The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-02-25

| the navy department is not disturbing IL
self over the many war rumors which
nave been afioat since the de LONE Incl
Maine.
One OF the most interesting precautfon-
airy steps which the department. has Re-
Gently taken Is the moboiiza ton OF the
vessels in all portions of the world. Cn-
der instructions given by Secretary Long.
the oattleshipS Indiana. the Massachu-
sets and the Iowa the Second-ciass bat
tIeship Texas. the cruisers Marblehead.
the Detroit and the Montgomery and the
gunooat Nashville viii be assembled be-
tween Key West and Dry Tortugas some
day next week. II is highly probable
that either the Montgomery or the Nash
viIe viii take the place OF the Maine in
the harbor OF Havana. OF the remaining
vessels of the North Atlantic squadron.
the brooklyn. the Annapolis and the Will
mington Will be at La Guayara the first
OF next week. the Vicksburg will be at
Sthitts, and the Newport either at
%olon or at Greytown. Nicaragua.
ORDERS TO wARSHIPS.
In accordance with orders issued By the
department several weeks ago the Gin
clnnau and CaStire. comprising the
american naval force on the South Al
lantlc station. have moved TO the north
ern part of Brazil. The European squad
ron. consisting of the cruiser San Fran
cisco and gunboats Helena and the Ban
croft, Is at Lisbon. Portugal. and will not
move from that point until ordered by
1919 ANAN "I01AAA OIA
has also been mobolized to some extent,
the fiagship Olympia. the cruiser Raleigh
and the gunboat Petrol being At Hong
Kong. about five hundred miles from the
Philippine islands. and there they are
expected to remain. The cruiser Boston.
which Is attached to the Chinese squad
ron. is at Chemulpo. Corea. and the gun
boat Concord at Yokohama. One Of these
Xessets viii join the flagship at Hong
Kong.
Under instructions issued by Command
er Dickens. acting chief of the bureau
OF navigation, enlistments are being
made to fill up the vacancies in the en-
listed force of the service caused by the
loss of 21 men of the Names crew.
ARRANGING FOR AMMUNITION.
So far as ammunition is concerned. it
was frankly tod by an official Of the
department that all the preparations pos
Sfble to be made with the present appli-
anceS have been perfected. In great
emergencies it is within the power OF the
department to draw upon the increase of
the navy appropriations and make con-
tracts for ordnance supplies. This was
done by Mr.. Herbert when secretary Of
the navy just after President Cleveland
in~augurated negotiations with Great Bri-
tain for the settlement of the Venezue-
Ian question.
This action has not yet been taken by
Secretary Long, nor has he any inten-
ton Of doing so at this time so far as can
be learned. Officials say that the report
that the Carpenter Projectle Company
is working overtime under instructions
from the department is not the result
of any pressure from them. | was tod
today that the Carpenter company had
delayed the completion of work and that
the department had informed it Of its in
tention to impose a penalty unless it were
completed within the time limit. AS a re-
suit of this threat it has been understood
that the firm would expedite the manu-
facture Of the projectiles it has under
way.
No special orders with reference to
hurrying work On vessels under repairs
have been issued. Chief Naval Construc-
tor ickbo has been doing all in his
power to hasten the completion Of vessels
so as to get them out of the yards. but
no orders of any kind have been issued
to expedite the work of ships under con-
struction. The Dolphin. Charleston and
Lancaster will be the first vessels under
repairs to be completed. The Lancaster
/; is intended as a inner training ship
| and she and the Dolphin will be placed
| in commission on the North Atlantic
coast, the Charleston will be placed in
! commission at Mare Island. 1t is expect.
ed that the Charleston will be ready tc
enter into commission next month.