The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-06-21

I about decided to advance Hobsan ten
numbers, which would have placed him
just below Constructor Linnard, when
a doubt arose as to whether the young
man would not prefer a transfer to the
line. His relatives were consulted,
among them his uncle, Representative
Pearson, of North Carolina, and it was
decided to allow HONbSon to make his
choice between the line and the staff.
Steps, accordingly, have been taken to
a%cquaint him with the departments
purpose and ask his pleasure in the
matter.
The navy department has sent to the
battleship Massachusetts a complete
new breech mechanism for one of the
3-inch guns Of hat ship. This was
due to a report reaching the depart
ment about a week ago that the breech
Of one Of the guns was out of order.
The new mechanism will be delivered
in a day or two and can be readily SUBJ
stituted for the old breech.
The condition of the 13-inch gun
gave rise to rumors today that the
Massachusetts had suffered rather Sc
Verely during the first action off AN
tiagO and that two of the big guns
were disabled and a gunner killed.
There was no basis for the rumor be-
You'd the disordered 'breech mechanism
referred to.
lila WA1lAN IN H
SENATE.
Senator Davis, chairman of the SEN
ate committee on foreign relations,
sale today that he would call a meet
ing of that committee for 1890 o'clock
tomorrow to consider the Hawaiian
resolution which passed the house yes
terday. The 1nator said that he eX-
pected the committee to dispose Of the
matter at one sitting, and that he had
no doubt the decision would he favor
able to annexation. If he is not disap-
pointed in this expectation he will re-
port the resolution at the beginning of
tomorrOw's session Of the senate and
will ask for immediate consideration,
resisting any movement that may he
made looking to adjournment of the
senate until Monday. Senator Davis
expresses the opinion hat the outlook
for action by the senat before final
adjournment is improving. The pres
ent intention is to consider the question
in open legislative session.
THE COAST PATROL.
The navy department has now COM
pleted it's arrangements of the Atlanti
and gulf coast patrol, and stretching
from PASSPORT, Me-, around to New
Orleans, there are no less than forty
auxiliary craft including swift yachts,
reconstructed single turret monitors of
the civil war, tug boats, ferry boats,
and not a few large and we'll armed
merchantmen. These forty ships are
disposed at the several large coast and
gulf cities, while 100 miles or more sea-
ward, an outer picket line is maintain
ed by -four of the larger and more eff
fective warships of the San Francisco
class. One of these outer picketS is
maintained as far north rs Nova Scotia,
and the southerly picket is off the east
49, ooact & Georgia. The largest
number of defense vessels is At New
York city, the commerce requiring pro-
lection being greatest at that point.
Boston, Charleston and all other coaSt
points have their share Of the auxiliary
craft, making as a whole a nav pa
troll considered adequate for m emer-
gency in protecting u eastern ana
southern coast line.
The navy department has prepared a
map, with little blue flags, showing the
location Of each of the auxiliary ships.
The flags are closely punched all along
the eastern and southern shores, and
give a ready answer to public men
anxious to have their local coast line
protected.