Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-30

first II was considered possible TO save
the big guns and the turrets, but this has
been abandoned. and the board will re-
port to Secretary Long In a day or two,
as to what final steps should be taken. II
Is probable that the wreck will be aban-
doned.
The Navy Department made no further
purchases of foreign ships to-day. al
though the naval attaches abroad con-
unge to make inspection Of ships at the
several yards.
BASE OF OPERATIONS.
significant conference was held du-
ring the day between representatives of
The War and Navy departments, to de-
termine whether New Orleans, Mobile, or
Tampa was best adapted for a base of
operations. both military and naval, in
the event Of war. The representative Of
the navy Is Captain Barker. naval aide
TO Secretary Long and OF the army.
Colonel Wagner. chief of the Bureau OF
Information Of the army. The examina-
tion Is particularly directed toward the
railroad facilities from all sections OF the
country, leading to the points on the Gulf
named above. No determination has yet
been reached on the subject.
Surgeon-General Van Reipen. of the
navy, has about completed the prelimi-
ting out and manning of a floating hos
pital ship for use In case of war. He has
several vessels in mind. which he be-
lieves well adapted for this purpose,
but none has been purchased as yet.
The formal report of the Medical Board
of officers of the North Atlantic squad
ron, that sat in Admiral Sicard's case,
shows that he was suffering from what is
technically known as ''chronic malaria"
Ii was upon the report of this board that
the Admiral was relieved of his command
and granted six months leave OF absence.
GUNS FOR YACHTS AND TUGS.
The Ordnance Bureau is actively at
work preparing for the armament of the
yachts and tugs which have just been ac-
quired by purchase by the navy and by
loan from the Treasury Department. On
the tugs and yachts the Ordnance Bureau
will install such six-pounders as may be
available for the purpose, while on the
cutters will be put some OF the four-inch
and several six-pounders, all Of the rapid
fire class.
Paymaster Ray, the financial officer of
the Maine. reported his arrival TO the
Navy Department to-day. He is here to
settle his accounts of the officers and
men Of the vessel.
1t was stated at the Navy Department
purchased by Spain. cost that government
probably $4,000 She is not regarded as
a formidable acquisition to the Spanish
navy, as she is inferior 10 the Mayflower.
the yacht bought by Secretary Long
about two weeks ago. The Giralda was
constructed on the Clyde.
COLORED TROOPS FOR TORTUGAS.
At the War Department the most Inn
pOrtant development OF the day was the
announcement that the Twenty-ftth Keg-
lment OF Infantry, now stationed IN Mon-
tana, would be transferred 10 the Dry
Tortugas in the Gulf of Mexico. rms
regiment is composed entirely OF colored
troops, who have been located In the
Northwest for number of years. Ther
stay in the Gulf climate Will prepare
them for any service in Cuba, should TINS
be necessary The troops Will frst go 10
Key West. It may be that the DEPART
ment will keep some Of them there ana
send only a portion Of the regiment 10
the Tortugas. but this has not been de-
termined definitely.
The ordnance officials of the army re-
mort that the firms which have been
awarded contracts for supplying ammu-
nition guns. projectiles. and gun-car-
riages are keeping well to their promises
IN the matter of supplying these NUM-
tions of war on time. and the latter are
being hurried to the fortihcations need
inG them.