The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1898-05-21

Washington, May 1S.-An order post
ed yesterday morning and signed by
Secretary Long relative to the publ
cation Of news. emanating from the
navy department had the effect of con-
siderably curtailing the supply of in
formation that heretofore has been
rather freely given out. The secre-
tary's order was directed to Capt.
Crowinshield, chief of the navigation
bureau, and he, in turn, gave it effect
by making an order in his own name
that no person connected with his bu-
reau in any capacity should have any
conversation whatever on the subjects
in any way pertaining to the navy with
representatives of the press. AS an
offset it was ordered that bulletins of
such facts that have actually occurred
and L proper for publication, and are
not connected with existing or project
ed movements, shall be prepared and
posted on the bulletin board. The sum
total of the information published by
the bulletin board yesterday under this
rule was q notice of the intention to
start the Philippine relief expedition,
and of the permission given to some
foreign neutral vessels to pass the
blockade ut Havana. In explanation
of the issue of this order the naval au-
thor:ties say that some of the leading
American newspapers have been so far
Lacking in Patriotism
as to print plans of campaign and pro-
jected movements of naval ships with
the result that the war board has been
obliged to completely revise its line in
the knowledge that the Spaniards had
promptly taken notice of the publica-
tons and were prepared to profit by
them. Complaint was made to Secre-
tary Long that the newspapers we're
working injury to the government in
such cases. 1t is not the purpose OF the
secretary to prevent the press having
any Information that is not calculated
to cause a miscarriage of the plans Of
the department, but it remains to be
seen whether the naval officers to
whom the order has been directed
will not by the ironclad Interpretation
of it bring about a modification in the
interest Of liberty.
The opening of the blockade at Ha-
vana to certain vessels is rather a
curious proceeding that may lead to a
very considerable widening of the
blockade itself so that in the end neu-
trail vessels not loaded with contra
band or supplies, the carrying of which
into Havana would interfere with the
naval and military operations laid
down by the United States. The
statement that the navy department,
still hopes to make an
Exchange of Prisoners
at an early day shows that the mis-
sion of the Uncas was by no means a
complete failure as has been stated.
The troops going to Manila are to be
prepared for n six months stay, ac-
cording to the number of rations fur
nished, 100000, and preparations for
their departure are being pressed with
the greatest energy. The marines
who have been lying in. Key West
harbor on board the Panther, swelter-
ing under a semi-tropical sun, are to
be transferred to a more comfortable
vessel, the ResOlute. Instructions have
been received here that Capt. Gen.
Blanco at Havana is very short of am
munition, in which case the powerful
batteries at the entrance of Havana
harbor of course would be deprived of
a large part of their effective strength.
This state of affairs may lead to some
desperate attempts at blockade run
ming on the part of the Spaniards in
the hope of getting more ammunition
into Havana. 1t is believed that the
supplies so frequently referred to as
being on the Spanish flying squadron
were of this character, rather than
food supplies, which makes 1t all the
more important that Sampson and
Schley should succeed in keeping Ad-
miral Cervera +
From Reaching Havana
or Cienfuegos, or any port in Cuba
connected with Havana by rail. Com.
modore Schley probably is well down
on the Florida coast now and should
be able to guard the Florida straits.
His appearance on that side Of Cuba
would enable Sampson to bring his
ironclads with perfect safety into
Cienfuegos on the south side, and with
this disposition of our naval force it is
hard to see how the Spanish feet can
from the Gulf Of Mexico or the
Caribbean e a
The war department has rushed
ahead it's preparations for the mobiliz-
alton and thorough equipment of the
volunteer army and the progress
which is being made is most crafty
ing. The important developments of
the day was the definite selection of
the corps commanders. The announce
ment, however, does not contain any
surprises. Though Maj. Gen. Wesley
Merritt is accredited to- the department
of the Pacific, such designation Is not
made, formally, but 1t is known that
he will 20 to the Philippines in COM
mand Of the army there, and will be
accompanied by Maj. Cen. Otis. The
designation Of Gen. Fitzhugh Lee as
commander Of the Seventh corps.
With headquarters at Tampa, would
Geem to indicate that he is to accom-
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