The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-27
Success of the Fleet in Capturing
Prizes ArOusing Envy Among
Officers at Washington.
CAPT. A. 7. MAHAN RECALLED
WILL BE ASSIGNED TO DUTY ON THE
NAVAL TRATEGY BOARD.
Scenes i'm Hampton Roads During the
Departure of "a Transport and Her
Formidable Convoy.

WASHINGTON, April 26.-The Navy De-
partment has strengthened it's auxiliary
fleet by the purchase of two fine Atlantic
liners. dispatch from New York says:
The Hamburg steamship officials
to-day confirmed the report of the pur-
chase by the government of their vessels,
Fuerst Bicmarck and Columbia, in
port superintendent Badenhauser says the
vessels will be sent to the Brooklyn navy
yard and fitted as auxiliary cruisers.
The greatest anxiety was shown at the
Navy Department to-day for news from the
blockading squadron. Notwithstanding the
frequent reports that come from unofficial
sources of engagements between the fleet
and the shore batteries no word of con-
hrmation has come officially. In fact, Secre-
tary Long denied to-day that MORO Castle
had opened fire and that our ships had re-
piled. The three prizes reported to-day to
have been seized by the fleet We're not re-
ferred to in the official dispatches but the
press reports of the seizures were received
with the greatest satisfaction by the Off
GERS Of the department, who, in some cases,
did not hesitate to declare their envy of
their more fortunate brother officers with
the fleet In fact, it is becoming very hard
for Secretary Long to retain in the service
of the department the officers who are alb
solutely required in view of their earnest de-
sire to go to the front. A few days ago, for
instance, Commodore Bradford chief of the
Equipment Bureau, rendered his resignation
of that place and asked to be given war
ship. After considering the matter the sec
rotary was obliged to return the following
answer to-day:
My Dear Commodore am in receipt of
your letter inclosing your resignation as
chief of the Bureau of Equipment, Navy
Department, and asking me to present it to
the President. appreciate that the patriotic
purpose which actuates you in rendering
this is solely a desire for active service
af1oat. appreciate, also, the high profess
Sional spirit, characteristic of the true naval
officer, which has impelled you to seek a
post of duty at the front, where the danger
and the sacrifice are greatest. sympathize
with your ardor so deeply that 1 should
cordially comply with your request II l did
not feel the strongest conviction that you
can in no other way render SO great serv-
ice as you are doing now, at the head OF the
Bureau of Equipment. l need not tell you
how much 1 rely on your absolute integ
rity, good judgment ability and, especially;
your experience there l think you will
agree with me that, at this time. it would
be exceedingly difficult. If not impossible. to
fill your place. We are in a special emer-
gency The business of your bureau has
rapidly increased 1t involves contracts, ne
gotiationS and other business which no one
Il.
1 must, therefore, beg of you to withdraw
your request that / transmit your letter to
the President
Among the orders issued to-day was one
directing Capt. a. T. Mahan, the author and
world-renoWned authority on naval tactics,
to report for duty at the Navy Department.
be assigned to a position on the strategy
board. Probably he will replace Admiral
Walker for whom the President and Sec
rotary Long cherish the highest regard on
account of his professional ability, and who
is to be assigned to duty of the highest i'm
Upon the recommendation of Captain
Lemly. judge advocate general, Secretary
Long to-day ordered the release from Bos-
The men have been in prison for various in
fractions of military law and the depart
ment believes that conditions warrant their
restoration to active service.
1t appears that the assignment of Rear
Admiral H. Erben, retired, to relieve Com
mander Elmer, in charge of the mosquito
nander Elmer The latter died to-day.
More than dozen officers were called
into the service by Secretary Long to-day.
The naval officials have noted with some
dsquiet the fact that the Spanish fleet at
Cape Verde. before leaving under orders
from the Portuguese government made
heavy purchases of supplies there There
almost varied description, such
medicine and miscellaneous goods for which
in ordinary times the fleet could as easily
have waited until it reached a Spanish port
Therefore, it is suspected that the purchase
shows a purpose on the part of the Spanish
admiral to start on a long cruise. A rather
startling suggestion made in this connec-
ton is that the Spanish fleet may make di-
rectly for the Philippines. and by way of
the Cape of Good Hope. to attack Commo-
dore Dewey's Asiatic squadron which it
would far exceed in strength. The Suez
canal being closed to warships of belliger-
ents, there would be nothing TO do in this
case but to send some of Admiral SamD-
sons ships long stern chase after the
Spanish feet or to instruct Admiral Dewey
to repair to nome waters.
Lieutenant Niblack, naval attache at Ber-
lin has been relieved of duty there by an
other retired officer, Commander L. II.
Barber.