The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-04-05

day was devoid of developments in the
military and naval branches of the gov
eminent. No orders, il was stated, nave
been sent to either feet at Key West OF
the squadron at Hampton %ads, and no
confirmation could be obtained OF the re-
port that sea orders had been sent the
battleship Texas at New York. Secretary
Long held a brief conference with Secre-
tary Alger during the afternoon. and left
the department shortly after 4 o'clock
much earlier than has been his custom
for the past few weeks. Up to the hour
of his departure it was stated that no ad-
vices had been received regarding any
movements of the Spanish torpedo feet
or other Spanish vessels. Neither mad the
department been advised of any develop
ments in the effort to purchase warships
abroad.
After his conference with Judge Day
NJ. Thebeau, the secretary of the French
embassy, went over to the navy depart
ment and had a brief talk with Mr.. Roose-
welt regarding the st. Thomas cable
Secretary AIger has decided to recon-
mend to the president that an additional
allotment from the emergency fund be
made for the use of the ordnance bureau
o fthe army The ordnance department
is still lacking ammunition for the sea
coast fOrtifications, and the extra alIot-
ment will be used for this purpose.
MASSING THE FORCES.
It has been decided to detain for a time
al the Chickamauga battlefield the Tween
ty-fifth regiment of infantry, which is
about to leave the various forts in Mon
tana for service at Key West and Dry
Tortugas. The reason for this action is
said to be the fact that the water supply
at either of the above-named places is
mott satisfactory at present. Chicka-
manga, General Miles says, is an excel
large body of troops. and it is believed the
location has been seriously considered by
Secretary Alger as a point for the pre-
liminary gathering of troops in case OF
war
The navy department was informed late
this afternoon of the arrival of the dyna-
mite cruiser Vesuvius at Norfolk today
from Washington.
Reports received at the navy depart
ment today indicate a general movement
for the concentration of warships at Key
West and other points on the coast where
their services may be required in the
event of hostiites. The monitor Terror,
the gunboat Newport and the tug Leyden
have arrived at Key West. The fleet
cruiser Minneapolis has arrived al New
port News for duty with the flying squad
ron. The gunboat Bancroft, recently de-
tached from the European station, arrived
at Boston, and will be at once put in
condition for active service. She is said
to be in need of a general overhauling.
The yacht Mayfiower. recently transform
ed into a dispatch boat, has arrived at
Norfolk, and this is taken as an indica-
ton that she viii be assigned TO duty
with the flying squadron. The revenue
cutter Hudson also has reported her ar
rival at Norfolk, where she is to undergo
reconstruction into a gunboat. The tor
pedo boat Somers. purchased in Germany,
arrived at Weymouth this morning on her
way to the United States. The monitor
Monadnock has arrived at Mare Island.
The steam collier Saturn has arrived at
the Brooklyn navy yard. The yacht Jose
Prime. recently purchased Of Mr.. Widener
of Philadelphia, arrived at League Island
navy yard this morning. and viii be con-
verted at once into a torpedo boat de-
stroyer. She will be renamed the Vixen.
General 4. W. Greedy. the chief signal
officer Of the army, left here today for
the south. where he is 10 make arrange
ments at the various seacoast cities for
ali .-,-S..
ity.
NEW CABLE ARRANGEMENT.
An arrangement was reached during the
day by which the United States and
France will cooperate through their min