The New York herald., 1873-11-16
TIE MATTER In WASHINGTON.
why We Had No Ships OF War in Cuban
Waters when the Butcheries Took
Placc-rhe State Department Diplom-
acy and the Presldent.

Placc-The State Department Diplom-
acy and the Presldent.
WASHINGTON. Nov. 15. 1873.
TO the discredit Of Congress- the parslmonious re-
trenchers for electoneering purposes 1t can be
said that when the first news OF the execution OF
the persons on board the virgnius was received
here the government oficiaIs were actua,iy pvwer-
squadron was in Cuban or West Indian waters
The Spanish naval commanders knew this, and it
is said by naval oficlals who know exactly the
methods OF warfare resorted to by the Spanish
government that the seizure OF the virginius was
made without fear OF intervention.
DISPOSITION OF THE NORTH ATLANTIC SQUADRON.
During the time OF the massacre the following
was the disposition OF the vessels assigned to the
North Atlantic squadron
The Worcester, the flagship Of the squadron,
was in the dock at Norfolk, receiving new pro-
peller Of four blades in place or one OF two
blades-the latter having been put on to
save coal when the government was
"cutting down expensesn-on the ground
speed Of the vessel Experiments have since
shown the fallacy Of this idea, and the Worcester
win leave Norfolk on Monday for Cuban waters
with a four blade propeller capable OF making
eleven knots an hour. With this detention the
present Secretary OF the Navy has nothing to do.
In the next place, the Powhattan absolutely
needed REPAIRS which compelled the government
to send her to the Brooklyn Navy Yard about elec-
tion time. The Richmond, formerly OF the North
Atlantic squadron, is now en- route for the South
Pacific feet. The Canandaigua is still at Phila-
delphia, The Wyoming is at Aspinwall, the
Shawmut at Washington, the Nipsic at New York;
the Pawnee is q hospital ship at Key West
and the iron clad Saugus is at the same
port. This was the condition OF the North Allan.
tic squadron at the time of the Santiago de Cuba
burcheries, about which the State Department Is
very indignant, especially in view OF the protest,
not to the Spanish government, but to the Navy
Department. through the President, four years
ago. that If there were too many OF our naval ves-
sells In Cuban waters they would excite suspicion,
create dstrust and prevent the Secretary Of State
from easily and TRANQUILITY disposng OF the pend
ing important questions.
THE PRESIDENT AND THE STATE DEPARTMENT..
mo one can be more easily imposed upon than
Nesident Grant, provided he has confidence in the
man who attempts it. He has confidence in the
Secretary Of State, and the Secretary OF
State knows to what advantage he has
trusted him, now that atrocious butcheries
have taken place, which even the Sec
retary OF state dares not apologize for. And,
more than Judge Advocate General cares to have
laid to his charge, he is anxious to appear as a
martyr to pubic opinion. 1t comes back to the
Overconfdence Of the President. who having no
private purpose to serve particular interest to
promote, believes implicitly what the Secretary OF
State lays before him, and yields to the argument
OF the State Department. whenever it says "You
do not understand diplomacy and must leave these
matters TO the fret department Of the govern
ment.u
ANOTHER ABSENTEE CONSUL
BY way Of Strengthening the case Of the United
States in the matter OF the virglnius, the United
States Consul at Kingston has furnished the State
Department with an oath that Captain Fry, OF the
virginius, whom the Consul knew to have been
an 0flicer in the Confederate army, made
oath that he was an American citizen when he
sailed from Kingston in october, and while the
Vice Consul did the oficia business Mr.. Pearne,
the United States Consul has made affidavit that
he was present and saw that it was duly trans
acted This does not help the State Department.
Mr.. Pearne will undoubtedly be tod that he
should have been ct his post, as in the
Cuba, whom the Secretary Of State said ought to
have been shot for being absent when his presence
might have saved the lives OF the virginlus party.
Those who are intimately connected with the
administration laugh at the buncombe recently
put forth. In the first place there are not men
enough in the navy to man the vessels it Is said
are fitting out, and even il enlistments could be
made, the sailors received would be wholly mex
perenced and far inferior to the skill OF the Span.
ism navy.
AN AMERICAN ENGINEERING THE TORNADO.
The engineer OF the Tornado was an American
and well known in Washington, and it was the
offer OF better pay that induced him to
leave our navy for that OF Spain. The
same influence has deprived the American
marine OF its best officers and seamen. II
the state Department should be compelled
TO admit that the Tornado first gave chase to the
virginius the high seas--as it is now believed
she did, for the Virginius had idea OF landing on
the Cuban coast on the voyage in which she was
Overhauled. as her clearance papers show, il will
worry the Cuban Secretary Of State-for
he has already semi-officially said to
be willing to turn United States' evi-
dence. 1t Is one consolation, however that there
were vessels of the United States to prevent
General Burriel from carrying out the mandates of
his superiors, otherwise the head OF the State De-
partment would not have an opportunity OF show
ing what beautiful apologies he can exact by his
vigorous protest.
THE LAST LETTER FROM RYAN
The following letter was received in this city yes
terday by General George W. Cook, an intimate
friend Of General Ryan
BLuNDELL HALL, KINGSTON, Jamaica,
Oct. %, 1873 I
NY DEAR GEoRGE-In one hour we leave for
Cuba. This Is quite unexpected as we did not ex-
pect to 90 until tomorrow, and have Just returned
from the country We arrived safely on the 18th
inst Had quite storm on the 7th. All the pro-
visions were washed overheard, and the deck
swept fore and ait. Captain Harris and the purser
we're bodily injured, and such seasick set The
captain pronounced IL the most severe hurricane
ne ever saw. For q few hours thought we would
all enjoy the novelty OF a bath in mid-ocean.
Since our arrival we have had q splendid time;
feast after feast, and ball after ball. Tne first ball
was given by the Peruvian Minister in honor OF
General Verona and myself. All the fashion and