Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-03-08
MUST INTERVENE
Continued from First Pase.)

ment in case the decision Is reached to
purchase them, basing this belief upon
many kindly expressions that have of late
come to their notice and to the past record
of the japanese nation.
The Brooklyn Coming North.
The big armored cruiser Brooklyn started
away from La Guayra today under orders
from the Navy Department directly for
Hampton Roads. She has been making a
flying cruise in the West Indies and around
the eastern end of Cuba, and 1t was the
original intention TO have her so to Colon,
on the isthmus. and thence to work north
ward along the eastern coast of Central
America. The sending of the snip to Hamp-
ton Roads. instead of returning her to Key
West, whence she came, is taken as an
evidence of a change in policy on the part
of the naval strategists, who may have
come to the conclusion that the gathering
of the most and best of the vessels Of the
North Atlantic squadron at Key West is
putting too many of our eggs in one basket
and unduly exposing the eastern coast.
There has also been talk of organizing a
flying squadron composed altogether of
fleet cruisers. four in number, and having
| them ready to go to sea at moments no.
tice in pursuit of an enemy's ship, relying
upon the big battle ships for the home
| guard. This. however has not been de-
cided upon.
A proposition that received instant atten-
ton and is expected to be approved in the
end came to the Navy Department today.
This was to turn over to the Navy De part
ment ten Of the best boats in the light
house service. These boats arc from 300 to
400 tons. good sea boats manned by officers
Nor ,1x, 70,
Of the Atlantic coast, and capable of being
easily transformed into efficient gunboats
The Mangrove is vessel of this character,
rev, staunch and speedy. 1t is proposed to
place a six-inch rifle on a pivot mount on
each vessel forward and to place a light
armor around the boilers and machinery to
protect them from small arms fire at least
The attention of the department has also
been called to the feasibility of recruiting
the naval list from the revenue marine cut
tiers, a number of which are fully equal, be-
Ing given arms, to the smaller type of gun
boats now in the service. If these vessels
were availed of they would be assigned to
duty along the southern coasts. maintain
ing blockades and relieving the larger and
more expensive cruisers of much worrisome
duty.
To Send the Food Supplies,
Arrangements were perfected at the Navy
Department today for the relief of the
dispatch boat Fern. at Havana, by the
cruiser Montgomery of Admiral Scard's
| squadron, now at Key West. kilograms
were received from Admiral Sicard ac-
knowledging the receipt of the orders is
sued by the department on this subject
yesterday afternoon, and saying that they
would be complied with at once. AS stated
in yesterdays Star these orders contem-
plate the use of the dispatch beat Fern in
the transportation OF food supplies for the
starving reconcentrados from Key West
to the Cuban ports of Matanzas and Sagua
la Grande, on the northeast coast of the
island, and the replacement of the Fern at
Havana by the cruiser Montgomery. Ac-
cording to present arrangements the Mont
gomery will leave Key West this afternoon
or this evening. in order to relieve the
Fern tomorrow mornir g, so that the latter
vessel may arrive at Key West Wednesday
evening in ample time to receive the food
| supplies from New York which are due
there on that day There will be no delay
in the departure of the Fern on her er-
rand Of mercy, more than Is required to
ship the supplies received from New York
The use of the Fern this mission WILL
it is thought by naval officials be entirely
| unobjectionable to the authorities of Spain.
| who have expressed doubt as to the wis
dom of the employment of strictly war
ships for that purpose. Although the Fern
is a naval vessel used as transport ship
and carries a small gun for saluting pur-
pcses she can hardly be said to attain the
power and dignity of warship in any es-
sential particular.
The Fern has heen stationed at Havana
since a day or so after the disaster to the
Maine. and her principal function FOR the
last week or ten days has been as prac-
i teal floating dock for the use of the divers
engaged in examining the wreck of the
Maine, and it Is said at the Navy Depart
ment that the main purpose of sending the
Montgomery to Havana at this time was
to continue the performance of this duty in
connection with the wrecking operations.
Cruise of the Montgomery.
Special interest attaches to the cruise of
the Montgomery in view Of the fact that
she will be the first United States warship
to enter the harbor of Havana since the
eventful night that marked the destruc-
ton of the battle ship Maine and so many
members Of her gallant crew. 1t Is said at
the Navy Department that the people of
the Montgomery are not taking any par
ticular risks in going to the Cuban capt.
tai at this time, for the reason that even
should hostilitieS break out during her
presence there, under the rule Of honor
able warfare they would be given safe con-
voy out of the waters Of the hostile coun-
try. General Lee and all the members of
his official family. well the members
of the court of inquiry and other Ameri-
cans in Havana, would be equally exempt
from molestation and be given full oppor-
tunity to leave the country.
The Montgomery is an unprotected cruis-
err of the third rate. She carries ten guns
in her main battery and has q displace-
ment of 2,0S9 tons. She is an excellent
ship of her class, and would no doubt give
good account of herself in any emer-
gency. Her complement Of. officers Is as
follows: Commander George A. Converse
commanding; Lieutenant Commander Will
liam H. Beehler, executive; Lieutenant
Hamilton Hutchins, navigator; Lieutenant
dunior grade) w. r. M. Field. Ensigns L.
r. de Steigner. Roscoe Spear and Robert
H. Osborn; Surgeon L. w. Curtis; Past
Assistant Paymaster NJ NJ. Ramsay; Chief