The record-union., 1898-03-11

WASHINGTON, March 10. - The
yet acquired a single additional ship
for the navy. This is true. not because
Of a lack of offers of warships from
abroad. but simply for the reason that
the Navy Department is proceeding
with all the circumspection consistent
with the needs of the case in looking
after the qualities and prices of the
craft. There is a strong disposition 20
refrain from being drawn into bad bar
gains. and to insist upon getting good
vessels at prices not extortionate.
Secretary Long was in receipt of q
large number of cablegrams to-day, al
most all relating to offers of ships.
Lieutenant Niblack. the United States
naval attache at Berlin. st. Petersburg
and Vienna. is particularly active in
the quest of vessels.
There was a good deal of talk dur
ing the day about assignment of officers
to the command of the auxiliary cruis-
ers. the ST Paul and st. Louis being
especially mentioned but Secretary
Long set these stories at rest by the
statement that he had not made any
such assignments, and had only pro-
gressad to the point of informing him
self of the position of getting the ships
differed and manned quickly.
REPAIRS ON OLD VESSELS.
While looking after new ships, the
officials OF the Navy Department are
not neglecting the old vessels, and ar
engagements have been made to make
short repairs on several ships that in
ordinary course would not be treated
in that fashion. but would receive a
thorough and time-consuming over
hauling Thus. in the case of the
Philadelphia. which has had five years
hard work. and has never yet been gone
over, as is the custom, orders have
gone q Mare Island to put her IN
shape for sea within forty days. The
yorktown. at the same time, is not to
be touched at present. not only because
she is not so formidable craft as to
make it desirable to divert to her re-
pair attention required elsewhere.
Al Norfolk the Newark is set down
for thirty days repairs. and as a
good deal of the work has already been
done on her, she will be almost new
ship when she comes out of the yard
The big monitor Puritan has practi-
cally completed her repairs. The mon
itor Comanche. at Mare Island, has
been examined and found in tolerable
condition.
AT League Island the monitor Man
tonomah and the ram Katahdin went
into commission to-day, although they
have not yet had their orders. They
probably will remain in the Delaware
River or drop down into the bay
day from Mobile To attach herself again
TO the fiotila at Key West
NO WORD FROM THE COURT.
Again 1t was said at the Navy De-
from the Court of Inquiry at Havana
nor from Admiral Sicard at Key West
SENSATIONAL STORIES DENIED.
The presence in the city of persons
connected with steamship lines and
steel works led to the circulation of a
number of sensational stories during
the day. but perhaps none of these had
the persistency of one that found cur
rency at the Capitol until it met with
a summary denial at the hands OF
Assistant Secretary Day. TO the effect
that Minister Woodford had notified the
Spanish Government that the President
intended TO send to Congress a mes
sage announcing his recognition OF Gu
ban independence.
NAVAL. MACHINISTS WANTED
Commander Hawley left this evening
for the South with Chief Engineer
Webster and Surgeon Parsons. TO en-
lists niachinists for the navy. Durins