New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-22
ORDERS FOR SCHLEY'S FLEET.
READY TO MOVE ON THIRTY MINUTES
NOTICE.
SQUADRON HER SUPPLIES FASTENED
ABOARD NEW BATTERY TO PRO-
TECT NORFOLK NAVY YARD

fBY TELEGRAPH THE TRIBUNE.l
Old Point Comfort, Va. April 21.-An official
statement is 70 the effect that the Flying Squad
ron will sail either ut midnight or at daybreak
/ tomorrow for Southern waters unless counter
manding orders received In the mean time.
! The officers have been made aware OF the early
sailing. Many of1icers here have taken leave OF
their families at the hotels All liberty was
cut off al $50 O'Clock tonight, and az that hour
/ no naval attaches Of the squadron were ashore.
The squadron this afternoon received thirty
! minute orders" 1t is reported here tonight
! that Captain Higginson. commanding the battle
ship Massachusetts has been ordered to hold
himself in readiness to SAIL on receipt If orders
for Key West or Havana. depending on the posi-
ton Of the North Atlantic Squadron ut the time
Of his arrival and to report to Captain Samp-
son. commanding
NOT LIKELY TO GO TONIGHT.
! naval officer. in position 20 speak. stated to-
night that. while # is possible. 1t is hardly prob
able that the squadron will go any
/ time tonight. Commodore Schley at any rate.
| does not anticipate any such orders. and
/ preparations are making all Of the warships
for the customary nightly progranmc.
BY thirty minute orders is meant that Com
modore Schey must have his powerful COM
mand In perfect condition. fully equipped and
! ready to weigh anchor within thirty minutes
| from the time final orders are received The
! Commodore has issued all OF the necessary or
ders enabling the squadron to sail at command
While the possible sailing Of the Massachusetts,
is only report and lacking confirmation. all indi-
cations point to unusual activity aboard the
Queen Of the American Navy" as the battle
| ship Is now characterized by officers and sea-
men alike.
A coal barge was hastily summoned this after
noon. and the ship has her bunkers full
A large quantity OF medical supplies. which
ordinarily would not have been handled until to-
morrow was fastened aboard the le-ship
on arrival this evening
MASSACHUSETTS WANTED AT HAVANA.
The necessity for the presence Of the Massa-
chusetts with Captain SIMPSONS flee; Is appa-
rent In the proposed bombardment OF Havana.
l Battle ships are the most effective OF all naval
vessels in this mode Of warfare. and In the opin-
ion OF an officer Of the squadron. II Is not un
l likely that the oregon will arrive on the scene
under orders In time 10 take part.
The ram Katahdin passed Old Point this after
noon under sealed orders from the Noriolk
Navy Yard It is presumed that she is on the
way TO Provincetown. The torpedo boat Rodgers
also passed out II Hampton Roads to-day to
join the hotilla at Key West.
At the suggestion of the Newport News Ship
building and Drydock Company. rapid fire
battery Of six guns will be constructed at Point
Breeze. ono mile below the city for the pro-
lection Of the shipyard and the battleships
Kearsarge and Kentucky. recently launched.
md now I'm danger OF destruction by torpedo.
1t is stated on good authority that the Plant
/ liner La Grande Duchesse will be purchased by
the War Department an Army hospital ship.
She is the best ship available but II is not
likely that she can be secured under SlWDND.
as she has already cost H. Il. Plant that amount
The plans OF the vessel here. and IT VIII
be only matte OF a few days before she can
be converted into a floating hospital in every
way superior to the Soace and capable OF pro-
vding for at least two hundred more patients
A box float loaded with dynamite and carry
Ing red danger lights is anchored off Hotel
Chamb berlin tonight
COMMODORE SCHLEY SILENT.
Fort Monroe. Va. April 2l.-Smal ammu-
nition was given to the ships OF the squadron
this afternoon, and there was sub-calibre prac-
tice with the big guns. Commodore Schley
asked the Associated Press to-day TO say that
he had refused to express any opinion upon
prospective war. Government action or move
nert OF his squadron to anybody. and that pub
ucotlon Of quoted remarks ascribed TO him was
not authorized.
Tha new collier for the Flying Squadron. the
Saturn. arrived this morning, and Commodore
schley sent it to Norfolk at once to get its
complement OF coal
Rcc,nning with tho reception Of the Hrst news
hu,letirs from Washington to-day intense ex-
element prevailed here both on shore and
among the officers and men Of the squadron.
Al bn q shore In the afternoon
were Informed that they must report on board
at 10 o'clock at the latest. and that no all-night
shore leave would be granted. The officers OF
tho Massachusetts, were told that they must re-
port at =: 80 O'Clock on board when leave migh'
be granted for n few hours to see friends IheS"
,v.o orders led 10 all sorts Of rumorS one De
ING that the Massachusetts had been detached
which was promptly denied. AT the hotels
where many Of the officers wives are STAY s.ay's, ,
there was excitement. 1t being believed that III"
squadron would sail before morning
EVERY PREPARATION MADE
A. 4 o'clock. after the receipt Of the Asso-
.,o,od press bulletin that the Spanish believed
the ultmaum to be declaration OF war; COM
modore schley signalled from the Brooklyn ror
ALI engines to be coupled In port ships engine;
are uncouplei and are not usuaiiy coupeu ulit'i ,
q, seo Arrangements were made lor tne tele
sraph stations on shore to remain open all nish'
To- receive dispatches. ,,. -
Despite the strain on all nerves Tonight men
nptncars are enthusiastic. was demon
Stated when the torpedo-boa; Rodgers stopped
nv the Brooklyn. on her way out 10 JON th-
Dy " W w. Sou3drcn to ask permission Of Com
roo1ore schley to proceed. The men Hooked to
.ha forecastles OF the vessels and cheered heart
lily. 49,. ., ho,oro h,,. Ah.,
M n sand bar and slightly injured her screw
While the injury was not severe. ii was thought
best 10 fix 1t. and the work was completed TO-
dav She went cut of Hampton Roads at full
speed , -,
rimac and the Saturn. are not yet quite ready
but NAV be in a day The hospital boat H.
,till In the hands Of the shipbuilders being
yerted. and cannot he ready with crew for
several days. Captain Higginson sail tonight
that any statement 10 the effect that the Massa-
chusetts had been ordered % go to New-York
CITY for defence Of that harbor was untrue.