The herald., 1898-03-29

at the navy yard. which Will be the center
Of his future operations. His duties re
specting the selection of craft for the fieeI
| are exactly tho same as those performed
for the board. which for the past tws
weeks has been engaged in the inspection
Of merchant vessels for the auxiliary de-
tense preliminary to their purchase by the
navy department. The commander and
his assistants Will visit various places
along the. coast and will communicate by
letter with persons and firms owning smsll
craft with a view 20 determining just how
many are available and at what price the
| owners would sell or charter them to the
government. AS far as practicable 1t is the
intention Of the department that th re
shall be a separate set of ships for the de-
tense of the sea coast cities, the whole tc
compose the Mosquito Fleet"
In the event of necessity for rendezvous
of several of these local fleets 1t can be ar
ranged. The primary idea is for each local
| fleet to form the mobile defense Of the par
ticular city where it is made up. The bu-
reau of ordnance will be called into service
to assist in furnishing the armament for
the vessels. and in the event of war naval
officers will be assigned to the command OF
each of the several local fleets.
The big naval fleets in the vicinity Of
Key West received an important addition
today In the arrival of the cruiser Cinc'n-
nati and the gunboats Wilmington and
Castine, which were at Port Antonio, Ja-
maica, when last heard from. The Cinc!n-
natl and Castine comprised the recent
South Atlantic squadron and were called
home several weeks ago. These vessels
are believed to be in excellent condition for
active service and will be retained at Key
West for the present. Owing to her great
speed, the Cincinnati will probably be add
ed to the Flying Squadron in case it s
| deemed advisable to enlarge that fleet.
SEARCHING FOR SHIPS
| BERLIN, March 2S.-Lieutenant Com
mander Niblack, Omitted States naval at
tache. has returned here from Kiel. 1t
is understood that he has conditiOnally
purchased for the United States govern
mept protected cruiser building at the
Germania yards, for South American
government and that he is considering the
purchase of a vessel building at the Voss
yards at Hamburg.
LOYAL VETERANS
WASHINGTON, March 2S-Adjutant
General Corbn received telegram today
from Generals Schofield. Howard and Nc
Cook, a committee representing the Ma
tional Volunteer reserve. as follows:
Speak well of and support our great
union movement of northern and southern
veterans, forever putting aside the shadow
of sectionalism, strengthening the presi-
l1, dc 1onlo lo,is, kA Grvr 70
and loyalty of the people to the nation.
Urge all newspapers throughout the coun-
try to publish enrolment blanks The
National Volunteer Reserve movement will
have all the effect of the presidents call
ing out volunteers, and this without ex-
pense to the government or creating too
much feeling as an act Of war;
PAINTING THE SHIPS
KEY WEST, March 2S-By nightfall the
ships in the harbor except the Cincinnati
were painted lead color from water fine
to smokestack top. The inside Will be fin
ished tomorrow. The Wilmington will
leave for Jacksonville. and the Montgom-
cry for Hampton Roads before night. The
Associated Press bulletin regarding the
cabinets action was read here with the
greatest eagerness. Copies were taken
out to the warships and posted in the mess
rooms.
THE FLYING SQUADRON
PHILADELPHIA, March 2s.-The U. g..
cruiser Columbia left League Island navy
yard for Hampton Roads at 3:l5 o'clock
this afternoon. Her departure was barren
of any ceremony. but the wharves at the
navy yard were crowded with citizens, who
cheered as she got under way. She steam
ed slowly down the river and at nightfall
reached Deep Water Point, where she
anchored for the night.
+. MADRID ADVICES
MADRID, March 2S.-(Midnight. )-United
States Minister Woodford had an import
ant conference tonight with Senior Gullon,
the foreign minister, and communicated to
him an extract from the American board
of inquiry into the Maine disaster.
Tomorrow General Woodford will con-
fer with the premier, Senior %agasta, and
Seniors Gullon and Moret, the foreign and
colonial ministers. The latest election re-
turns show that 1872 Ministerialists, 46
Conservatives, seven Romeraists, Is Re-
publicans and three Carlists have been
elected.
Advices from Havana show that four
Autonomists and two Conservatives have
been returned.
WORKMEN WANTEDi
VALLEJO, Cal, March 2S-Work on the
Charleston is greatly delayed owing to the
trouble experienced in securing sufficient
working force to complete the repairs
mapped out for that vessel. Requisitions
for additional workmen are issued daily
but the force is not yet sufficient to accom-.
plish the work within the the required time,
and it will be April 18th before the vessel
is ready for sea. She will be transferred to
the Atlantic coast.
Work on the Yorktown will not be COM
menced in earnest until after the compile
ton of the Charleston, the entire force of
workmen being devoted to the repairs on
the latter vessel.
Orders have been received to paint the
vessels black.
Instructions have been received to ship
east at once all the six, three and one
Guiding those of the Philadelphia, York.
town Of Pensacola. The shipment viii
require three cars.
FIGHTING IN CUBA
HAVANA, March 2S-The Bache, with
Captain Chadwick, sailed for Key West
shortly after o'clock this afternoon.
1t is reported at the palace that General
Fuentes reached Malta, province of San
tiago de Cuba, last Thursday after severe
gagement took place near Matias, where.
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