The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-03-26


many weeks ago. On the contrary, the
Spanish government holds that the
extensive armament of the Dry Tor
tugas is a more direct hostile act
against Spain than any movement of
the flotllla. Instead of stopping the
notilla, the persent attitude of Spain
tends towards reinforcing 1t with other
Spanish vessels, not as a menace, but
from what the Spanish government
feels is a requirement called for by
the existing condition OF affairs.
Hardly less suggestive than the ap-
proach of the torpedo flotilla was the
information received yesterday by the
highest military authorities that the
Spanish government had hurried to
completion extensive Notifications on
the Island of Porto Rico, lying Just
off Cuba, and the only Spanish pos
session in this hemisphere other than
Cuba. The exact character of these
new defenses has been made known
here, and they are being given weight
with the military authorities as show
ing the disposition of Spain.
The orders issued by the navy de-
partment during the day covered every
branch Of naval armament. The "fy-
ing squadron" was definitely estab-
lished with Commodore w. s. Schley
in command. He will hoist his COM
modore's flag on the flagship Brooklyn
next Monday. The squadron is to con-
sist of exactly five ships, no more and
no less, despite conjecture as to pos
sible ships that might be added. Those
of the squadron will be the crack
armored cruiser Brooklyn. the battle-
ships Massachusetts and Texas and
the cruisers Columbia and Minneapolis.
Other ships which are now or here
after at Hampton Roads will not be
Of the flying squadron, but will belong
to the North Atlantic station, under
Captain Sampson. The flying squad
ron Is to be a small compact fleet of
the best ships in the navy for quick
service at any point along the At
lantic.
At the same time the north Atlantic
station. under Captain Sampson, is to
be further augmented. The cruiser
Cincinnati the gunboat Wilmington
and the gunboat Vicksburg were yes
terday added to the fleet, which now
consists, besides these three, of the
New York. Iowa, Indiana, Miantono-
nah, Fern, Puritan, Terror, Marble
head. Montgomery, Dolphin, Castine,
Nashville, Helena Vesuvius, torpedo
boats Foote, Dupont, Ericsson, Cush-
ing, Porter Winslow, tugs Leyden and
Samoset.
Orders We're issued yesterday to have
all the Warships painted black, color
that is better adapted to- hostlities,
because the vessels will not afford as
good target
The navy department was yesterday
informed by cablegram from Lieuter-
ant Colwell, naval attache to the Uni
ted States embassy at London, that
agents of this government had pur-
chased "Schischau" torpedo boat that
had just been constructed for the Ger
man government. This new acquisi-
ton Is of the general type Of German
torpedo boats, and is regarded as
valuable addition to our navy She Is
now ready for sea. and it is expected
that in a few days she will leave for
the United States. She is a 23 knot
vessel, and about $50 feet long.
Word reached the navy department
ollltldiS tlittl tIlc tliilllSi
have taken steps to supplement the
existing Notifications at San Juan de
Puerto Rico, the main port of the
Island of Porto Rico. The news is re-
garded as significant. Porto Rico Is the
only other possession Wa'ch belongs
to Spain on this hemisphere besides
Cuba. The city Of Puerto Rico is forti-
fled after the style prevalent In early
days. The Notifications are being
strengthened and the armament has
been increased.
General Flagler chief Of ordnance of
the army, had long conference with
Secretary Alger with reference to ad
ditional guns and gun carriages. A
few days ago Secretary Alger allotted
to General Flagler $l,6OO,000 from the
emergency appropriation made by con-
gress. This amount was not, in the
opinion of General Flagler, sufficient
to meet the requirements of the pres
ent emergency, and his conference with
the secrtary was to obtain an addl-
tional allowance. Secretary Alger gave
General Flagler a liberal additional
allotment, but no information could
be obtained as to its amount.
The enlistment of men for the naval
service is progressing satisfactorily at
the Washington navy yard, and good
class of men is being obtained.
The navy department yesterday sent
an order to the Mangrove to proceed
to Havana and convey to the United
States the officers of the Maine in that
city. A dispatch received today an
nounces that Captain Slgsbec and his
associates are now homeward bound.
Lieutenant Colwell, at London, has |
been directed by the navy department !
to urge the builders of the recently |
purchased cruiser Albany, formerly the
Brazilian vessel Abreuall, to hasten the
construction of the ship with all pos
sibe speed. In the ordinary course of
work the vessel would not be COM
oleted before next December but it is
believed that if the builders are placed
Inder pressure she can be made ready
or sea within three months, and per-
"A nc in n littln lpsG time