Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-03-28

rendered such valiant service in the early
days of the republic.
The lanes selected for the yachts and
tugs purchased in this country and now
being put into condition for the use of the
naval service are follows:
Yachts-Alicia to be called Hornet; Almy,
to be called Eagle; Hermione, to be called
Wasp.
Tugs-Edgar F. Luckenback, to be called
Tecumseh; Walter A. Luckenback, to be
called Uncas: Winthrop. to be called Osce-
ola; P. H. Wise, to be called Sioux; Ell Toro.
to be called Algonquin.
At the War Department.
Secretary Alger was at his office only a
short while before he left for the cabinet
meeting today. During the brief time he
was there he saw Senator Platt of New
York, Senator Proctor, who has had many
consultations with the Secretary during the
past few weeks, and Senator Frye and Rep
resentative Hooker of New York.
Additions to Key West Fleet.
The naval movements reported today
were the arrival of the battle ship Texas
at New York and the Alliance at Newport.
and the departure of the monitor Terror
from Norfolk to Key West.
The big naval fleet in the vicinity Of Key
West received an important addition today
in the arrival of the cruiser Cincinnati and
the gunboats Wilmington and Castine,
which were at Port Antonio, Jamaica,
when last heard from. The Cincinnati and
Castne comprised the recent South Allan
tic squadron and were called home several
weeks ago, when 1t first became apparent
that war with Spain was probable. The
Cincinnati was flagship of the station. The
guLboat Wilmington was under orders to
join the South Atlantic fleet at Monte
video and had proceeded as far as La
Guayra, Venezuela, when she received or
ders to return to the United States. The
three vessels came together in the Barba-
dos and came north in company. They
are all believed to be in excellent condition
for active service, and will be retained at
Key West for the present. Owing to great
speed the Cincinnati will probably be add
ed to the flying squadron in case it Is
deemed advisable to enlarge that fleet.
The most significant of the naval orders
issued by the department today was that
of the detachment of Commander Horace
Elmer from Cramps shipyarJ ami ordering
him to duty in re the mosquito fleet" Its
prospective formation is the result of the
observations and work of the Naval Col
lege for the past five years, and the Off
cials believe that with the material that
may be obtained and the manning of the
vessels by the Laval militia of the states
formidable organization of its kind will
suit The naval militia of the states, how
ever, will not be entirely relied upon to
nan the ships. In case of necessity resort
will be had to seamen wherever they may
be picked up. Commander Elmer is at the
New York r2vy yard, which will be the
center of the future operations of his fleet.
Commander EImer's Duties.
His duties respecting the selection of
CT aft for the fleet are exactly the same as
those performed by the board which for the
past two weeks has been engaged in the
inspection of merchant vessels for the aux
iliary defense preliminary to their purchase
by the Navy Department. The command
er and his assistants will visit various
places along the coast and will communi-
cate by letter with persons and firms own
ing small craft with view to determining
just Eow many there are available and at
what price the owners would sell or char
ter them 70 the government. So far as
practicable it is the intention of the depart
ment that there shall be a separate set of
all ships for the defense of each of the
sc eacoast cities, the whole to be under The
name of the mesquite feet" In the evsnt
of a necessity for a rendezvous of several
of these local fleets at any one place this
will also be arranged for; but the primary
idea is for each local fleet to form the
mobile defense" of each particular city
where 1t Is made up. The bureau of ord
nance will be called into requisition to as
sist in furnishing armament for the ves
sells. and in the event of war naval officers
will be assign ed to the command of each
of the several local fleets.
Commodore Schley, commanding the fly
ing squadron. has selected Lieut.. ]. II.
Sears, who is on duty at the Philadelphia
Naval Home, as his flag lieutenant and
Lieut.. B. w. Wells of the Monadnock as
his flag secretary.
Possible Peril of the Oregon,
Naval officials are somewhat apprehen-
sive over the movements of the Spanish
torpedo boat Temerario which left Monte
video, Uruguay, somewhat mysteriously
Saturday. Her destination is unknown
and fear is expressed that she may be
bound for southern waters for the purpose
OF intercepting the battle ship Oregon
and the gunboat Marietta. now speeding
down the Pacific coast on their way to-
join Capt. Sampson's fleet at Key West.
AS a measure of precaution kilograms
have been sent to the commanding officers
of the Oregon and Marietta, to be deliver
ed to them their arrival at Callao.
Peru. instructing them to be on their
guard against possible attack by the Tenn
they may meet in the course Of their voy-
age around the Horn