The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-04-01
Casting About For Favorable Points
of Supply.
NEW ORLEANS SUGGESTED
THREE SOUND REASONS WHY IT
SHOULD BE FAVORED.
No Time Is Lost In the Work of
Transforming Yachts and Tugs
Into Vessels of War-oregon Ex-
pected at Callao This Week-
Naval Movements.

Washington, March 31.-Apparently
there was no cessation today of the ex-
/ traordinary activity which has pre-
vailed at the navy department during
the past month. Now that many of
the emergency preparations are well
under way, more attention is to be paid
to the broader question of a plan of
campaign in the event of war. Under
| this head comes the establishment of
a depot to be used as base of sup
plies. and on this matter the CONNER
cial interests of the country are max
ing themselves heard. Senator Nc
Emery and Representatives Meyer, OS-
den and Davey of Louisiana called
upon Secretary Long today and sup
plemented the representations of mer-
chants who were here last week, urg-
ing the selection of New Orleans as a
base of supplies. They said the city.
being situated some distance from the
gulf. was reasonably safe from attack
by a fleet, and being a railroad center
and situated on the Mississippi river
grain and other supplies could be
shipped there in great abundance. The
secretary did not commit himself
The delegation also spoke to the sec
rotary in regard to the defense of the
city of New Orleans. but the secretary
midable fleet in the gulf and such for
tifications as are already in existence,
the city was well protected.
NO TINE LOST.
The work incident to the transforma-
ton of the yachts and tugs recently
purchased for the navy department so
as to make them practicable for naval
purposes is now well under way. The
alterations and changes necessary are
being rushed with all possible speed,
and orders have been issued to employ
a sufficient number of men to work
night and day so that no time Will be
lost. In the tugs particularly there are
numerous changes necessary Tor the
comfort of the men who will man them.
The yachts, on the other hand, are in
better shape, and less work will be re-
quired than on the tugs. They will
be given a belt of armor as means
of protection for portions which are
most vulnerable to the enemy'S fire. So
far the department has purchased five
yachts and eight tugs for the auxiliary
navy.
Sir Julian Pauncefote, the British
ambassador, called on Assistant Sec
rotary Roosevelt at the navy depart
ment this afternoon and left his card
for Captain Sigsbee. cOngratulating
that officer upon his escape and bear
ing throughout his recent thrilling ex-
periences in the harbor of Havana.
NAVAL MOVEMENTS.
There was nothing specially signif-
icant in the movement of naval vessels
reported to the navy department to-
day. The gunboat Wilmington arrived
at Jacksonville yesterday on her way
to New York for repairs. Se torpedo
boat Somers. purchased n Germany,
arrived at Pillau yesterda. m hel' ay
TO the United States. The gunbcat
Wheeling has left Port Angeles for .,e
attic The cruiser Columbia and the
revenue cutter Morrill, arrived at Nor
folk today. The Columbia is attached
to the flying squadron and is in COM
plete readiness for any service it may
be called upon to perform. Her sister
ship, the Minneapolis, now fitting out
at League Island. is expected to join
the squadron at Hampton Roads in a
day or two.
The gunboat Marietta of the Pacific
squadron arrived at Callao today. AL
though not so admitted, it is generally
understood that she is bound for Key
West. The same is true of the battle
ship Oregon. which is expected to ar
rive at Callao this week.