Evening star., 1898-04-22
NASHyI4LE'S PRIZE.
Report of Capture Credited by Naval
Officers.
CAPTAIN SAMPSON 10 Be PROMOTED
Lieut.. Commander CowIes As
signed to the Topeka.
NO ORDERS GIVEN SCHLEY

The report that the gunboat Nashville
had captured Spanish merchant ship
| gained rapid circulation through the Navy
Department shortly after noon today. 1t
| caused much excitement, and was eagerly
discussed as the first outward evidence of
| sctusl existence of war. Up to 1 o'clock.
| however Secretary Long had not received
"crd Of the capture. except through news
| paper sources. Notwithstanding this, ma
val officers credited the report and discuss
| ed 1t as though 1t was an accomplished
fact.
Among the officials the report caused
| much satisfaction although it was said
| that the capture of a Spanish warship
| would have been more acceptable than that
Of merchant ship. There Is said to be no
| question as to the right Of taking Spanish
merchant ships at this time Two of these
| ships left Galveston within the last day or
| so with considerable cargoes of cotton on
| board Another Spanish ship is said to be
! en- route from Vera Cruz. Mexico. with
100000 pesetas on board, representing the
| subscription of Vera Cruz to the Spanish
| interests in Cuba.
Capt. Sampson to BE Promoted.
| The Secretary of the Navy has finally
son. now in command of the North Allan
| tic squadron, a rear admiral. BY this
| tion the department will Jump" Capt.
Sampson. who stands third in the list of
captains. over not only the two captains
! preceding him, but over the ten COM
modores of the next grade above and be-
| low that of rear admiral. 1t is explained,
however. that the appointment being only
temporary the superior officers Will lose
nothing by this for when he relinqushes
the command of the squadron Rear Ad
miral Sampson will again become Capt.
Sampson and retain his number in the
register. The purpose of thus increasing
the rank Of Capt. Sampson is to prevent
the confusion and disarrargement of the
de partment which would result should
he fall In with one of the other naval
| commanders now in North Atlantic waters.
Comma nder Francis w Dickins, assist
ant chief of the navigation bureau, appear
ed before examining board today and
pa ssed his examination for promotion to
the rank of captain. which grade he will
fill when the first vacancy occurs.
Lieut.. Baker, just returned from Paris
and an applicant for sea service, has been
rendered the command of one of the new
yschts just purchased by the government,
bicicIdDS tHt feHtltDe.
No Orders to Commodore SchIey.
There were all sorts of rumors ut the
Navy Department today as to the move
nients of the flying squadron. but careful
inquiry disclosed the fact that so far Com
modore Schley has not received his sailing
| orders. at
Bancroft to BE ReGtted.
Orders have been issued for the little
gunboat Bancroft, (which recently arrived
az Boston from tour in the Mediterra-
mean, to proceed TO Norfolk, with view
to being finally fitted out for service with
the fleet now on its way to blockade the
ports of Cuba This vessel will be COM
| manded by Lieutenant Commander Rich
ardson Glover now chief of the bureau of
naval intelligence and ex-officio member of
the naval strategic board
To Command the Topeka.
Lieut. Commander Cowles. upon his own
application, has been assigned to the COM
mand of the rev cruiser Topeka. which
sailed a day two ago from England
where she was purchased for the United
States. Lieut.. Commander Winslow takes
command of the Fern, being detached
from the St. Louis
Todny's Naval Orders.
The following naval orders were issued
today:
Paymaster's Clerk J. S. Mitchell, appoint
ed to the Adams.
Paymaster W. J. Thompson, from duty
| i'll connection with coast survey vessels and
to be ready for orders to the st. Paul
Lieutenant Commander H. Winslow from
the St. Louis to command Fern.
Lieutenant Commander w. c. Cowles,
from command of the Fern to be ready to
command Topeka.
Commander j. G. Eaton, previous orders
revoked. Ordered to command Resolute.
Acting Lieutenant William Wright, ap-
pointed on board the Arnleria.
Acting Lieutenant VIM j. Hoberts, ap-
pointed on board st. Paul
Acting Lieutenant Geo Young, appointed
on board ST. Paul
Acting Lieutenant j. A. Patton appoint
ed on board ST. Paul.
Acting Lieutenant Hiram Dixon, au-
pointed on board ST. Paul.
Acting Lieutenant Ralph Osborn, ap-
pointed on board st. Paul