New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-03
AN AGREEMENT WITH SPAIN.
THE DOLPHIN AND THE VESUVIuS
ORDERED TO FLORIDA WATERS


ORDERED TO FLORIDA WATERS
GREATER ACTIVITY IN ENFORCING THE NEO-
TRAIrTY LAWS SAID TO HAVE BEEN PROM
IsEp BY THE ADMINISTRATION IN
RETURN FOR THE EsTAB-
IJsHMENT OF reforms IN
PINAR DEL RIO.
rBY TELEGRAPH TO rRrBuNEl
Washington. Jan. Am interesting story Is
current here to-day to the effect that an unoer-
standing has been reached between the Adm'h's
tration and Spain with respect to one Important
side OF the Cuban case. The report is undoubt-
edIy true in part. and may be In whole one feat-
ure Of 1t Is that Spain is satisfied that the Prov
ince OF Pinar del Rio has been practically cleared
OF insurgents and that she purposes instituting
certain reforms in that province without deiay.
Another feature OF the story Is that the Admins
tration has agreed to increase the fleet OF naVai
vessels and revenue cutters engaged on Pauo'
duty on the Florida coast. and to snow greater
| activity in preventing the departure from 'ha'
coast Of flibusterng expeditions. The latter
portion OF the story Is based on fact TODAY
! the dynamite cruiser Vesuvius and the arneo
dispatch boat Dolphin were ordered 10 proceeu
! to Florida waters Both vessels will join the
I
Of guarding against violations Of the neutrality
laws.
OI.NEY AND DE LONE IN CONFERENCE.
Asto the report that Spain will shortly put re-
forms in force in Pnar del Rio, nothing ofhhlal
| 10 y;ven out at the State Department. There is
M Doubt that Secretary Oney and Minister de
| LONE have recently held some important con-
ferences on the Cuban question. These nave
heer private talks, and not even an MIXING Vi
| their tenor has been announced. IL is Oh COURSE
possbIe il it is not indeed likely that the propo
si,iou to institute local administrative REFORMS
in Cuba was discussed by the Secretary ana the
Minister 1t is said that within the last re" DAYS
dispatches have been sent by General Weyler 10
Madrid saying that the Province or Pinar dei Mo
is almost rid OF insurgents He mas reporter ''ia'
less than 800 rebels are now In the province
This force he Is pressing with all possible ener-
gv He has recommended that as soon as ne
drives out of the province the remaining insur-
oorts tho advisa blty of beginning local reforms
he seriously considered. 1t is in accordance with
THO recommendation according to the story, that
Spain is now on the point of acting.
| An official at the State Department. while de-
| clining to confirm or deny to-days report, saIu
that Spain had professed that 1t was her III
| tention to establish certain reforms IN Cupa'
and to put these in force when the insurgents
| .ora overcon,, "If the story you relate Is
,r,;e he said 1.-The Madrid Government may
| hive concluded as evidence or good laith'
- hooin the reforms in Pinar de, Rio at an eariy
| date | can see good reasons 10: SPIN a''
ing promptly in nauguratinS reforms IN Cupa'
| The effect on certain classes in certain secuoi'
q, the island In revolt would probably be ad-
| vantageous The tendency would be toward '"'
| development OF a more contentei spirit among
|
| 4; ,,isr,Ia A feeling OF this kind might be en-
,er,ained by many persons not in open revolt
I'M. secretlv In sympathy with the Insurgents
| As was said above. the Nesuvius ana the
| Dolphin are. to be prepared. for service o" y"
| Florida coast at once Relative 10 the olueiS ="
| the vessels IL is said that Minister de I'o'''e
| has represented to the state Department ina
| - this country Will make extraordinary e"o'''
At this time to prevent filibustering SHIPS iea'-
ing the Florida coast the OUTLOOK Ior putting
| an early end to the troubles In CuDa VIII oe
| hrieh. Senior de Lone is quoted to-uaN d.
having said thct II nlibustering can be stopped
the instruction will soon fail Tor want VI wal
.,,nr,,ss If is known that the Administration
desires that Spain should have no just cause
o., oo,rnia,rt against the United States for fall
ure In show due vigilance in carrying out the
provisions Of the neutrality laws
THE TWO VESSELS ORDERED TO FLORIDA
The DOLPHIN Is now at the Washington Nav!
v, and sho will probably sail soon as she
can get the necessary stores and amniuh''io" vi
hoard Commander Glover was az the Navy
Departmen, to-day. consulting with the ohicia's
asnectiny the programme for the movements OF
bie shin Though technically dispatch YES
sol the DOLPHIN would be a formidable crat' u
. flbusterer not much on account Oh he'
speed which is about fifteen kno's' as iioi,
her machine guns her MAIN pa.'ely a,'u Iii a.,
active crew. She carries two Iorty-se|eu nm
metre Eotchkiss guns, several siX-pounder guns
~ tho same type, and two four-hch rapiu '''e
rifles a sufficient battery TO stop an! thlhs si'o
of n regularly fitted out warship. FROM MS eA-
| norisnca as chief of the Hydrographic once
Commander Clover is well fitted to naVigate ms
vessel safely In the narrow chahheiS anu P"''o3
| of the Florida coast.
The Vesuvius Will also he particularly useful
I'm patrol duty account or her speed. lWeh'!
one knots is her record on trai. ana .nei IRE IL, Il
| nothine afoat on the Atlantic Coast In the shape
Of a private vessel that could escape her In a
fair run with the possible exception or the
yacht Vamoose; and II wouin DE Il loss up pe'
tween them, with the odds in favor or the dFna
mite boat owing to her superior ability to make
| a long run. She has small but eHective pat
tery made up of three three-pounder liotch-
Lice guns sufficient to stop anything short OF
an armored craft within distance or three
miles Drawing only seven feet, she VIII be able
low water in which they have heretofore found
a sure refuge from the deep draught naval YES
sells and larger revenue cutters looking Tor them
| The Vesuvius IL now at the League Island
NAVY Yard Philadelphia fitting out rapidly for
service after being out Of commission for nearly
two wears She has been ordered to go into
commission January ~ under command OF
Lieutenant Commander Pillsbury. who has been
detached from the Naval War College and as
signed to that duty.
ALLEGED DEFEAT OF REBELS.
THEY ARE SAID TO HAVE LOST LOO KILLED IN
A BATTLE At BALACAN. IN THE PHILIPPINES.
Madrid JAN "A dispatch from Manila says tina
the rebels have been signaly defeated at Balacan
According 10 the dispatch LOO OF the insurgents
Sever