The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1898-03-19
. PREPARATIONS I ! CONTINUE
Report Of IlG BilDId Of INQUIRY EX-
peeled HI|hIl Next Few DQyS.
CABINET DISCUSSES THE SITUATION
The New Naval Policy Creating n
Squadron for Hampton Roads re
ccives Unanimous Approyni-
ai"Sement OF Naval vessels
Strengthening thc military.
Washlnstsn4 Mara.. IS. ISIS.


IAN air OF suspense was nc'tic;uible in
the Navy Departments to-day, due to
the approach OF the time for the, de-
livery of the report of the court of in
quiry 1t is not known just wherl the
document wiN come to Washington.
All that is knc,xm detini,sl;. is that the
tissideGt has suggested G:ut the re-
port he made as soc!:o us possible and
in consequence ii is expected 20. reg, III
this ci'UI in the cours. clf two or three
days. The cabinet to-day talked ovsa'
the matter and the time statt'l, was the
general opintsr', of the members when
utay hsard all THAI Secretary Long hail
iS' ieDort on tine subject There is an
impression that Lieut.. Commander
MSriN via bring the document. though
II Is wlthdl. Admiral Sic.C'ds power TO
ch&t's2 any .li@r officer. \ cabi::ct
officer expressed The belislf that the
ftaor; VIII reQnie careful coM: :Idara-
ton on The pait Of the PRECEDENT sad
his cibinc; -? Ge be.rS given TO ;.i,
pil>!l,, wcich 'aru.d seem TO rtostp ca.
PIE eaten 10 r5%Tna t!nr about tf.,.
in'IC.e OF rsNi week, although nothing
Is cci.ain on tha: po!ns
.Ac n5w navit pn.icy embodied in
the crc&t.tl-' c,t s:it.i:4: squadron 10
tel'iezrcus II Hampton RCa'i3 was
%"z) discussed 9 TIVE cabinet mseiing
q; length ;o-G'-, and received unani-
NOUS Srprog5.. in fast. some, surrr Sc
W. eN?rIGtd I the delay 5c:, the part
Ct 10 Navy Dcpa:,lrsl.,. in taking
S7n;c suc.i-7S..!S...As-s--.e,sasay,e e the pr0sxc
ton ~ tan nl-.a valuable sea, coast
p3is'; along the North Atlantic. the
gathering; ~ 1 uscl:ssly surplus neri
st Key IVES; bc!ag regarded az in the
c,!:E"> CT putting IL Of our eggs in
ot bI!,Sg,.
G's@ So nsanc:sco repoa:od her
ar:.ral u LjI>on at Gravci:end To-
day. u",ler his orders the commander
vi! divide his crew with the LAml@c-
mas aai5' sail q: tL1e earliest possible
no1n;r-'s for the U-ltsd States, convoy
Ing iny nsw snip. Beyo::d the -Ama2o-
mas. nsr ssster ship. Abreuall ana the
M!Ei!sN,ar, no purchases of ships have
beaa maG-t by the Navy Department.
y number OF lee: steam yachts owned
Il; the United States are being Offered
10 the dsQm;ent ana II is probable
thd: some Ctc if.Lse will be- rrrrchaSsd
SecreJHy Ling takes the view tina.
falling 10 secure the torpedo boat dt.
S:!uNers he Hllnts, the bts; plans is for
MIN io equip some Of these speetlG,
bol:S Win t-EucdO tubes ard The light
batteries and inlprov!sa torpedo beats.
The Navy DepartmC.E is Convinced
E1at the Spanish Government has not
ucinired Possession of TIN. Earcsc, the
ltl"!ln 'G'mored cruiser. II would not
however be Il matter Of deep concern
IL the report were Lue. Th,e depart
ment Itself lad the vessel in mind as
81 possible acquisition. but abandoned
the idea upCsJ iSalI:iinG tha;, she could
llt lie made ready f-r service IN less
tnan rhree or four months. which prac-
lld4tiy put her out of consideration as
an emergency purchase.
Ifre gun boa. Newport reported bcr
arrival by cable to the Navy Depart
meni Eom Grey'.own. She will bring
back to the United States the Nicora-
guam Canal CCmmissgo., arrl then viii
De athched 1rt once 10 the North Al
hntic squadron
Some idea Of the activity prevailing
In naval circles is given bv tho st,tt-
ment shat the pay ron Of tho acn-
stEuctln department. .nnly one of seve-
raj departments h, the Mare Island
Navy-NEGd for March was $50. 600 ,rh;s
great expenditures per month, II is said
was nqt cIua!ied during the late war
The amount paid for the Alayflower
was; allNnt 100000
Fecruit.ng is going on apace at all
Slttlons fer the army pmd navy.
Ihe A1arhlchcad is at TAMPA The
ftiic l@ancrGft IN hrr way across the
ocean cs.3ortcd by cable her ARRIVAL to-
day q. iiorll FaN-a. She appears ~
be making s,l'hut MS good time as her
larger corESr;. the Hcli-1L tn. Samo.
set arrived n. Key West ta-dart as
Td the MontECnle.y, while tn, Detroit
S2Hed from tha1 port for Tortugas.
The MntHhias has arrived at Rost,r,
where she will have slight repairs
mGtlc.
No official na'.ice of The stoppaa. OF
the Spanish torpedo boap nnt:lln AT the
canary Islands and their turning back
from that linint has reached our Gov
ernment as yet. SO .Ifi,t any assump-
Eon th1t the nH-Temcntt OF that fotiI,a
nave MiluuE,lad the Navy DepartmemJ
10 withdraw the fleet at Key West is
SAID to be purely w.hhout basis of fact
The Navy Department by no means
mas suspended its efforts ~ obtain pos
session CT desirable W2cslnips abr.tid.
and in no direction Is there visible
Gny relaxation Of the steadily pursued
p,irTo&e Of the Navy ana War Depart
hchts to pror.acfitr tEle defcns, of the
o.EElrN aga,i.,st hostile attack.
senator l!awlcy, of Connecticut, said
to-day .,t.,. ~ was the tntention to- get
tnfGuSh Congress as speedily as piAss.-
Die thr three battalion military bill.
Which was introduced at the sugges-
ton - the department in both houses
yesterday fer etIang theHing the mill.
illfy .erm of the service Eu-.l proyi d.,,..