The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-25
the coast and the vessels Of the close shore

the coast and the vessels OF the close shore
auxiliary fleet
Commander Richardson Glover expects
that the gnnboat Bancroft, which he is to
command and which is now undergoing re-
pairs at. Boston. will sail for Norfolk in a
few days to take on her ammunition. The
probability is that the vessel then Will be
sent to join Admiral Simpsons feet.
1t is said to be definitely settled that
Capt. Albert S. Barker, a member of the
joint army and navy defense plan board,
viii command the protected cruiser New
ark, now fitting out at Norfolk. She will
be ready for service seme time in May.
Assistant Secretary Roosevelt to-day an
nounced that the government had pur-
chased the steam yacht Aieen for the aux
mary navy. This vessel. like many
others that have been acquired is of light
draught and excellently fitted for patrol
outy in shallow waters. She is of Isl tons
gross register, 119 feet long and twenty feet
oean She was built at Chester, Pa, and
her home port is New York.
1t was said at the Navy Department that
no additional information had been received
of the movements of the Spanish fleets
rendeZvoused at Cadiz and at the Cape
Verde islands. Every step taken by these
fleets is promptly reported TO the depart
ment by agents abroad. One officer ex-
planned to-day that it was very necessary
to receive with the greatest caution reports
of the movements of the Spanish ships. as
Spain naturally will try in every way TO
mislead the United States.
Most of the vessels of the Asiatic squad
ron, which, according to press dispatches,
are to sail with sealed orders, according to
fna Iof
voused at Hong Kong. The squadron is
under command of Commodore George
Dewey. a well-known and trusted naval
officer, and is made up of seven vessels, ex-
Guiding the colllers recently purchased by
the department The Olympia. IA protected
cruiser, is the flagship, with a speed of
over twentyone knots, while the other
ships are the protected cruiser Baltimore
of twenty knots; the protected cruiser
Raleigh, of nineteen knots; the protected
cruiser Boston, fifteen and a half knots;
the gunboat Concord, of nearly seventeen
knots; the gunboat Petrol, of nearly twelve
knots and the iron ship Monocacy, of
eleven knots.
Tomorrow the department will send cut
to the Governors of the States a request
for their proportionate number of troops
under Che President s call rhe roll oil CT
ficers who will muster them in has been
prepared and the officers are ready to start
for the local rendezvousing points as soon
as necessary. Some of the War Depart
ment officers think that the volunteer army
should be ready to start on its way 10 the
central points of concentration in two
weeks. Meanwhile, the Commissary Bu-
reau is making arrangements for feeding
the army and the Quartermaster Depart
ment for it's transfer station.
In the Navy Department the officials read
with interest the stories of additional cap
lures of prize vessels by the ships OF Ad-
miral Simpsons fleet. These are promptly
reported TO Secretary Long. Judge Advo-
cate General Lemley has been engaged in
looking up the law on the matter OF prize
courts, and is prepared to give any assist
ance and advice that may be asked CT the
Navy Department in disposing of the yes-
sells taken.
The report of the firing on the squadron
by Morro Castle was received with interest,
but if anything had been received here
about it the officials refuse to disclose the
fact.
The department heard to-day of The safe
arrival of the st. Louis and New York at
New York city to-day. This is a source of
satisfaction to the officials, who, notwith-
standing the fact that these ships are very
fleet, were apprehensive that through re-
mote possibility they might have encoun-
tered an enemys ship. Nothing having
been heard from the Paris, they hope she
has got beyond the range of any of the
Spanish vessels.