Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-05-24
DEARTH OF WAR NEWS
Navy Department has No Ad-
vices as to Warships.
OREGON NOT AT KEY WEST
All Spanish Vessels Now Subject to Seizure
Three Thousand Men Patroll:ng IN,
Coast. Monterey Not to Sail
for Five bays. ."u..a. .
(Hy relerranllA

! NASfilNGION, May 23.-1t was
stated 1T the Navy Department today
at the close OF office hours that no
| dispatches OF any Kind relating to the
| movements OF the fleets OF the prospect
| OF an engagement had been received
during the day, and that the only dis
| patch received was relative to AN in
consequential prize case.
AS the ships are now at sea there Is
no expectation OF reports until de-
| eiSive engagement occurs, and 4 dis
patch boat gets to Il port or it is found
| that Cerver:l has eluaea our search.
| In the meantime there is Il complete
lack OF official data by which to fore
| cast the coming engagement. A re-
port WAS current during the day that
the big battleship Oregon had arrived
! at Key West. but the department Of
| Iiciais would notice it only by entering
Il general denial that word had been re-
ceived Of any important vessels move
nenlS or arrivals.
| During the day press dispatches came
| from Madrid giving an account of Il
| sharp debate in the Cortes over the
alleged flying of the Spanish flag by
American warships. 1T created much
| comment in naval circles. Spain's pro-
test To the powers that this use of
the ilag was "cowardly and iniquitous''
was dismissed by naval officers with
| the statement that international law
writer's agreed on the right to use an
cnemy'S flag fox purpose of deceit. so
| long rs the flag is hauled down before
Il shot is fired. The United States ma
val legations make specific provision
on TINS point. The statement made by
the Spanish minister of interior that
| the government is likely To resort t.
| priv;lteerinE did not cause any appre-
| hension among officials here. 1t Is
! felt that Great Britain Germany and
! France Will have considerable to say In
case Spain resorts to privateering.
The commerce OF these countries
with the United States would suffer
! very severely by Spanish privateering.
ana its effect would be far more dis
astrnus to these foreign interests than
To the shipping OF the United States.
Commander Hemphill who has
| charge OF the naval enlistment. has
| made out a table showing that the re- !
cent recruiting of the navy has swelled
| that branch of the service to G,729
The following are some of the states
! from which recruits have been secured:
| Virginia, 255: North Carolina, 95! South
Carolina, 1856; Georgia, II; Florida, l13
| The French government has taken
| opportunity to pay graceful compll-
mcnt to this country by informing the
| French embassy that an artist has
! been instructed to make i copy of the
| famous picture OF The Battle OF York
| town" which is one of the priceless
| treasures of the French national gal
lcry at Versailles, to be sent to the EN-
bassy at Washington.
| AS to the allegation that the block
| AIDE is Ineffective. il is said that on
| The contrary II has been singularly sue
| cesStul, and that So far as known not
Il single ship subject to detention has
passed the lines without the consent
| Of oar government.
The AInntserrat. it is true. did enter
| Cenfuegas harbor before our blockad
| ing ships had time to get around the
south side Of Cuba and establish the
| blockade and she did manage 10 get
ont at night But she is a Spanish
| ship and Spain is perhaps the only ma
| ton in the world that has lost the pow
| er to enter protest against a block
ade being a combatant herself 1t is
only for neutral powers to enter such
| protests ana none of these has as yet
the slightest preteNt for such action.
With the beginning of the present week
| ali Spanish vessels in United States
ports which sailed after the outbreak
| of war. are subject to seizure, as we'll
| as all Spanish merchantment found on
| the high seas, save where they left
ports of the United States before April
Fl last.
The Presidents proclamation of war
allowed such ships lying in our ports
| or bound for them thirty days in which
| to discharge cargo. and also ensured
them safe passage home. That period
| of time expired Sunday night. This
| 1t is expected. Will tend to free the
Under the energetic management of
Captain Bartlett. who was recalled
| from the retired list into the service
| of the Navy Department for the pur-
pose. there has just been effected a
| most admtra bl\ and thorough system
of coast signalling for war purposes.
| The Navy Department itself estab-
| lished thirty stations on the coast
| manned by nava! mlitiamen. Then it
called into service 1000 lighthouse en-
I I An
| ing Il total force of over 5000 men, who
| patru! the great shore line from Bar
| Harbor to Galveston night and day.
and in all WeatherS. watching for the
| approach of an enemy or for signal
| from any passing United States war
! ship.
II has been arranged that all Of these
watchers can communicate in the
! course of a few minutes with tele-
| xralsh or telephone line and all center
| In the Office of Captain Bartlett in the
! Navy Department, who is thus prepar-
| I'd te, give the war board instant notice
! II eny significant ship movements on
! the coast. 1t is said at the Navy De
partment that it will be at least i've
| Jays before the Monterey can be start
I'd on her long journey from san Fran :
cisco for Manila. the delay being on &C
count of the preparations that must be
made for the very exceptional service
required of the vessel.
Captain j. S. Petit. Fifth Infantry.
and Lieutenant II. II. Sergeant Sec
ond Cavalry. who We're recently appoint
| ed colonies of independent regiments
| Of volunteers, to be composed OF I'M
munes. are now making arrangements
| for the organization Of their resiments.
| captain Petit will recruit his regiment
| from residents of the District of Co
| lrmhia. Maryland. Virginia West Vir-
ginia and North Carolina. and Lieu
| tenant Sergeant will secure his in Ala
| bama and Mississippi. ~ o."
! PRESENTED WITH INSIGNIA.
| (By Telegrupho
| MADRID. May 23.-The grand cor