Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-01-25
NEWPORT NEWS. VA. TUESDAY, JANUARY IS 1898

| of the photographic office, and by his
energy brought the office up to "a high
standard. He was lucky to get so inn
portant a ship as the Name considering
his actual nank. which is that of a COM
mander, but Immediately he justified
tne departments judgment in the selec-
Sioh NY running his ship straight into
d dock in New York harbor to avoid
running down q packed excursion boat
rms was q display of quick Judgment.
nerve and pluck that pleased the de-
partment 50 highly that the capta was
sent a complimentary letter His off,
GERS are also a good lot. including Lieu
tenant Commander Richard VAIN
Wsight. Lieutenant g. F. Holman. John
Hood and c. w. Yungen, Lieutenants
Junior grade) C. w. Blow, j. 7. Rlanir
r. w. Jenkins. Cadets ]. H. Holden W.
I. Cluv.:rtus. Amos 'Bronston and D. T.
Boyd, III. Surgeon l.. g. Heneberger
Faymaster c. w. Littleneld, Chief En-
Sineer c. p. Howell. Passed Assistant
Engineer F. c. Bowers and Assistant
Engineers j. G. Morris and .. G. Mer-
rift.
The Maine is, battleship of the sec
ond class. and is regarded as one Of the
best ships in the navy. She was built
at the Brooklyn navy yard and is 31S
dfftst iHfnqg .v & feet broad. 21.s mean
She has two ten-inch vertical turrets
and two military maSts, and her motive
power is furnished by twin screws, YER
teal triple expansion engines having
medium horsepower OF 1898, capable
of making 17.45 knots. She carries four
ten-nch and six 6-inch breeehoa ding
suns in her main battery, and seven
C-pounder and eight 1-pounder rapid
fire guns and four GatIinss in her sec
ondary battery and four Whitehead tor
Dedoes.
While administration officials miss no
opportunity of declaring confidence in
the promise of the maintenance of
peace. it may be noted as a mat ter of
interest that the United States now has
assembled near Key West the most for
midable fleet of warShips tffEt HIS been
gotten together in our home waters for
many years. 4 is made up Of the North
Atlantic squadron under command of
Admiral Sicard, flagship New York,
FIRST class battleships Iowa. Indiana
Massachusetts: second class battleships
Maine and Texas; cruisers Detroit and
Montgomery: dispatch boat Fern, and
nne torpedo hotilla, composed Of the
Gushing: Ericsson, Dupont and Porter.
which Will reinforced in u few days by
the Foote. The big protected cruiser
Brooklyn. almost equal to "a battleship
herself, is fitting out at the New York
navy yard Captain Cook, who COM
nlandS the ship. WAS at the Navy De-
partment this morning and expects to
sail the latter part of the week to join
Admiral Sicard's squadron. The gun
beat Nashville and the training ship
Essex are at Port Royal. S. c., within
easy call. and the entire navy may be
said to be in state of preparedness
that is gratifying to the officials. in
View of the limited resources placed in
their hands by Congress.
The first intimation the members of
the :. waite committee on foreign rela-
tions had OF the orders to the Maine
was given in the Associated Press re-
ports bulletin. The information was re-
eeiVed with evident satisfaction.
Senator Foraker was particularly
pleased to hear the news. He said he
wished the Texas and the other vessels
OF the squadron would be ordered to
follow the Maine.
Senator Cu!lom said:
II am glad to hear it. I hope the
Maine will be followed by other YES
sells"
Senator Teller said he would like to
see the lharbor of Havana filled with
american WarShipS.
Senator Daniel said: II am glad TO
hear of it. 1t ought to have been done
two years ago
CONGREsSMEN GRATIFIED.
WASHINGTON. Jan. 24.-There was
qualification expressed among members
Of the House committee on foreign af-
fairs. especially by Messrs. Smith and
Pearson. Republicans. who had ex-
p.esSeu soiile - ny ilot' 49, WI
" ..e 70 !ili' u 'ne ''"use III ehe
mater ol Suoa.
OFF FROM KEY WEST
KEY WEST. FLA. Jan. 24.-At $3.50
.his morning the United States fleet
including the Maine. sailed from this
port. The announced destination was
Tortugas. and, until news came from
Washington this afternoon, 1T was not
generally known here that the Maine
was destined for Havana Two tOrpe-
do boats are left in this port. to he used
as dispatch boats to communicate with
CURTAINS SURPRISED.
NEW YORK, Jan. 24-At the head
qua rters OF the Cuban junta in this city
here was some surprise expressed at
the explanation given by the State De-
partment for the dispatching of the
battleship Maine to Havana.
AS far as hostilites were concerned,