The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-05-20

navy department, ndu the eHceL To-Day
Of considerably curtailing the supply
of information that heretofore has
been rather freely given out. The sec
Tetary's order was directed to Captain
Crowinshield, chief of the Navigation
bureau, and he in turn gave it effect
by making ar order in his own name
that persons connected with his bu-
Teau in any capacity should nave NJ
conversation whatever Upon subjects
in any wty pertaining to the navy
with representatives of the press. AS
an offset it was ordered that bulletins
OF such facts as ave actually occurred
n are proper for publication and are
not connected with existing or pro-
jected movements, hall be prepared
and posted on the bulletin board. The
sum total of the information published
by the bulletin board today under this
rule was a notice OF the intention to
start the philippine relief expedition,
and of the permission given to some
foreign neutral vessels to pass the
blockade at Havana.
In explanation Of the issue of the Or
der the naval authorities say that
o4lI vi IL III III IlCdll llt ~
pers, have been so far lacking in patri-
otism as to print plans Of campaigns
and projected movements of naval
ships, with the result that the war
board has been Obliged to completely
revise it's plans, in the knowledge that
the Spaniards had promptly taken no
fice of the publications and were pre-
pared to profit by them. complaint
was made to Secretary Long that the
newspapers We're working injury to
the government in such cases. 1t is
mot the purpose of the secretary to
prevent the press having any infOrma-
ition that is not calculated to cause a
miscarriage of the plans of the de-
partment.
The opening of the blockade at Ha-
Vana to certain vessels is a rather Gu
rious proceeding hat may lead to a
very considerable widening of the
blockade itself, so that in the end the
neutral vessels not loaded with con-
traband or supplies, the earring of
which into Havana would interfere
with the naval and military operations
of our government, may pass the
blockade under suitable regulations
laid down by the United States.
The statement that the navy depart
ment still hopes to make am exchange
of priconerS at an early day shows
that the mission of the Uncas yester-
Noy q Wy III 1lANoAlo SL ibA
ure, as has been stated.
The troops going to Manila are to be
prepared for "a six months stay, &C
cording to the number Of ratiOnS fur
nished, q, 160,O0O) and preparations for
their departure are being pressed
with the greatest energy. The
Charleston should have sailed today
from Sam Francisco.
The marines who have been lying in
Key West harbor on board the Pan
ther, sWeltering under a Semi-trOpi-
cal sun, are to be transferred to a
more comfortable vessel, the Resolute,
which will easily accommodate the
500 men aboard.
BLANCO SHORT OF AMMUNITION.
Intimations have been received here
that Captain Genral Blanco at Ha-
wanna is very short of ammunition in
which case the powerful batteries at
the entrance of Havana harbor, of
course, would be deprived of a large
part of their defensive strength. This
state of affairs may lead to some des-
perate attempts at running
on the part of the Spaniards in the
hope of getting more ammunition into
Havana. 1t is believed that this
condition makes it all the more Inn
portant that Sampson and Schley
should succeed in keeping Admiral Ce-
vera from reaching Havana or Glen
fuegos, or any portion of Cuba con-
nected with " by rail. Commo-
dore Schley probobly is we'll down ON
the FLORIDA coast now and should be
able to guard the Florida straits by
tomorrow or next day. His appearance
ON that side-of Cuba would enable
to bring his iron clads with
perfect safety to Cfenfuegos on the
south side and with this disposition or
our naval force and the free use OF a
considerable number OF our scouting
vessels it is hard to see how the Span
ish fleet can escap from the gull or
Mexico or the sea.
FINE ARMfoR PLATE.
MT navy department is getting a
better quality of armor as the con-
tracts expire. A 1S-inch plate tested
at Indian Head Saturday with a ~
inch gun showed itself to be equal or
superior to any piece Of armor that
has ever been made. for with the
highest velocity at 1915 feet per sec
ond, the shot penetrated only twelve
inches without cracking the plate. 1t
was the very last piece to be devised
under the existing contract and 1t is
sntended for the Kentucky.
CORPS COMMANDERS DESIGNA-
TED.
The war department rushed ahead
ats preparations for the mobilization
and thorough equipment of the volun-
teer army and the progress which is
being made is most gratifying. The
development of h day was the def
mite selection OF the corps
ers. Though Major General wesley
Merritt is accredited to h depart
ment Of the Pacific UGH designation is
made formally, but 1T Dis known that ne
will go to the Philippines i'm command
of the army there and will be accom-
panied by Major General Otis. The
designation of Genera Fitzhugh Lee
as commander of the Seventh corps,
with headquarters at Tampa would