Evening star., 1898-03-25

went to the White House fifteen minutes
after the delivery of the report. He was
with the President and Secretary Long an
hour. 1t is not thought he took away any
part Of the report for the purpose of COM
municating with Minister Woodford. All
communication 10 Minister Woodford or
with the Madrid government will probably
ne delayed until tonight tomorrow
Judge Day had called at the White House
at o'clock. but as the President had not
come down stairs he went away to return
later. 1t is thought from this that he
probably had matters other than the Maine
| report to confer about with the President.
The Cabinet Meeting.
The President. Secretary Long and Com
mander Mark fingered in the library until
all the members of the cabinet arrived
Inc President and Secretary Long proceed
ed to the cabinet room, leaving Lieutenant
commander Mark in the library, SO that
he. could be within call should the cabinet
desire any explanation of the contents of
tne report and the accompanying drawings.
Secretary Long and Commander Mark
left the White House about II o'clock, GO
ing to the Navy Department. Commander
Mark remained with the President and
cabinet long enough to explain any fea-
tIre Of the investigation desired. After
his departure the cabinet got down to hard
and serious work in consideration OF the
message.
Secretary Long had no statement to make
to the press beyond the fact that any in
formation regarding the report will have
to come from the President. The secret
will be locked in the breast of every cab
met officer and other official who knows it,
Tt,ora I,<N, L.
report between nov and Monday must lie
based on intimetions or insinuations
Commodore Schley Given Command.
The Navy Department today made the
first public admission that the flying
squadron, with headquarters at Hamp-
ton Roads. wo I'D be established. This was
conveyed through the formal orders, post
ed at the department, stating that Com
modore W. s. Schley was detached from
bis present service as chairman of the
lighthouse board and was ordered Ito COM
mand the flying squadron. cruiser Brook
iyn. flagship" The fact that this squadron
was contemplated has been well known.
but not until today has the department
defined its character and named it's COM
mander.
The designation of flying has a dis
tinct meaning IN naval parlance 1t will
give the ships base at Hampton Roads,
but they will be at all times subject to
Conmorodre Schley's orders for immediate
service at points along the Atlantic coast
or wherever they may be needed At pres
ent the fine armored cruiser Brooklyn.
which is to be Commodore Schley's flag
ship. and the battle ship Texas are the
only ships of the flying squadron at Hamp-
ton Roads. They will be speedily aug
mented, however. as the battle ship Mas
sachusetts is hourly expected to report ner
arrival taere. and the crack cruisers CO.
lImbia and Minneapolis are QUILTING at
the League Island navy yard and will
proceed to Hs mpton Roads at an early
cate. These vessels compose the squad
ron III present. The cruiser Cincinnati and
eunboats Wilmington and Bancroft are not
unlikely also to be added to this squadron
: An indication in this direction was given
today by an official order. which detached
Capt Chester. commander of the Cincin-
natl, from command of the South Atlantic
squadronsbut left him in command of the
Cincinnati. The effect of this is to remove
the Cincinnati from the South Atlantic
service and make her available for the
North Atlantic station. presumably at
iA'i''O" Aetfius' speed would
make her valuable adjunct TO the quick
maneuvers of flying squadron.
Commodore Schley's orders in terms make
him commander of an independ ant SQUAD
ron, so that the ships at Hampton Reads
will be entirely separate from the North
Atlantic squadron, of which Capt Sampson
is in command. This is an unusua, exped-
lent, as all the vessels On the home station
have always heratofor: been intact AS a
fying squadron, however, the vessels of
Commodore Schley's command have wide
latitude quite outside of the regular assem-
tlage of ships in the North Atlantic. Com
modore Schley was at the Navy Depart
ment and announced that he would assume
command Monday at Hampton Roads,
Another order issued >by the Navy De-
partment today carries out The announce
ment of Secretary Long yesterday that
Capt. Sampson would command the North
Atlantic squadron. Tn. order as issued
reads that he is comma nder-ln- chief of
the North Atlantic station" Although
Key Wes. advices state that the battle ship
Iowa will probably be his flagship, the
orders of the Navy Department indicate
that the cruiser New York will continue as
flagship of the squadron. Capt. SIMPSONS
flag is triangular blue pennant, without
stars or other insignia.
Admiral Sicnrd's Retirement.
Admiral Sicard was detached from COM
mand of the North Atlantic squadron and
alio wed six months leave by orders issued
toG Cay. The effect of this six months leave
is to practically close Admiral Sicard S
active service in the navy. He retires
under the age limit of slxty-two years On
September 10 next, which is just six mont hs
ard six days from the beginning CT his
.elve- This will give him but six days of
active service VIXEN his leave expires, so
that to all practical purposes the admiral
cioses his active service when he hauls
down his flag from the flagship New York.
This Is a source of the slnccrest regret to
Secretary Long and all naval officials. who
ray the highest tribute 10 the devoted SER
of Admiral Sicard throughout the re-
cent critical period, and to his personal
bravery in Ismaning al his post while his
health was in precarious condition.
Utilizing Naval Militia.
The Navy Department has taken active
stems tn utilize the naval militia Of Naw