Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-04-14
A STIRRING DAY.
Great Activity al the War and Navy
Departments.
WAR PREPARATIONS RUSHED.
An Added Secrecy and RetlCtnCs On The
Part Of Officials.
ST. LOUIS And ST. PAUL PURCHASED
Captain SisSb6O Probably 10 C0mmana
One Of Ihtm.
| YORKTOWN NAY BE BOUGHT,
Old Dominion Steamer Spoken OF lOr
Auxiliary Cruiser.
GEN. LEE CALLED In CONFERENCE.
He Gives Strategic Board Much InlOIma'
tim Ab0Dt Hah9la DateDGeS.
Old Dominion Steamer Spoken OF for
Auxiliary Cruiser.
len. LEE CALLED IN CONFERENCE.
He Gives Strategic Board Much InlOIma-
tiOn About Habala DsteuCoS.
DEPARTURE or FLYING SQUADRON.


WASHINGTON. April l&.--Ihis was
day of stirring activity at the Navy ana
War departments. Anticipating decisive
action by Congress. the machinery OF tho
military and naval branches OF the gov
eminent was early put in motion, and
events of grave Significance followed In
quick succession. In every bureau tho
work of preparation went on with an en-
thusiasm and rush that were in marked
contrast to the lethargy that had charac-
terized the big granite building since Nom
day. With 1t all. there was an added Sc
crecy and reticence on the part of oiii-
cials to discuss the warlike movements.
The first event to become known was
the acquisition by the Navy Department.
Of the American Line steamships st.
Louis and 81. Paul. and coupled with this
announcement came the Information that
in all probability Captain Sigsbee would
be placed I'm command OF one and Cap
tain Goodrich Of the other
LEE CONSULTED.
Early in the forenoon the naval strate-
gic board went into session, and called
Consul-General Lee into conference. Tho
session was long, and devoted to \
thorough discussion of offensive and de-
fensive movements in Cuban waters. Gem
eral Lee being able 70 give the board
much valuable information regarding the
defences Of Habaua.
Crowding closely upon the heels Of these
events was the news that the dying
| squadron had raised anchor and put 10
sea. This fact caused intense excitement
| in ali quarters, and finally elected the Of
/ hoial statement that the squadron had
merely gone TO sea for a short practice
/ cruise There was evident anxiety on the
! part of naval officials fsf news Of tho
Spanish fleet, but up 10. a late hour no.
! thing had been received OF any movement
i'm that quarter. II was rumored that
the Spanish vessels at Porto Rico had
sailed, but this could not be confirmed.
At the War Department various details
attendant upon the prearranged plans
Tor moving the troops were put in shape.
but matters in this regard are 30 well in
hand that no nov orders were issued.
SAILING OF SCHLEY'S SQUADRON
DESPITE the utmost precaution IL de-
veloped shortly before noon that the ily-
| Ing squadron mad been ordered 20 move
! from Hampton Roads. ne first report
| was that the squadron would sail under
| sealed orders. going south. and OCCASION
| cd much excitement.
| Appreciating the deep significance that
| was likely TO be- attached 10 the move, a
quieting and cautionary semi-ofhcial
statement was made that the squldron
would go out for a practice cruise OF for-
ty-eight hours
THE YORKTOWN MAY BE BOUGHT
Probably the most significant action OF
the Navy Department was the issue 0l
instructions 10 the Naval Auxiliary
Board at New York. for the immediate
purchase of the ocean greyhounds -
Paul and ST. Louis, of the American
Line: the purchase of another hrst-clas'
auxiliary cruiser probably the YORK
town. Of the Old Dominion Line a.d th'
uurchase OF the Brazilian cruiser Nicthc
! roy. The Iast-named vessel Is ABOUT t'
be inspected. and the result VIII deter
\
| the United states navy.
The purchase OF the ST. Paul and the
ST. Louis is probably the most eNpen
sive transaction contaminated by th'
Navv Department since the beginning ol
> the war excitement. The amount paid f9l
them is an official secret but IL knowf
TO be somewhere in Jhc neishborhood o
jOoJVG.
Tho report made by the Rogers AuNili
,ry Board fOr the armamcnt OF these
steamers provides for TWO 6-inch rapid
fire and ten 5-inch rapid-fre guns Tor th'
main battery and FOR twelve o-incl
poupders for the secondary battery. TIT
steering gear Of these vessels. as wei
as their magazines. viii be protected -
belt of coal With rush work the vcssel
will be I'm readiness tor service ia aDou
thirty days.
CONFERENCE WITH LEE.
e Another event was the conference. last
lng over an hour between COnsul-Genera
Lee and the Naval Strategic Board. com
% posed OF Assistant. Secretary Roosevelt
; Rear-Admiral Walker Ueured), capital
: ! Caspar r. Goodrich. Of the Naval wa
/ College: Commander Richardson Clover
and Captain CrOwinshleld. Chict OF IN
Bureau OF Navigation. Although the pro
| ceedings were secret. IL Is known tina
| they fDIdteN NANlpnk hAt'fi9 " Wv Hs-s'
tary defcnces OF Cuba. and especially Z
the works at Habana. General Lee
education and experience naturally CAV
much weight to his observations and h
was questioned IN detail as 10 the arma
mcnt OF ;ho forts at Habana. the s'feHS'
OF the land-batterles, and other points v
military Importance that has ressdene
% had given him knowledge or
. The board discussed thoroughly the 90
. tire question OF offensive ana seiensv
, movements In the neigsborhood OF Cubs
Z in the light OF the information "hie
2 General Lee was able TO imparI
z prior 70 the moseng Of the Stratesl
h Board. General Lee was hair an hour
a conference with Assistant-Secretory ia
!, In the latters office.
\ MOBILIZATION OF TROOPS.
2 Signs Of activity for what now appeal
x To an approaching conflict are noticed
D the War Department.
3 orders have been issued for the imm
2 date mobilization OF practically the el
" NJ. f.r.a - fia government