The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-08-20

Washington, ID. c., August 19.-One of
the largest fleets of warsnips ever as
sembled in an American port will be
brought together in the next few days
at Fortress Monroe, Va. Already fifty
seven warships are under orders to rem
devious there, and the orders still to be
issued will raise the total to the neigh
borhood of seventy. Naval officers say
it is difficult to realize the extent of
such marine aggregation In one haf-
bor These included in today's orders
are the Newport, Rodgers, Lebanon.
Wampatuck Morriss, Gwin, Lancaster.
Machias, Osceoa, Peoria, Massasoii,
Sioux, Cheyenne, Waban, ChickasaW,
Helena, Detroit, Aldy. These ships pre-
siously ordered are mainly small craft,
although there are number OF large
cruisers and gunboats, including the San
Francisco, Helena, Detroit. Topeka
Marietta and Castinc. The movement OF
these ships hortward is due 10 the close
of hostilities and more particularly to
the desire TO get the ships away from
points of possible fever infection. They
will now be put in thorough repair, and
from naval militiamen to sailors of the
regular navy.
The Navy Department has not yet de-
termined what ships shall go to Ha-
vana. San Juan and other points i'll
Cuba and Porto Rico. There is felt
TO be no /, hurry about this until the
authority of the United States is fully
established throughout the islands. In
the meantime the matter of policing the
shore points is being considered and IN
due time a number of the light drought
auxiliary craft and some of the single
turreted monitors will be used for this
coast patrol. 1t is found however, that
only four of the old monitors of the
Civil War are fit for this service IN
Southern waters.
AS many naval vessels will be centered
about the West Indies from this time
forward, the Navy Department will send
the new floating dock, recently bought III
New York. down the coast to Pensacola,
Fla, where it will be kept for docking
the warships. At that point also there
are good naval workshops to be used
in conjunction with the floating dock.
The dock is now being coppcred, and will
be towed to Pensacola as soon as the
September gales are over
There were few developments Of inn
portance in the postwar situation to-
day. The authorities are still waiting
for General Merritts report of the list
of casualties and the State, War and
Navy Departments are interested in
knowing the exact terms on which
Manila was Observation-Disclosures the
city alone. or if all the Philippines were
included It was stated by officials that
nothing additional on this point had been
received MP to the close of office hours
to-day. The efforts to restore the Ma
Mia cable continue. but they have not
proved successful thus far. The claims
made in Madrid that the protocol, ana
not the capituatOn, controls the statu,
of affairs in the Philippines. will not be
discussed byi the State Department Off
Gals. The Madrid discussion is looked
upon as rather academic, as it is taken
for granted that claims will be made
on both sides. and that the Paris trbu-
nal will be the final arbitcr Of the
case.
Neither the State Department nor the
French Embassy has received word that
Spain has chosen her military commissions
for Cuba and Porto Rico, and some
doubt is expressed as to the accuracy OF
the names given in London press ad-
vices. The names given i'll these re-
ports are those of Spanish generals and
admirals now stationed In Cuba and
Porto Rico. so that if the names are
correct. no time will be lost in bringing
the commissioners together The uil-
derstanding here is that the sessions VIII
begin ut Havana and San Juan about
the first week in September.