pmpletely re-
wise its plans in the knowledge that the
Spanish had promptly taken notice Of the
publications and were prepared to profit by
them. Complaint was made to Secretary
Long that the newspapers were working in
jury to the government in such cases.
The opening Of the blockade at Havana to
certain vessels is q rather curious proceed
ing that may lead to a considerable widen
ing of the blockade itself. so that In the
end it will apply to all neutral
vessels not loaded with contraband
goods or supplies the carrying OF
which into Havana would interfere with the
naval and military operations laid down by
the United States.
The marines who have been lying in Key
! West harbor on board the Panther swelter-
ing under a semi-tropical sun, are to be-
transferred to more comfortable vessel.
the Resolute, which will easily accommo-
date the 800 men aboard.
Intimations have been received here that
Captain General Blanco at Havana is very
short of ammunition, In which case the
powerful batteries at the entrance Of Ha-
vana harbor of course would be deprived Of
a large part of their defensive strength.
This state Of affairs may lead to some dss-
perate attempts at blockade running on the
part Of the Spaniards In the hopes of get
ting more ammunition into Havana.
1t is believed that the supplies so fire.
quently referred to as being on the Spanish
flying squadron were OF this character
rather than food supplies, which makes it
all the more important that Sampson and
Schley should succeed in keeping Admiral
Cervera from reaching Havana or Cienfue-
gos, or any port in Cuba connected with
Havana by rail.
Commodore Schley probably Is we'll down
the Florida coast row and should bo able
to guard the Flori1a straits by tomorrow
or next day. His appearance on that side
Of Cuba would enable Sampson to bring his
| ironclads with perfect safety into Cienfue-
gos on the south side. and with this disposi
tion of our naval force nni the free use OF
considerable number of our scouting ves-
sells it is hard to see how the Spanish fleet
can escape from the Gulf o: Mexico o. the
Caribbean sea.
The Navy department is getting better
and better quality Of armor as the contracts
expire. A thirteen-i inch plate tested at Ia
| dian Head Saturday with ten-inch gym
| showed itself to be equal to or superior to
any piece OF armor that has ever been made
| for with the highest velocity, at l,0i5 feet
| per second the shot penetrated only twelve
| inches and without cracking the plate. 1t
| was the last piece to be delivered Under
| the existing contract and is intended for the
Kentucky.