The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-03-29
New Addition to the American Navy
Decided Upon.
GROUP 0FLITTLEFIGHTERS
TUGS, STEAM YACHTS AND
OTHER SMALL CRAFT.
Naval Malta Of the States VIII Not
be Relied Upon Entirely to Nan
the Crafts-Fleet at Key West
Flying Squadron-Amnesty to De-
Serters.

Washington March 2S.-The customary
activity which prevailed in all branches
of the war and navy departments for the
past month was apparent again today
Particularly was this the case in the lat
ter where Secretary Long and Assistant
Secretary Roosevelt were on hand hold
ing conferences with bureau chiefs and a
number Of visitors VINO mad business Of
importance. Among the public men who
saw Secretary Long was Senator Frye Of
Maine
At 10 O'Clock the secretary left the de-
partment for the White House. intending
not to return until = O'Clock There was
no additional information ~ the depart
ment regarding the location OF the span
Sh torpedo boat fiOtilla. now on Its way
20 Puerto Rico from the Canaries, eX-
Cepting that il was advancing steadily
The highest naval authorities continue
10 say this movement is the most fornid-
able menace 10 the ships OF our navy that
has yet occurred.
MOSQUITO FLEET.
1t was disclosed for the first time by
one OF the naval orders issued today THAI
the department had determined upon the
formation of an additional new fleet, TO
be known as The Mosquito fleet, to be
composed Of tugs, steam yachts and other
small vessels which may be obtained,
which are to be used as a sort of mobile
defense OF seacOast cities. 1t was further
developed in this connection that the
naval militia of the several states Is TO
be called upon 10 man this auxiliary fleet.
The fact that the organization is 10 be
composed exclusively of small crafts OF
all descriptions that may be available
gives the cause for its designation as
Tho Mosquito fleet Its prospective
formation IS the result of the observations
and work of the naval college Tor the past
I'VE years. and the officials believe that
with the material that NAV be obtain
able. and the manning of the vessels by
the naval militia Of the states. a formid- /
able. organization Of its kind viii result |
The naval militia of the states, how
ever. VIII not be relied upon entirely to
man the ships. but in case of necessity
resort viii be had 10 seamen wherever
they may be picked up.
COMMANDER ELMER.
The most significant OF the naval orders
issued by the navy department today was /
the detachment of Commander Horace (
NJ. Elmer from Cramps ship yard and Z
ordering him 10 duty in the Mosquito I
fleet"
Commander Elmer is at the navy yard. /
which viii he the center % his future /
operations. His duties respecting the Sc I
lection % craft for the fleet are exactly I
the same as these performed by the I
board which, for the past two weeks, {
has been engaged in the inspection of /
merchant vessels for the auxiliary de- I
ferse preliminary TO their purchase in I
the navy department. The commander /
and his assistants VIII visit various places Z
along the coast and viii communicate .
by letter with persons and firms owning +
small craft With view to determining .
just how many are available and at what .
prices the owners would Sc! or charter +
them to the government. As far as prac- .
ticablc II is the intention OF the depart I
ment that there shall be separate set (
of ships for the defense o. the seacoast |
Citiec. the whole 10 compNe the Mos /
quito feet" In the event OF necessity J
for rendezvous of several of these local /
fleets il can be arranged the primary
idea is for each local fleet 20 form The ;
mobile defense of the particular city
where it is made up. The bureau Of f.
ordnance will be called into service 10 .
assist il furnishinas armament for YES
sells in the event OF vc- Naval officers
will be assigned to the command or each F.
OF the several local fleets. (
KEY WEST FLEET.
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