The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-02-26

New York. Feb. ga special to the
World from Washington says:
Acting Secretary of the Navy Roose-
welt, when asked concerning the prob
ability of war and the condition of the
navy in case of emergency. re-
piled:
L wish you would say to the World
that while we do not expect war. the
navy department is simply making
every preparation for it.
The work of the navy is going on
as rapidly as We could wish. To get
into an ideal condition of defense and
Offense. viii consume much time, and
great deal of patient labor. During the
past ten days the labor Of the depart
ment has been multiplied.
No news of great Importance to the
public has been received today from
Havana, and like every one else we are
patiently awaiting further develop
ments."
Ills words are susceptible of two in
terpretatiOns, both consistent with Off
cial reserve and caution Working night
and day to prepare for war, the secre-
tary may regard as the surest way to
avert war.
EMERGENCY PREPARATIONS.
A special to the Herald from Wash
ingtcn says:
Emergency preparations of the most
important character yet made by the
navy department formally decided upon
and the necessary orders for carrying
them out have been issued by Assist
ant Secretary Roosevelt. These prep
arations include:
''F'irst.-Orders to vessels in different
parts of the world. looking to their
better strategic disposition.
Second.-The shipping Of guns anH
mounts for auxiliary cruisers from the
Washington foundry to the New York
navy yard. where in a few hours they
can be placed on board vessels of the
International Navigation company, Co
lumDia Steamship company, Red D
steamship company and the New York
Cuba Mail Steamship company.
''Third.-The collection OF stores and
the completion of repairs TO the cruis-
ers Minneapolis and Columbia, the
monitor Miantonomah and the ram Ka-
tahdin.
''Fourth.-The shipment to the works
of the HerreshOffs of torpedo tubes and
appliances and torpedoes for the tor
pedo boats Talbot and Gwin, which
will shortly undergo their steam trials
NO IDEA OF SECRECY.
The authorities have relinquished all
idea OF keeping secret the preparations
which are being made and, while de-
Ginning to go into details as to the or
ders which are being given, it is gen
orally known what steps are being ia
ken to put the country in a condition
to meet any emergency that may arise
1t was not denied that orders had
been issued to vessels which will en-
tail their movements to different points,
but what vessels are affected. and
where they viii go. are questions which
the department officials decline to an
swer. The Asiatic squadron is assemb-
ling at Hongkong. 600 miles away from
the Philippines.
WILL BE ORDERED HOME.
1t is generally believed that before
any decisive action is taken by the adj
that the cruiser San Fran
cisco and gunboats Bancroft and Hell
ena will be ordered home. it being ap-
preciated that these vessels would not
be effective against the armOred cruis-
ers of the Spanish navy.
The cruiser Cincinnati and the gun
boat Castine will probably remain at
the Barbados until the arrival of the
brooklyn at Santa Lucia, co miles away,
when Captain T. c. Cook, commanding
the armored cruiser, will communicate
with Captain .. NJ. Chester, senior Off
Ger commanding the Cincinnati and
Castine, and these vessels viii then
proceed to La Guayra, where
they will join the SunboatS Wilmington,
Vicksburg and Annapolis.