Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1898-03-27

factlon on starting for this sea service.
Late IN the day another shift was
made in the plans for painting the
warshlps, and Capt. Crowninshield
finally determined that all the ships
OF the navy should be painted a dull
lead color. This was the color of all
Federal ships during the civil war and
is said to be
THE BEST FIGHTING COLOR"
The naval bureau of ordnance is
preparing new mounts for a number of
Whitehead torpedoes in order to place
them on the revenue cutters, the new
ly acquired yachts and tugs. The
torpedo ports were originally intended
to go below deck, but with the new
craft, the tubes and mounts must be
changed for service on the upper
decks. When this work is done. Capt
O'Neil, head of the bureau, expects to
be able to equip sixty craft, if the oc-
casion requires, with torpedo tubes.
The contract for the big steel piers,
coal sheds and extensive coal appli-
ances for loading war vessels at Dry
Tortugas and Key West were let to-
day. The Union Bridge Company, or
New York City, will build the steel
piers, etc, at Tortugas and Key West,
the contract price being S590,000 The
tracks cars and machinery will be fur
nished by the Brown Hosting Com
pany, CT Cleveland, for S151 900. These
were not the lowest bids, but the Navy
Department considered other features
than the amount bid The contract
calls for completing the extensive
work at Tortugas in 1870 days and at
Key West in 10 days. The machinery
is to be installed and ready for SER
vice ten days later,
No protests or representations of any
kind respecting the advance of the
Spanish torpedo flotilla have been
made up to the present time, so far as
can be learned in the best posted cir
cles. The movements of this fotilla
continue to be watched with the
keenest interest by naval officials, and
close estimates are being made as to
their location to-day and the time in
teryening before their arrival at
Porto Rico.
THE NAVY DEPARTMENT
calculates that the run from the
Canaries to San Juan, Porto Rico,
which is expected to be the first stop
ping point, is $500 miles.
1t is believed they have already covered
about 400 miles of this distance. They
are moving slowly, being retarded by a
collier which, accompanies them, and the
balance of the trip will take from twelve
to fourteen days. Although the move
ments are gravely discussed by the high
est naval officials, it is not accompanied
by any intimation that steps toward ac-
tually intercepting the f1otilla have been
matured, or even considered, except in
the most general way. 1t is stated on
high authority that the reports that the
flying squadron, under Commodore
Schley. might be utilized in this connec
ton, are not warranted BY any steps
thus far taken. On the contrary, it is
pointed out the entire plan Of the flying
squadron was developed before the tor
pedo fotilla left the Canares, and it was
designed for quinte another line Of work.
In this connection, Representative Hill
borne, of California, one of the senior
members of the House Committee on
Naval Affairs, was at the Navy Depart
ment to-day and talked with the officials
fiotilIa. Mr.. Hilborne
PRESENTED A NEW PHASE
Of the case, and one not in line with the
current view of naval officials
ut is not for us to interfere in any
way with the movement of the Spanish
torpedo fotilla or other Spanish vessels"
said he. THE high seas are an open high
way to the ships of the world. and while
not in position to say that these torpedo
boats shall not move as Spain secs fit
to direct them. When we are assembling
our own ships at Key West and other
points, it is not the time for us TO inter
cept the movements of Spanish ships.
That would be overt act, and not per-
missible in the absence Of declaration
of war;