The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-08-20
GREAT FLEET OF WARSHIPS.
.,vpNTy OF AMERICAN NAVY TO
pE~DEZVOUS AT FIT. MONROE.

viii Be the Greatest Aggregation of
Marine Ever known in An Ameri-
unrbOr-ships to Be Put In
r,.o-ouah Misunderstanding Dock
- ue Taken to Pensacola When
sertember's Gales Are Pnst-AIany
,.,-,I Vessels to BE Conferred in
na West IndIes-AuthOrities Stin
,roiting Gen. MerrItt's Report of
Casualties.
8 raebipqton. Aug. 1s.-One of the largest
4 s..t of warships ever assembled in an
q ,,erican port will be brought together
q j.. me next few days at Fort Monroe.
ureadv ffty-seven warships are under
oriers to rendezvous there, and the orders
sm to be issued will raise the total TO
q ne neighborhood of seventy.
Il Naval officials say it is difficult to real
& T.. tbt extent Of such a marine aggre-
81 ,,ton in one harbor. Those included in
Il n.5av's orders are the Newport, Rodgers
s 1sbanon. Wompatuck, Morris, Gwin, Lam
4 ,sster Machias, Osceola, Peoria, Massas-
, Sioux. Cheyenne, Waban, Chicka-
s,u Helena. Detroit and Yankton.
4 These aud the ships previously ordered
81 ere mainly small craft, although there are
number of large cruisers and gunboats
asuding the san Francisco, Helena, De-
r,t Topeka. Marietta and Castine.
The movement of these ships northward
& s1ue 10 the close of hostilities, and more
.ricularlv to the desire to get the ships
,7av from points of possible fever in
stion They will now be put in thorough
rair and their crews gradually viii be
eanged from naval militiamen to sailors
dthe regular navy.
The navy department has not yet deter
mined what ships will go to Havana, San
ran and other points in Cuba and Porto
R-o There is felt to be no hurry about
ns until the authority of the United
sstes is fully established throughout the
a sands
In the meantime the matter of policing
s he shore points is being considered and
r due time a number of the light ,draught
n axHiary craft and some of the single
mueted monitors will be used for this
coast patrol. II is found, however, that
only four of the old monitors of the civn
war are fit for this service in Southern
waters
As many naval vessels will be centered
4 bout the West Indies from this time for
Fard the navy department will send The
& INV floating dock, recently bought in New
s Drk down the coast to Pensacola, Fla,
mere 1t viii be kept for docking war
81 aps. AT that point also there are good
nyal workshops to be used in conjunc-
81 ION with the floating docks. The dock
"a tnow being cOppered and will be towed
70 Pensacola os soon as the September
pies are over.
There are few developments of import
nee in the postwar situation to-day. The
81 Hhorities are still waiting for Gen. Mer-
p nus report of the list of casualties and
l' state, war and navy departments are
htrested in knowing the exact terms on
81 FacA Manila was surrendered-wheth
tf city alone, or If all the Philippines
81 ssre included.
I was stated by officials that nothing
~utional on this point had been received
10 Jhe close of office hours to-day.
Toe efforts to restore the Manila cable
aaunue. but they have not proved sue
tsful thus far.
Neither the state department nor the
sech embassy has received word that
Ean has chosen her military commits
s0lers Tor Cuba and Porto Rico and some
%uot is expressed as to the accuracy of
W. names given in London press advices.
F names given in these reports are
-se ct Spanish generals and admirals
s stationed in Cuba and Porto Rico,
Smat II the names are correct, no time
VII Dc lost in bringing the commissioners
q sgether
Inc understanding here is that the ses-
s..,. VIVA begin al Havdna and San Juan
N0lt the first week in September.