The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-03-25
DAY BIG WITH EVENTS
Naval Developments Followed Close
On Each Others Heels.
JOINT WAR COMMISSION
NAVAL AND WAR BUREAUS TO
WORK TOGETHER.
Fighting Bob Evans to Command the
Iowa-Captain Sampson Succeeds
Admiral Sicard = Commodore
schley Will Command the Fleet at
Hampton Roads.

Hampton Roads.
washington. March 24.-The navy
department developed important new
features today. They came with
rapidity.
One important move was determi-
nation to create a joint commission
from the war and naval departments
so as to bring them into harmonious
action on all measures. Captain
Barker, the naval aide of Secretary
Long, was designated to represent the
navy department in this common plan
of action.
The representative of the war de-
partment. has not yet been named. 1t
will not be necessary for these two OIL
ficers to leave Washington, as they can
best arrange joint plan of action in
conference with the bureau chiefs or
the two Departments here. Then, at
the close of the day, came IAN an
nouncement that the navy department
had succeeded in purchasing eight
steam yachts and four steam tugs,
presumably at or near New York for
use in the auxiliary naval feet The
boats are about 400 tons each and in
an emergency would be suitable as
torpedo boats. The yachts purchased
are among the fleetest along the
Atlantic coast and are said to be some
what similar to the Maytiower, recently
purchased of the Ogden Goelet estate.
This acquisition to the navy is re-
garded as an exceptionally valuable
one at the present time. as the great
est need is felt for small craft suitable
as torpedo boats and dispatch boats.
There was additional satisfaction at
the navy department at the large num-
Der secured in a single purchase. The
| names and amounts paid for the Vari-
Gus yachts and tugs are not disclosed,
as it is said this would prove an en-
/ barraSsment to the government in
promoting speculation on other craft
for which negotiations are now pend
ing.
FIGHTING BOB EVANS
Captain Robley D. Evans. well known
as Fighting Bob" Evans, arrived in
Washington this morning from Key
West and had half an hours confer
ence with Secretary Long. He has been
temporarily on duty in the lighthouse
! service. but he told the secretary that
! if there was to be fight he wanted to
be in it. Mr.. Long appreciated the
suggestion and Immediately issued
orders placing Captain Evans in com
stands at the very head of the ships
of the American navy, both as to ton
mage. guns, armament and all the
qualities that go to make up a first
I class modern battleship. The Iowa is
now at Key West with Admiral
/ Sicard's fleet. Captain Evans was
aboard her only few days ago and
during his visit to Key West. talked
with Admiral Sicard and with the
I members of the Maine court of inquiry.
He brought no information on theSre-
port.
SAMPSON SUCCEEDS SICARD.
/ 1t developed that Captain Evans
1 orders to take command of the Iowa,
had most important sequel in the
: assignment of Captain Sampson,
+ present commander of the Iowa. to
succeed Admiral Sicard in command of
the North Atlantic squadron. This is
probably the most important assign
ment the department has made. in
many months. Ii is due mainly to the
findings of q medical court now sitting
ct Key West that Admiral Sicard. is
+ temporarily incapaciated from active
duty. owing 20 long continued illness.
Captain Sampson. who now assumes
command Of the North Atlantic
squadron, is regarded as one of the best
equipped officers in the navy, having
seen active service during the civil war
and since then having occupied many
important positions He is high
authority on naval ordnance. and be-
fore taking command Of the Iowa was
chief Of the bureau of ordnance of the
navy department. He is between 80
and 60 years of age, a student of naval
affairs. of genial temperament and is
considered an officer of exceptional
executive ability. The retirement of
Admiral Sicard has the effect of raising
Captain Sampson TO the rank of com
modore.
He is a native of New York. entered
the service in September 1857. and has
been over 80 years in active service.
nearly II of which were spent on the
sea. He concluded his last cruise in
June. 1892. since which time he served
as chief of the bureau of ordnance up
TO the time Of his assignment to the
command of the Iowa.
COMMODORE SCHLEY.
Hardly less important than the as
( signmert Of CAPTAIN Sampson was the
practical determination to place Com
mocore W. 5. Schley in command of
the fleet now assembled at Hampton
Roads. The two commands under Com
modore Sampson and Commodore
! Schley. will be of equal dignity, and
will be entirely independent of each
other, for the present. at least
/ Commodore Schley commands the
/ fullest confidence of the administration.
During the present crisis he has been
frequently called into consultation with
the navy chiefs. who recognized his
complete familiarity with every detail
/ of naval procedure.
/ When the flying squadron was first
suggested, his name naturally presented
itself as probably the fittest man in the
Z service for that particular duty. He
! came prominently into public notice by
/ the successful prosecution of the Gree,y
I relief expedition. and later as COM
mander Of the Baltimore at Valparaiso.
! at the time of the Chilean revolution.
MOVEMENT OF WAR VESSELS.
3 The naval department was advised
I today of che sailing of the monitor Ter
ror from New York for Key West: the
arrival Of the Texas at Hampton Roads.
and the Puritan at Newport News. and
. of the mentors Monadnock and Monte
rey at San Francisco. The battleship
( Texas came up from Key West. maxi
ing an exceptionally quick run for
} vessel of her class.
. The navy department is informed of
! the departure Of the cruiser Cincinnati
1 and the gunboats Castine and VIII
, n1lnston from Port Antonio. Jamaica.
! last evening, but officials decline to say
where they are bound. 1t is regarded as
probable that when heard from they
I will he at Key West. or some other
/ port in the United States.
They are particularly strong ships.
and in their present position they might
possibly fall a prey TO the more power
/ full Spanish fleet in Cuban waters. in
! the event of 2 conflict.
AVOIDING DANGER.
Inasmuch as considerations of this
/ character resulted in the recall OF the