The herald., 1898-03-26


is to be further augmented. The cruise
Cincinnati, which left Port Antonio thre'
days ago under sealed orders, is to repor
at Key West and become a part of Capt
Sampson's fleet. The gunboat Whining
ton, also enroute from Fort Antonio, will
likewise report to Capt. Sampson at Ke,
West, as well as the gunboat Vicks burg
now at Hampton Roads.
THE FLEETS MAKEUP
Late today the navy department gave
out the following list of vessels, as showing
the exact character of each fleet as i
stands today:
1.-THE following vessels compose this
North Atlantic squadron: New York Iowa
Indiana Miantonomah, Fern, Pritan, Ter
ror, Marblehead. Montgomery Delaware
Castine, Nashville, Helena Wilmington
vesuvius, torpedo boats Foote, Dupont
Ericsson, Cushing, Porter. Winslow, tug.
Leyden and Samoset.
1.-The following vessels comprise the fly.
Ing squadron: Brooklyn. Massachusetts
Texas, Minneapolis and Columbia
OTHER DEVELOPMENT
Some of the other more important devel
opments of the day may be summarized a:
follows:
Requisitions were made on the naval ord
nance bureau for large number Of quick
fire, four-pounder guns, to be mounted on
the revenue cutters and the steam yach Is
abSdt to be purchased. The bureau deter
mined to have the Quick-f1re guns for these
craft which had been originally intended
for the Atlantic liners st. Paul and St.
Louis. Capt Bradford, chief Of naval
equipment, completed plans for securing a
naval coaling station in waters south of
Cuba, and the papers are ready for final
action. The station will not be on Navassa
island, as has been suggested, but Is likely
to be at one of several Of the fine harbors
of Hayti or San Domingo, or else on the
open to purchase from Denmark for a con-
siderable sum.
Late today the battleship Texas was ex-
pected from Hampton Roads at the navy
yard, to receive her machinery for hosting
ammunition and guns.
Favorable answers were received from
the New York naval militia of their readi-
ness on short notice to supply officers and
men to man the single turreted monitors
now called into service. Orders were is
sued today to have all the warships painted
black, a color that is better adapted to
hostilities because the vessels will not af-
ford as good a target.
A BOAT BOUGHT
The navy department was informed by
cablegram from Lieut.. Colwell, naval at
tache of the United States embassy at
London, that agents of this government
had purchased "Schischad" torpedo boat
that had been constructed for the German
government The new acquisition, there
fore, is of the general type of the German
torpedo boats and is regarded as a valuable
addition to our navy. One feature regard
ing her affords special qualification to the
officials of the navy department.: sin is
now ready for sea. 1t is expected that in
few days she will leave for the United
States. She will be able to make the jour-
ney across the Atlantic without difficulty,
as she is good sea-going vessel and her
coal capacity is ample for the trip to this
country. She is a twenty-three-knotv ves-
sci. about $50 feet long. While of the same
general type as the Rodgers and Foote of
the United States navy, she is a trifle
larger. Work on the vessel has just been
completed. She has never been in service.
She is supposed to carry three torpedo
tubes and two small-caliber, rapid-fire
guns. Nine to twelve men will be needed
to man her.
SPANISH PREPARATION
Word reached the navy department Of
ficials today that the Spanish authorities
have taken steps to supplement the exist
ing fortitications at San yuan de Puerto
Rico, the main port of the island of Puerto
Rico. The news is regarded as significant
Puerto Rico is the only other possession
which belongs to the Spanish government
on this hemisphere besides Cuba. The city
of Puerto Rico is fortified after the old
style prevalent in early days. The de-
fenses consist of a wall which completely
circles the several forts a strategic points
while the only points of ingress and egress
are through massive gates. These fortiti-
cations are being strengthened, and the
armament has been increased by two large
guns of formidable pattern and caliber
San Juan has 23,4l4 inhabitants.
MONEY FOR GUNS
Gen. Flagler, chief of ordnance for the
army, today had a long conference with
Secretary Alger with reference to addi-
tional guns and gun carriages. A few days
ago Secretary Alger allotted to Gen. Flag
Ter 81 900 from the emergency appro-
priation made by congress, to be used by
the ordnance bureau in the discretion OF
Gen. Flagelr. This amount, though large
was not, in the opinion of Gen. Flager
sufficient to meet the requirements of the
emergency, and his conference with the
secretary was to obtain an additional al
lowance. After a careful canvass of the
situation, Secretary Alger gave Gen. Flag
Ter a liberal additional allotment from the
appropriation. Lieut.. Colwell of London
was directed by the navy department to
urge the builders of the recently purchased
cruiser Albany formerly the Brazilian ves-
sci AbroualD to hasten the construction of
the ship with all possible speed. In the
ordinary course of the work the vessel
would not be completed before next De-
cember, but it is believed by officials of
the navy department that if the builders
are placed under pressure she can be made
ready for sea within three months, and per-
haps in a little less time.
REVENUE CUTTERS UTILIZED
Captain Shoemaker, chief of the revenue
cutter service, was busily engaged today in
making assignments of officers to the rev.
enue cutters detailed yesterday for defen-
sive service along the Atlantic seaboard
Every vessel in the service available for
action has been or will be assigned to duty.
Even the new cutter Gresham on the great
lakes and the little cutter Calumet, To-
Gated at Chicago, have been called on and
en- route to Hampton Roads