The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-01-28
THE MAINE TO 90 TO NEW ORLEANS.
Abother Vessel 70 Take Mor Place at Havana
activity or the Navy Department.

Another yea.el TO Take Mer Piace at Havana
Activity or the Navy Department.
WAsHNoToN. Jan. 27.-Orders have been
prepared at the Navy Department for trans
mission to Rear Admiral Sicard, commanding
the North Atlantic squadron, directing him to
send the battleship Maine from Havana to
New Orleans to attend the Mardi Gras celebra-
ton on Feb. %. Admiral Sicard will also de-
taoh the battleship Texas from his squadron
and assign her to the SAM duty. The Maine,
according to the instructions to be given Capt.
Sigsbee, through tho Admiral, will leave Ha.
vana on Feb. Is. She will be succeeded there
by one Of the other ships under Admiral Sicard.
to whom the selection will be left. 1t is under
stood here that "a small cruiser. probably tho
Montgomery. will take the. place of the Maine,
II the presentsoutward tranquility continues in
Havana. The object of this Is to emphasize
the attempt that is being made officially to
show that United States ships will merely
drop into Havana harbor incidentally on calls
Of courtesy and friendship. II only formida-
bic vessels go to Havana the righteousness Of
this claim would be apparent, and the Admins
t~ration, out Of consideration for tho Spanish
Government, is anxious to detract as much as
possible from tho Importance of the Naine's
mission. 1t will be interesting to see what
vessel will follow the battleship there. II 1t is a
small cruiser, 1t will indicate that the anticipated
renewal of riotous outbreaks is believed by the
administration not to be Immediately immi-
nent.
It may not DO significant that tho Navy Do
each naval militia Organization diagrams show
ing where gums should be placed on the vessels
VI %he sns the s%q orRsniua nSyy % s stasIos SSf Of Ts sss gSGI s.
pared bv tho Bureau OF Construction and are ac-
ssry to properly install the guns, with descTip-
lions or wood and iron frames for mounting
the she% auxiiia SsP1 iist has Gif BEEN made aSd eA'h vessel on
Tho department has also called on command
ers Of Naval Reserve bodies to furnish 1t with
Including yachts and tugs. which can be used
In the event OF an emergency. 1t ID explicitly
stated In the communioations to the command
ers that the names Of all steam vessels availa-
BILE for enforcing blockades and for use as rams
are desired. Although 1t is claimed that these
establishing a reserve fleet, as authorized and
provided for by Congress. they are particularly
interesting In connection with the other things
which the Navy Department 10 doing.
A report recently made by Assistant Secre-
tary Roosevelt. urging an appropriation for
misinterpreted into an admission that all the
mament. Both Secretary Long and Mr.. ,Roose-
welt denied that any such general deduction
tention to the work of the Ordnance Bureau in
kind. There is no doubt that this work is pro-
crossing, and corroboration OF tho Official state
ment Is furnished by the activity at the Wash.
ington ordnance foundry, whore three gangs of
men are employed day and night on this work.
Each gang Is on duty eight hours, and the big
plant ID never idle.
The Navy Department has decided not to
put the monitor Terror out of commission, but
to place the big harbOr defender In reserve at
the Norfolk.Savy Yard, where the monitor Puri-
tan Is also on the emergency list. The explana-
tion offered, for not carrying out the intention
she has complicated steering and turret turning
gear, which would have to DO dismantled, and
would cost a great deal OF money TO rcinstall.
While lying In ordinary, this gear would re-
main practically intact. The reserve vessels
can be made ready for service In from Ave TO
seven days, whereas II they were out OF com
mission several months would DO required TO
get them Into seagoing condition. To have
ready for an immediate demand for
the COlumbia and the Minneapolis, now at
League Island. q list of officers available for
duty has been prepared at the department.
Cosnul.G General Lee continues to send daily
about the condition of affairs In Ha-
vanA for the information of the State Depart
mont. These bulletins have been sent every
day since the Hay ana riots occurred, They are
afternoon, but occasionally Gen. Lee files a sec
ond despatch about The state OF feeling In the Gu
ban capital later in theday. The regular bulletin
from him this afternoon said that
everything was quiet: 1t 10 very clear that
tho department relying on information fur
nished by Gen. Lee and Vice-Consul Springer,
not satiAhod that the present calm Will con.
tin9e and wants frequent news Of what Is going
on In Havana