The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-24
AT THE NAVY DEPARTMENT.
No Information Given Ont About
Movements of Wnr Shins.


WASHINGTON, April 23.--It is very hard
TO secure from the naval authorities any
information regarding the movement of
squadrons or individual ships. Secretary
Long has reasoned that if he undertakes
10 answer questions of this character, even
though they may not be of Importance,
such shrewd and correct differences might be
drawn from his refusal to answer other
questions that the enemy might profit
thereby. The Navy Department is prepared
to take immediate advantage of any action
of Congress in the direction of providing
for coal depots. 1t has already outlined
plans for the establishment of such depots
and has asccrtained the feasibility of stock
ing them at very short notice.
The attitude of the British government on
the question of making coal contraband is
awaited with keen interest in naval circles.
Operating on the south of Cuba as our
ships must necessarily do If anything like
a complete blockade is to be maintained.
the problem of supplying them with coal is a
question of the greatest Importance. This
may be done extensively and with uncer-
tainty, owing to the danger of forage by the
enemys ships, through the use of steam
golfers sent from the United States. 1t
IS highly desirable, however, that in an
emergency our ships may have the oppor-
tunity to draw on some of the British coal
supply in the West Indies 1T is believed,
however. owing to the guarded manner in
which Mr. Balfour replied to the direct ques-
tion as to governments making coal contra
band that Great Britain will adopt middle
course. She will probably refuse to allow
one of the war ships of the combatants to
take on a full supply of coal at any British
- -
will allow any such ships arriving at her
ports short of coal to take on a supply sufii-
Gent to take them to their next port, thus
applying the common rule of neutrality.
The decision of the British government
that the Spanish cruiser Audaz now under
repairs at Queenstown cannot be detained
under the neutrality laws is not without
some benefit TO the United States. inasmuch
as we now have the torpedo boat Somers,
just purchased from Germany, in dock at
Falmouth. England, repairing damages sus-
tanned in the passage over from Germany.
There was some fear she would be subject
&c detention.
Lieut. Commander Cowles. who ran the
Fern back and forth between Havana and
Key West during the exciting days succeed
ing the Maine disaster has been assigned to-
command the Topeka. Lieut. Commander
Winslow takes command OF the Fern in
place of Captain Cowles. being detached
The Navy Department is fully aware of
the whereabouts of the battle ship Oregon
and the gunboat Marietta, but for pruden-
tial reasons the officials positively decline
20 say where the vessels are, whether or
not they have been ordered back to San
Francisco or to make any statement re-
speeding them further than that they have
no apprehension for their safety. 1t is
known that the department has taken steps
70 have the commander of the Oregon met
by friends and warned of the outbreak of
hostilities and the presence of the Spanish
gunboat Temarario in the path of the war
Nhip on her way TO the North Atlantic
station.
The secretary of the navy has sent TO the
House committee on naval affairs an urgent
request for immediate action on a Joint
resolution he submits, creating a United
States auxiliary naval force for coast de-
Tense.
The Navy Department was considerably
excited to-day over a vast number of ru-
ing the seizure of ships. At the close of the
DAY Secretary Long said that he had a
notice Of only one seizure so far that of
the Buena Ventura, already reported It
has not yet been determined what DISPOSE
ton to make of this ship nor has ii been de-
ctaed to order her before prize court. No
purchases of ships were made during the
day, but all the energies Of the department
are bent toward the speedy equipment of
those already acquired. IL is not believed
that any official notice has been received
by the department concerning the blockad-
ing squadron. although rigid adhesion to
the Eule OF not giving any news as to- the
knowledge Of any such dispatch from Leak
Word came during the day In the shape
of = cable from Martinique that the Span