The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-05-17

WASHINGTON, u. q, May 16.-An
order posted this morning and signed
By Secretary Long relative to the pub.
reaton OF news enanating from the
u,yy department had the effect to-day
o. considerably curtailins the supply Of
Information that heretofore has been
rather freely given out Tho secretary's
order was directed to Captain Crownin-
shield, chic. Of the navigation bureau,
sna he In turn gave It effect by making
m order In his own name that no per-
son connected with his bureau in any
capacity should have any conversation
whatever upon subjects IN any way per-
talr!ng TO the navy, with representa-
lives Of the press. AS an Offset. 1t was
ordered that bulletins Of such facts as
have actually occurred and are proper
for publication and are not connected
with existing or projected movements,
shall be prepared and posted on the bull
,stln board. The sum total OF the In
formation published by the bulletin
board to-day, under this rule was a
notice OF intention 10 start the Philip
pine relief expedition and OF the permis-i
sion given to some foreign neutral yes
sels 10 pass the blockade at Havana.
Papers laeklngd" Pntr.osi.,n.
In explanation OF the issue Of this or
der, the naval authorities say that some
o, the leading American newspapers
have been SO Far. lacking in patriotism
GO TO print plans of campaign and pro-
,ected movements Of naval ships with
the result that the war board has been
obliged TO completely revise its plans In
the knowledge that the Spaniards had
promptly taken notice OF the publica-
tons and were prepared to profit by
them. Complaint was made TO Secre-
tary Long that the newspapers were
working injury to the government in
such cases.
1t Is not the purpose of the secretary
10 prevent the press having any infor-s
nation that Is not calculated to cause a
miscarriage Of the plans OF the depart
lmeIt. but It remains to be seen whether
the naval officers to whom the order has
been directed will not by their lronclad
Interpretation ofltibring about a modl-
fcation In the interest of llberaltty.
: Certain Vessels Admitted TO havana.
The opening Of the blockade at Havana
to certain vessels is a rather curious
proceeding that may lead to very con-
Siderable widening Of the blockade it
sell, so that In the end the neutral ves-
ses not loaded with contraband or sup,
piles, the carrying OF which into Havana
would interfere with the naval and mil.
!Iy operations lafd down by the
United States may pass. The
statement that the navy de-
par.ment stlll hopes to make an
exchange Of prisoners at an early day
SHOWS that the mission, of the Uncas
Yesterday, was by no means q complete
failure, as has been stated.
Inc troops going to Manila are to be
prepared for SIX months stay. accord
ing TO the number OF rations furnished,
l'l@'o0o. and preparations for their de-
pasture are being pressed with the
greatest energy. The Charleston should
Gave sailed to-day from San Francisco.
:, Inc marlnes who have been lying in
hey West harbor on board the Panther
t"eNtrlns under seml-tropical sun are
70 oe transferred to q more comfortable
vessel, the Resoiute. which will easily
''commodate the 500 men aboard.
Blanco'a Ammunition Short.
limitations have been received here
maj Captain General Blanco, at Haya-
M is very short of ammunition, in
which case the powerful batteries at the
ehaanc. Of Havana harbor would be
u.pfiFea OF a large part OF their defen-
.Ne strength. This state Of affairs may
aa 10 some desperate attempts at
SSIoekade running on tho part Of the
spaniards IN the hopes of getting more
ammuntion,into Havana. It 10 believed
ha' the supplies SO frequently referred
W ae being on the Spanish flying squad
.on were OF this character, rather than
!o9a supplies, which makes 1t all the
sose s Important that Sampson and
sshi.y should succeed IN keeping Ad-
n!Fal Csryera from reaching Hayana
Commodore. schley probably IS well
uo"n on the Florida coast now and
shouia be able 10 guard the Florida
nals Dy Tomorrow or next day. His
appeafance on that side of Cuba would
..I4. Soie sampson 10 bring his ironcllds
,h r.'h Perfect safety into Cienfuegos on
we south side, and with this disposition
our naval for0, and the FREQ use OF q
considerable number of our scouting
,.es'..s' II Is hard to see how the Span
sy'e a Heet can escape fram the gulf Of
aex'co or the Caribbean sea.
Rstter Armor Plates.
me navy department IS getting q bet.
'eF quality OF arrnor as the contracts
sa'or' A A13-inoh plate tested at Indian
mead Saturday, with 1o-inch gun,
showed Itself 10 be equal o. superior TO
amy my piece Of armor that has ever been
! et: We ior with the highest velocity at
io nr,s. 'eet per second. the shot penetrated
M my WE'VE Inches, without cracking
bs sIM' nale' II was the very last piece to
osS S,eI:ersd under the existing contract,
-"r ~. u intended for the Kentucky.
n,.ae ns war department rushed ahead its
aeparanons for the mobilization and
naS, ahd The progress which Is being
an, ~, is most gratifying. The import
t.s.e development OF the day was the
Ssrr Shs selection OF the corps icomman-
ma, me announcement, however, docs
ior teh min any surprises. Though Ma
it.d general Wesley Merritt Is accred-
n,ch @ 70 tne department Of the Pacific.
Il ~" l.. destination Is made formally, but
inrJu II y hn9Wn that he Will 60 to The Phil
,yhaeS ond ,,,1 IN command OF the army there
erpi h n,i, n,h Dc accompanied by Major Gel-
L4n Le aesignhtlon OF General Fitzhush
snyn.aS aS lieutenant commander tof the
Tamna Tuta corps with headquarters at
is tp", ~ would seem to Indicate that he