The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-25
WHEREABOUTS OF WAR SHIPS.
Advices Received at Navy Department
No vessel Sent TO Havana.


No Vessel Sent to Havana.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 24-Much interest
is manifested in the movement of the navy.
No orders have been issued as yet for any
vessel to go to Havana to replace the
Maine. Secretary Long said some days ago
that vessel would be sent to Havana later.
and that either the Nashville or the Mont
gomery would be selected 1t can be stated
authoritatively that this is still the stua-
ton, and that no conclusion has been
reached as to when another war ship will
replace the Maine The Montgomery has
been ordered from Tampa to Key West but
her orders do not direct her to proceed far
Their.
The cruiser Cincinnati reported her ar
rival to-day at Barbados. She ran over
from Para Brazil, the reason assigned for
the trip being the desire of the department
that she should take this coal at an unin-
fected port. Barbados, it is said in fur
Their explanation, always has on hand a
large supply of excellent English navigation
coal at very moderate prices News of the
arrival of the Castine at the Barbados Is
expected at any moment, and the two ships
probably will remain cruising among the
smaller islands of the Caribbean sea until
about April /, when it is the present inten-
ton to return them to the Brazilian coast
probably to Isla Granda
The monitor Terror left Norfolk at 1918
on her way to sea under sealed orders. but
will cruise in Hampton Roads short time
The vessel had been ready for sea since
noon yesterday. On leaving the yard the
Terror was saluted by the Franklin's guns,
but did not respond. Her departure Gre
ated considerable excitement at Norfolk
and thousand people witnessed it. There
was. however, no cheering from the shore
or the decks of the vessel
The cruiser Minneapolis was successfully
hoated out of the dry dock at the League
Island navy yard, Philadelphia, at high tide
this afternoon. The floating Of the cruiser
was witnessed by nearly a thousand per-
sons. The Minneapolis has been in dry dock
since last December, partly to avoid the
ice in the river and also to have necessary
repairs made to her bottom The school
ship Saratoga will be placed in dry dock
for repairs Notwithstanding all reports to
the contrary, there is no unusual activity at
the yard beyond the extensive improve
ments that are being made to the back
channel. which is to be used as a fresh wa
ter basin for vessels of the navy. The re-
ceving ship Richmond is besieged daily by
applicants for enlistment, but very few are
being taken. Besides the Minneapolis there
are now al League Island the cruiser Co
lumbia, the monitor Miantonomoh and the
ram Katahdn, all out of commission a;
present. There are also eight old monitors
at the yard. all of them relics of the civil
war but which could be fitted up quickly
in case they were needed
1t can be stated that up to this time the
naval officials have given no thought to the
relief Of Admiral Sicard as commander i'm
chief of the naval forces on the North At
lantic station. They do not believe that his
health is seriously impaired. and it is safe
to say that no movement will be made to-
ward his relief unless a suggestion comes
first from himself. The admiral has been
in command of the squadron less than a
year, and is, by legal practice, entitled to
retain that command for another year. at
least, if he so desires 1t so happens that
none of the rear admirals on the list is re-
garded &c be in place to assume this impor-
tant command owing to the fact that they
have had their tour of sea service and are
not entitled again to fly their flags at sea,
or else they are so placed otherwise as TO
make change in their assignment unlike
ly- Admiral Bunce. for instance, is so sit
uated, heing not only in command of the
New York navy yard, an extremely impor-
tant command in ordinary times and certain
to he more 50 in case of hostilities and also
having relnquished the North Atlantic
squadron within less than year or SO as to
be ineligible for another command with
in year or two, The other admirals are
situated in about the same way so that it
is probable that the command of the squad
ron in the event that Admiral Sicard was
relieved might devolve upon one of the COM
modores, possibly Commodore Schley, now
president of the lighthouse board which
post he probably would be glad to relinquish
for such command as the North Atlantic
squadron.