The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-07
"FIying Squadron" still I'm Hampton
Roads, and NO Change in the
Fleet at Key West.
ALLEGED PLAN OF CAMPAIGN
OUR SHIPS May GO TO THE CANA
RIEs III WAR is DECLARED.
MtIiiinmen Opposed to the Army Re-
organization Bill - Collier Pur-
chased for the Asiatic Squadron.

WASHINGTON, April CA generally
onieter feeling was evident at the War and
Navy Departments to-day, where, in con-
trast to the feverish excitement of the past
week the tone was almost apathetic. While
there was the usual amount of routine at
tendant on the recent work of preparation,
things to-day settled down almost to the
normal. No more contracts for new vessels
were closed by the Navy Department, and
no changes in the stations of ships an
nounced. To-day was also noticeable for
the absence of the conferences of high Off
cials, and the great tide of visitors, con-
gressmen, public men and contractors al
most entirely disappeared
Assistant Secretary Meiklejohn of the
War Department, made public a statement
showing that up to this time there has
been allotted TO the department 1929 167
from the emergency fund of $50O00,O0O APP
propriated by Congress. The different
bureaus receiving this money are Ordnance,
$s2S3,767; engineers, $4425,OOO; quartermas-
ter's. 100000; signal office, $12O,400. OF the
entire amount allotted, 1927 500 has been ex-
pended, but as much of the work begun and
the munitions of war bought is by the con-
tract system, the government is liable for
considerable Of the remainder.
The Navy Department has about exhaust
purchase of ships for the United States
navy The officials are still keeping
vatchful eye for the acquisition of any yes
sells, that possibly may be obtained abroad.
but they do net believe if war occurs soon
any can be obtained. 1t has been the aim
OF the department primarily to secure ships
that We're finished in such a stage of
completion that they could be transferred
10 the United States promptly before hos
tiities commenced In many cases where
ships We're in process of construction the
department has obtained refusals of them
which will preclude their acquisition by
Spain should attempt be made by that
nation TO get them. There are a number
of vessels now building on which several
months work is necessary before they are
completed, but the government is not anx-
ious regarding these. Included il this class
are the three torpedo boats, the armored
cruiser Giuseppe Gs4ribaldi and the varez,
which a Rome dispatch reports as having
been sold. The torpedo boats, it is stated,
have not been contracted for by the United
States, notwithstanding contrary reports,
for the reason that they will not be finished
for from three to five months and the
United States, therefore, does not care for
them. 1t is probably true. IL is stated at
the department, that the Garibaldi has been
sold to Spain and the Varez to Argentina,
but as neither will be finished for several
months, this government prefers not to
take the chances Of having them lying in
the foreign ship yards should hostilities be-
gin before they are completed. The Varez
and the Garibaldi are sister ships to the
Cristobal Colon, one of the formidable
Spanish cruisers now rendezvoused at Ca
diz. The United States had the opportunity
to purchase all the vessels mentioned in the
Rome dispatch.
COAL FOR THE ASIATIC FLEET
The purchase of coal by the American
feet in Chinese waters is simply in ac-
cordance with the desires of the depart
ment to keep full supply on hand and to
be ready for any emergency that may oc-
cur. The following ships comprise the
Asiatic squadron: The first-class cruiser
Olympia. the second-class cruisers Boston
ard Raleigh. the third-rate cruiser Monoc-
Rcy and the gunboat Petrol. The British
ship Nanshan. which the United States has
bought is collier. designed to carry coal
for the fleet She has 5000 tons of coal
aboard and is now with the Asiatic squad
ron.
The Navy Department has added an adj
ditional detail to the naval attaches office
at London. Ensign A B. Hoff, who is now
on duty the Enterprise, has been de-
tached from that ship and will go to Lon
don as assistant to Lieut.. j. Colwell who
is now naval attache. Lieutenant ColwelPs
duty of late has been the inspection of
ships. with a view to their purchase by the
United States government.
A telegram was received at the Navy De-
partment to-day announcing the departure
of the battle ship Texas from New York
bound for Hampton Roads to join the flying
squadron. to which she is attached. AS
sistant Secretary Roosevelt is very much
pleased with the present condition of this
vessel. He says that as a result Of the re-
cent improvements made to her during her
stay at the New York navy yard her