The record-union., 1898-04-24
MOVEMENTS OF WARSHIPS.
But Little Information to be Had
at Navy Department..

WASHINGTON, April 23.-It is very
hard to secure from the naval authori-
ties any admission touching the move
ments Of squadrons or Individual ships
Secretary Long has reasoned that if
he undertakes to answer questions of
tLns character, even though they may
not be of Importance, shrewd and cor
rect inference might be drawn from
ms refusal to answer the questions,
and the enemy might profit thereby.
The Navy Department is prepared to
take immediate advantage of any ac-
tion of Congress in the direction of
providing for coal depots and outlined
plans for the establishment of such de-
pots, and has ascertained the feasibil-
ity of stocking them at very short no.
tice.
The attitude of the British Govern
ment upon the question of making coal
contraband is awaited with keen inter
est in naval circles. Operating at the
south of Cuba, as our ships must nee
essarily do if anything like complete
blockade is to be maintained. the prob
lem of supplying them with coal is a
question Of the greatest Importance
This may be done expensively and un-
by the enemy's ships through steam
cOlliers sent by the United States. 1t
is highly desirable. therefore. that in
an emergency our ships may have the
opportunity to draw upon some of the
British coal supply in the West Indies.
It is believed, however, owing to the
guarded manner in which Mr.. Balfour
replied to the direct question as to
Governments making coal contraband,
that Great Britain will adopt middle
course. She will probably refuse to
allow the warships of the combatants
to take on full supply of coal at any
British port. But, on the other hand,
she probably will allow any ships ar
irving at her port short of coal to take
on supply sufficient to take them to
the next port, thus applying the COM
mon rule of neutrality.
BATTLESHIP OREGON.
WASHINGTON, April 23.-The Navy
Department is fully aware of the
whereabout of the battleship Oregon
and the gunboat Marietta, but for pru-
Dental reasons the officials positively
decline to say where the vessels are,
whether or not they have been ordered
to return to San Francisco, or in fact
to make any statement respecting them,
further than that they have no appre-
hension for their safety. 1t is known
that the department has taken steps
to have the Commander of the Oregon
warned of the outbreak of hostilities
and of the presence. of the Spanish
torpedo gunboat Temerrario at Buenos
Ayres, in the path of the warship on
her way to the North Atlantic squad
ron.
THE MANGROVE SAILS.
KEY WEST, April 23.-The United
States steamship Mangrove left here at
$50 this morning fully equipped as a
cable ship. She passed southeast and
her destination is said TO be the south
of Cuba There, it is believed she will
cut off cable communication with the
island proper, so far as the southern
cables are concerned. 1t is understood
she is to be conveyed by one or more
warships. Another report has it on the
authority of one of her officers that she
is going to the Key West ship channel
to remove the buoys
THE TOPEKA SAFE.
LONDON, April 23.-The United
States cruiser Topeka is safe. The
British steamer Jesamine has arrived
at Cardiff in a damaged condition, and
reports having been in collision with
the Albatross.
THE CONVOY PANTHER
FORT MONROE Ua.1. April 23.-
9:0S p. m.-The convoy Panther with
500 marines aboard hound for Key
West, arrived here tonight at Z o'clock
At 8 o'clock Commodore Schley of the
flying squadron received orders for him
to provide a guard for the convoy The
Minneapolis and the Columbia were inn