The evening times., 1898-05-28
CASH FOR N0sQUIT0AHT
Three Million Dollars Will Be
Spent on Small Craft.
SIXTY SHIPS TO Be BOUGHT
The President signs the Resolution
Making ALpropFiation for
Large Fleet of Patrol Boats-They
VIII Guard the Mine Fields and
HarbOF Approaches.

soon be guarding the mine fields of i'm
portant harbors and scouting on the look
out for the enemy. The President yester-
day signed a resolution for g. 900 ap-
preparation to put the fleet into commits
sion. For a time 1t seemed as though
this squadron would never have more
than an existence on paper.
New York harbor has been patroiied by
tugs loaned by the State and by yacht
or two given by citizens. The appropria-
ton provided for yesterday has made
possible the equipment of between fifty
and sixty vessels.
Lists Of vessels suitable for this line Of
inner coast defense were filed in the Navy
Department several weeks ago. The mos
quito fleet has heretofore only patrolled
on blue prints and red ruled depart
ment reports. venturesome mariners
read about 1t in the newspapers. and when
they did not see any Of its vessels In the
harbors they ran over the mine fields for
the sake of making short cuts to the sea.
Now they will haze to keep within the
channels designated by the War Depart
ment. for the new squadron will have
guns which will talk.
New York harbor has been guarded by
the State Naval Reserves. who have done
the best they could without the ordnance
which could send messages which would
be easily understood. There will be no
signaling to the land batteries for help
when the real mosquito feet begins to
patrol the harbOr.
The vessels will carry and 6-pounders
They will be able to give vigorous re-
minders to all craft which transgress the
harbor regulations.
Tugs and yachts will compose the fleet.
which Is to keep close to the coast. 1t
must not be confused with the regular
coast defense fleet. which consists of ves-
sells of the type of the San Francisco and
the Prairie. commanded by Commodore
Howell. The MOSQUITO feet will be di-
vided into eight divisions. and to each di-
vision will be assigned the duty of guard
Ing parts Of the Atlantic coast cores
ponding to the present lighthouse dis
tricts.
These vessels will be divided into two
classes. The first class will comprise the
larger craft, which will be used as the
fiagships of the officers in command of
the different divisions. The smaller ves-
sells of the second class will constantly
patrol. warning vessels from the mine
fields and looking out for the approach Of
an enemy. The sea approaches to all the
important harbors- of the Atlantic coast
will thus be kept under the strictest
guard. Further out at sea will cruise
vessels which will be able to engage an
enemy.
This mosquito squadron will be manned
to a certain extent by volunteers and
members of the naval militia. The naval
reserves of the various States who have
hesitated little for fear of losing the
identity of their organizations, will soon
have an opportunity to enter the service
Receiving ships in various harbors will
be made places of rendezvous.
In addition to the mosquito fleet there
will be monitors and other craft capable
of mounting guns of fair caliber. which
will constitute the principal fighting sea
defenses of the harbors.
Less than half of the vessels needed for
the MOSQUITO fleet have been purchased
by the Government Rear Admiral En-
ben, who will take command of it. has
submitted list of more than a hundred
yachts. steamers and tugs from which
the rest of the squadron may be selected.
The vessels which the Government al
ready has, now that there is money
enough to meet the expense, will soon be
equipped for service. The mosquito fleet
will cooperate with the military forces
which have charge of the mining of the
harbors.
Distribution of the vessels of the mos
quito fleet will be made in accordance
districts. Important ports like New York.
Boston and Philadelphia will have an
elaborate patrol system
Here are the districts which the fleet
will guard: First. from the Canada line
to the Bay of Massachusetts,: second.
from the Bay of Massachusetts to New
port: third. from Newport to Barnegat
Inlet; fourth, from Barnegat Inlet TO
Hatteras; fifth, from Hatteras to Tybee:
sixth, Tybee and the Atlantic Florida
coast: seventh. from Tampa to Mobile.
and eighth, from Mobile to the Rio
Grande.
Health of the Navy.
Reports received from the medical on
GERS attached to the North Atlantic and
blockading sauadrons show that the
health of the officers and men is excel
lent. This statement was made by Sur
geon General Van Reypen. of the Navy.
DR.. Van Reypen believes that the condi-
ton of the men of the fleet is largely due
to the sanitary arrangements existing on
board the vessels and the care taken of
the men by the medical officers attached
to the fleet.
In view of the healthful condition of the
naval force operating in Cuban waters
medical officers of the Navy see no rea-
,
fever, should delay its invasion of Cuba.
THE fact is" said one of these gentle
men. there Is absolutely no danger of
Fellow fever to men living outside of the
cities and observing the usual sanitary
precautions. The cities are pest holes.
and double care would have to be exer-
cised over body of troops stationed
within their limits. but in the country.
on high land. where there is plenty of
,,.,ra frech mir and whera Dr0Nar Snri-
tatlon can be exercised. it seems to me
that the Army will be In no more Danger
than it is now at Chickamauga, Mobile
or Tampa 1t Is possible. of course, that
the men might suffer from mala Sai fe-
yer. but as for yellow fever devastating
its ranks when 1t is not operating with
cities as bases. talk about 1t seems to me
to be nonsense designed as an excuse for
delay in moving troops"
The GlOUcsster.
New York, May S.-The auxiliary
cruiser Gloucester. formerly the steam
yacht Corsair, passed out at Sandy Hook
at IL o'clock yesterday forenoon. 1t is
expected that the Gloucester will join
Commodore Watson's blockading squad
ron off Havana. She started for the
South two days ago. but was detained in
the lower bay by the bad weather.
The Celtic, formerly the Celtic King.
was put into commission at the Brooklyn
navy yard yesterday afternoon Com
mand of the vessel was turned over to
Capt. Mansfield. 1t Is expected that the
ship will sail for duty with the fleets
around Cuba.
TayIor's Assailant Mt Large.
The police have not yet arrested the