The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-03-23
coNsuLTs BOTH PARTIES.
AT NAVY DEPARTMENT.
News Picked Up About Ships of Both
Nations.


Washington. March 22.-Outside of
the cabinet meeting the day was ex-
ceptionally quiet Secretary Long was
able to clear his desk at $3.50 o'clock,
for the first time since the Maine diSaS-
ter occurred, and he left the depart
ment before office hours closed, to enjoy
q. walk. During the afternoon the bu-
reau of navigation posted the notice
that the battleShip Massac huSettS had
sailed from Key West for Hampton
Roads. following the Texas, which left
yesterday. About the same time, Com
modore Schley, who has been suggested
as the probable commander of the Fly
ing squadron" centered at Hampton
Roads, called at the department and
had a conference with Assistant Secre-
tarY Roosevelt.
The cruiser Brooklyn is at Newport
News and the monitor Puritan is un-
der orders to proceed there. so that
these vessels will be near Hampton
Roads rendezvous if it is determined to
establish the squadron there. Orders
for this move have not yet been given,
or has Commodore Schley received any
information from officials that he will
be placed in command of the squadron.
The navy department continues to
keep informed as to the Spanish torpe-
do fleet, now stopping at the Canaries.
reached the department. 1t can be
stated positively that the report that
President Mckinley has protested
against the coming of the fiotilla is I'M
warranted. There has been no such
protest
At the navy department nothing is
known of the reported ordering home
of the Maine officers now at Havana.
1t is said that these orders, if given.
would come from Admiral Sicard and
not from the naVV department The
seven Maine survivors who arrived
here last Saturday came in response to
orders from Admiral Sicard, and it was
for this reason that their arrival was
a surprise to the naval officials here.
It is expected that Captain Sigsbee,
Lieutenant Commander Wainwright
and others who are assisting in the
work of wreckage, will leave Havana
until the salvage of the Maine is COM
pleted.
Captain Barker. naval aid to the sec
rotary of the navy returned to his desk
at the navy department today after
few days absence. He went TO Key West
on 2 secret mission. the exact nature OF
which has not been disclosed 1nasmuch
as he conferred at length with Rear Ad-
mirai Sicard and with Captain Sampson,
president Of the naval court of inquiry.
there appears to be good reason Tor the
inference that his business related to the
Maine affair. and its possible conse-
quences. Secretary Long is authority for
the statement that CAPTAIN Barker was
not sent to Key West to get the report
of the naval court and did not bring II
back with him.
One of the most active branches Of
the navy department just now is that en-
gagged IN the enlistment of recruits for
various positions in the service. Yester-
day notice was given by advertisement
that recruiting stations would be opened
at a number of cities, mostly on the
coast.
Today. in response to representa- tons
that have come TO hand. the enlistment
bureau gave notice that board of Of
ficers would be detailed to visit various
cities in the vicinity Of the great lakes.
where it is said there are a number Of
persons who would be willing to enter
the service. Many OF them are Scandi-
navians. who have been at sea in their
native country.
Mr. circuit speaks in the highest terms
of the two new battleships. Kentucky and
Kearsarge. and says that on a pinch they
could be made ready for service within
eight months and possibly less.
The negotiations for the purchase of
ships abroad is going steadily forward.
but there was a regrettable disappoint-
ment in this connection today. The
authorities had been exceedingly anxious
to get the big torpedo cruiser Tupes.
built for Brazil. She is one of the most
formidable torpedo craft afioat her size
placing her in the cruiser class. while
her torpedo armament gives her the ef-
fectiveneSs of torpedo boat and cruiser
day. however. that rhe Brazilian govern
ment would not part with the Tupes and !
this closes the negotiations.
In a small measure this was Offset by !
the success of the navy in securing a
trim little Yarrow-brilt launch which /
though very small. will serve as a har-
Dor torpedo boat. Her speed is 16 knots !
or better. Her armament consists of ]
two HGtcnkiss one-pound quick fire guns /
and the torpedo tube. She is of the same /
class Of craft as the MOXito. built for the |
tls--fT 81 IA a fe.lF1 fnr- hnr
was less than S25.00J with her armament I
complete. delivered at New York Being ]
so small she will be shipped over on one (
of the Atlantic liners. She has not yet I
taken on the dignity of a nama.
The navy department was notified to- |
day Of the arrival of the cruiser Cincin- /
natl and the gunboats Castine and VII !
nington at Porl Antonio. Jamaica. This !
is about the same distance from the south /
shore OF Cuba as Key West is from the |
north shore.
The gunboat Marietta announced her /
arrival a Panama. The Marblehead has |
gone from Port Tampa tn Dry Tortugas