The record-union., 1898-05-17
The Expedition TO the Philippines to
Start Within a Few Days.
The Blockade at Havana Opened TO Neutral
Foreign Vessels to Pass Into the Har-
hOr-War Department Selects
Corps Commanders.

WASHINGTON, May 1O.-An OTueT
posted this morning and signed by Sec
retary Long relative to the publication
of news emanating from the Navy De-
partment had the effect to-day of con-
siderably curtailing the supply of infor-
nation that heretofore has been rather
freely given out. The Secretary's or
der was directed to Captain Crownin-
shield. Chief of the Navigation Bureau.
and he in turn gave it out by making
an order in his own name that no per
son connected with his bureau in any
capacity should have any knowledge
whatever on subjects in any way per-
tanning to the navy with representa-
tives of the press.
As an offset to this it was ordered
that bulletins of such facts as have
actually occurred and are proper for
publication, and are not connected with
existing or projected movements, shall
be prepared and posted on the bulletin
board. The sum total of the informa-
tion published by the bulletin board to-
day under this rule was a notice Of the
intention TO start the Philippines relief
expedition. and of the permission given
to some foreign neutral vessels to pass
the blockade at Havana.
In explanation of the issuance of this
order the naval authorities say that
some 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 plan in
the knowledge that the Spanish had
promptly taken notice of the publica-
tions and were prepared to profit by
them Complaint was made to Secre-
tary Long that the newspapers were
working injury to the Government in
such cases.
1t is not the purpose of the Secretary
to prevent the press having any infor-
nation that is not calculated to cause
a miscarriage of the plans of the de-
partment, but it remains to be seen
whether the naval officers to whom the
their ironclad Interpretation Of it, bring
about a modification in the interest of
liberality.
The opening of the blockade at Ha-
vana to certain vessels is rather curl
Gus proceeding. that may lead TO a very
considerable widening of the blockade
itself so that in the end neutral vessels
not loaded with contraband or supplies,
the carrying of which into Havana
would interfere with the naval and mill
itary operations, may be allowed to en-
ter.
The statement that the Navy Depart
ment still hopes to make an exchange
of prisoners at an early date shows
that the mission of the Uncas yester-
day was by no means a complete fall
ure. as has been stated. Intimations
have been received here that Captain
General Blanco at Havana is very short
of ammunition, in which case the pow
erful batteries at the entrance o. Ha-
vana harbor OF course would be de-
prived of large part of their defensive
strength.
This state of affairs may lead To
some desperate attempts at blockade
running on the part of Spaniards, in
the hopes of getting more ammunition
into Havana IT 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 it all the more
important that Sampson and Schley
should succeed in keeping Admiral Ger
vera from reaching Havana from Glen
fuegos. or any port in Cuba connected
with Havana by rail. Commodore
Schley probably is we'll down on the
Florida coast now. and should be 3nle
to guard the Florida Straits by to-
morrow or next day. 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 disaosition OF
our naval force and free use of 2 con-
siderable number OF our scouting YES
sells, it is hard to see how the Spanish
fleet can escape from the Gulf OF Mex
leo or the Caribbean Sea.
The Navv Department is getting a
better and better quality of armor rs
the contracts expire. A 13-incE plate