Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-04-11
OFFICIALS CONSULT
General Military andNaval Situation
Considered. 8
NAVAL STRATEGIC BOARD MEETS
Commander Elmer Reports Regard
ing the Mosquito Fleet.
NEW CRUISERS IN PORT


There was not bakers dozen of sena-
tors and representatives combined at the
War and Navy Departments this morn
ing. Most of those who came up town be-
fore proceeding to the Capitol went to the
White House for q moments conversation
with the President, preliminary to the
transmission to Congress today of his mes
sage on the Cuban question. There was
also an absence of visitors who came pure
ly to see the sights, almost everybody hav-
ing the opportunity going to the Capitol,
where the real interest of the day conferred
Secretary Long saw no congressional
visitors this morning, but went shortly
after 10 O'Clock to the White House. The
| most interesting item of information that
came to the Navy Department today was
the report Of the arrival of the cruisers
San Francisco and New Orleans at Halifax
today. The New Orleans is one of the
vessels just purchased by the United States
abroad, and was conveyed across the At
lanttc by the San Francisco, which was
the flagship of the European squadron, I'M
der the command Of Commodore Howell.
1t is supposed the commodore is aboard the
ship. 1t was believed at the Navy Depart
ment that the two vessels would come
directly to New York, where they were
expected to arrive Saturday or yesterday.
1t is supposed they were delayed by stress
OF weather. The arrival of the New Or
leans in this country is the source Of SUI
preme satisfaction to the naval officials,
for she has aboard q number of the
Maxim-Nordenfeldt rapid-ire guns just
purchased in Europe and a quantity of
ordnance stores. The guns are intended
for seacoast Qualifications, and are badly
needed just at this time. So anxious were
the officials that these stores should be
brought to this country safely that it may
truly be said they were nearly as much
interested in the safe arrival Of the stores
as of the ship herself. The expectation is
that the two vessels will proceed promptly
to New York
officials in Conference.
Secretary Alger Of the War Department
and Assistant Secretary Roosevelt Of the
Navy Department were in conference some
time in regard to the general situation from
a military and naval standpoint While
they were together Gen. Miles; commander
of the army, dropped in, and later, after the
officials had separated. Lfeut.s Gen. Scho-
field, retired, saw the Secretary for a few
moments. The presence Of these persons
In the Secretary's office led to the report
that general conference having In view
the formation of a plan for joint naval
and military demonstration. was under con-
sheraton, but the statement Is made au-
thoritatively that SO far as a ,prearranged
conference was concerned it was confined
entirely to the Secretary, Of War and the
assistant secretary of the navy.
During the morning there was q meeting
of the naval strategic board. those present
shield and Capt. Clover, members, and
mander Wainwright. who had been called
in to assist the board In its deliberations.
The Mosquito Fleet.
Commander Elmer. who has charge of
the organization Of what is known as the
Mosquito fleet, was at the Navy Depart
inent today in conference with the officials
regarding the work under his charge. The
commander reports the inquiry concerning
the boats available for the purposes OF his
fleet as progressing finely and says If war
comes the government can obtain all the
craft necessary for the organization of the
fleet This addition to the auxiliary navy
is designed primarily to supplement the OPP
erations Of the larger ships and to assist
in the protection of seaport towns lacking
pNS4o"SC AoA tASdSAOilS SOulIn1HO6E Elmer
has recommended to the Navy Department
that the territory covered by this fleet ex-
tending over the Atlantic ana gulf coasts
be divided into seven districts, each Of
which to be under command of a naval Of
ficer. Several Of the districts have already
been organized. and today's naval orders
included the assignment Of Commander
Forse to the charge Of the third district,
for0 NJ Yal
Commander Reeder in charge of the fourth
Movements of Warships.
Word reached the department today Of
the arrival Of the first-class cruiser Balti-
mere at Yokohama, Japan, on her way to
Hong Kong to join the Asiatic squadron
She Will make strong addition to the
American fleet In those waters. The BA.-
tin ore had aboard a large quantity of am
n unition stores, which she transshiped ct
Honolulu. to which place they had been
brought by the cruiser Marion. These
stores Will be distributed among the ships
OF the squadron.
Reports received at the Navy Department
show that the gunboat Wilmington Sas
ssiled from Jacksonville for Key West;
that the gunboat Annapolis, the auxiliary
cruiser Yankee Gel Norte) and the collier
Sterling have arrived at the New York
navy yard; that the dispatch boat Dolphin
has ssiled from Brooklyn for Key West;
and the training ship Alliance bias sailed
from Newport for Hampton Roads.
Army Orders.
Lieut.. Henry Jervey. Corps Of Engineers.
has been ordered to duty ut NeW Orleans.
La. al
Lieut.: George M. Squire. % Artillery, has
been ordered to Cleveland. Ohio on bus
mess pertaining to the csnstrpetion of a
new range and position 4aderI for US at
Fort Monroe, Va. i-~fh
Officers recently promoted have been as
signed to duty as follows:s NJ
Maj. Charles Norris. to the 7th Artillery;
MAJ. J. W. MacMurray. to. Thea 9Th Artil-
iery; MAI. J. ". Dillenback, to- the I'd Ar