The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-02-24
Probable That Congress
Will Permit urtber
EnlistmeDts.
There Will Be q Couple of New
Buttle-Ships Also as q Result
of the Maine Disaster.

NEW YORK, Feb pa Washington
special to the Herald says: Additional
measures were taken by the Navy De-
partment to-day to put the navy in
gency. Besides comforting with Chair
man Boutelle of the House Naval Com
mittee in regard to navy appropria-
tions, Secretary Long issued orders to-
night to the monitor Terror to proceed
to Hampton Roads, there to await
further orders, and to Colonel Chase
Haywood, commandant of the Marine
Corps, directing him to have his ma
rines ready to move upon notice.
Orders issued to the monitor Terror
are the result of Geographic advices
received this afternoon that the YES
sci was ready for sea. Secretary Long
told me the Terror would remain at
Hampton Roads for several days, when
it would definitely be determined
whether she would go to some north
ern port, possibly New York, or Key
West. AS stated this morning in the
Herald, the Terror's movements de-
PCild the lZcdyd.
In accordance with orders issued sew
eral days ago, the northern division
of the North Atlantic squadron is mob
ilizing at Key West. The department
was informed by wire to-day that the
Texas and the Nashville had left Gal
weston, Texas, the former for Dry
Tortugas and the latter for Key West;
that the Marblehead had left New
Orleans for Key West and that the
Detroit left Mobile, Ala, for Key
West.
Rear Admiral Montgomery Sicard,
commander-in-chie of the North At
lantic squadron, may be compelled to-
temporarily relinquish active command
of the squadron, although he has no in
tention of asking to be relieved. This
officer has been suffering from malaria
for some weeks, and several days ago
he asked the department for permission
to proceed to Tampa, Fla, which was
granted. Upon reconsideration of the
matter, Rear Admiral Sicard deter
mined that he would stick to his post
In his letter to Secretary Long this
morning, Rear Admiral Sicard said
that if the cruiser New York were or
dered to leave Key West he feared that
he would be unable to accompany her,
and he asked the department to au-
thoriZe him to remain at Key West
until his condition improved.
This request will be granted by the
Secretary. 1t is recognized by the de-
partment that Rear Admiral Sicard is
not in the best of health, and a request
from him to be relieved would I'M
ad1v ha oon1r1jp6 with
Secretary Long, however, has no
present intention of summarily detach-
ing Rear Admiral Sicard. 1t is gen
orally believed in naval circles, how
ever, that Rear Admiral Sicard will
have to take a rest in order to rid his
system of malaria, and there is con-
siderable gossip as to the officer who
will be selected as his successor.
The department has every confidence
in Captain w. T. Sampson, who COM
mands the Iowa, and who has been
temporarily assigned to duty as presi-
dent of the court of inquiry investi-
eating the Maine disaster, as was
shown by it's recent decision to- place
him in command of the squadron in
case it becomes necessary to relieve
Rear Admiral Sicard.
Commodore w. S. Schley is under
stood to have advised the department
of his desire to go to sea, and that he
would be glad to take command of the
North Atlantic Squadron. Commodore
Schleys last tour of sea duty expired
a. wear ago, when he commanded the
flagship New York, and he is therefore
thoroughly familiar with the evolutions
of the squadron and ships composing
it. Captain Sampson will be promoted
to flag rank during the summer, when
he will necessarily have to be detached
from the command of the Iowa and
given flag officers duty 1t is gener-
ally believed that he will be Rear Adj
miral Sicards successor.
7 understand that Colonel Charles
Heywood, commandant of the Marine
CORPS. has received orders from the
NAVY Department, directing him to
have the men under his command at
washington Barracks and other points
ready to move at an instant's notice.
IT is probable the men will be ordered
to duty on some of the SHIPS Oh the
North Atlantic squadron.
Secretary Long and other officials of
the department, Mr.. Boutelle was I'M
pressed with the desirability OF adding
| at least two battle-ships to the navy,
one to replace the Maine and the other
| in accordance with recommendations
made by Secretary Long. in his annual
report.
Chairman Boutelle learned several
| things regarding the precautionary
steps taken by the department. and
| left the building with the wishes of the
officials fresh in his memory that his
committee and the House be liberal
with the navy.
The GROWING need of the service, it
is admitted by officials, is more men
with which the monitor Miantonomoh
and cruisers Minneapolis and Column
bia can be placed in commission. The