The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1898-03-18


! Henor3 du Bose, the Spanish charge, Il.
ter OF state at Madrid, saying: You
can disavOw the rumor that any Of
fetal application has been made for,
the recall OF Gen. Lee" This con-
frmed Senior du Bosc's view that a
Misrepresentation had occurred, and
that some intimati0n concerning Gen.
Lee Lad been construed into request
or demand for his recall, which Senior
du Bose
Says With Positiveness
was never Intended. AS there has been
no explanation SO far Of the purpose
which prompted the Introduction Of
Mr.. Cannon's resolution, 1t may be
said that the money is wanted pri-
marily as an emergency fund. 1t Is
said by officials who will have the
disposition Of the treasure that 1t by
no means follows, because congress
places such sum of money in the
control Of the president, that he will
feel bound to spend it ali. Those who
look for wholesale purchase of war
ships from the bargain counters of
European builders are likely to be dis
appointed. Tie navy department at
present is inclined to make but one
purchase OF this kind at first at least,
In the shape of a substantial ironclad.
1t does desire to get possession of sew
eral of the larger class of torpedo
boat deStrOyerS, such as the Sokul, of
the Russian navy, vessels of 500 tons,
able to keep the sea in bad weather. q
weak point Wlta our own boats, and
capable OF enormous speed such as
81 knots. But such craft are not for
sale at all times; they are built to
order generally and could not he pro-
duced in this manner in less than six
months from the date of contract
even in Europe unless special prices
were paid. There is no disposition on
the part of the navy department to
lumber the navy with lot of I'M
serviceable craft in spasm of fear,
but. rather, to get O few of the best
vessels to be had.
Many Ships Are offered.
The offer Of ships to the navy de-
partment are now assuming definite
and formal shape. During the dav
Secretary Long received call from
A. +. Lane, representing the Maxim
Nordenfeldt company, and the agent
for several war vessels now nearing
completion in large foreign shipyards.
There are things that are wanted much
more than warships in case of trouble
with Spain, and the army shares these
needs, so that a fair proportion of the
$5O,OO0,OO0 would have to go to the
war department. These are abundant
supplies of shot and shell and powder.
The army is as short as the navy of
these essential stores. While no exact
estimate has been made of the share Of
the $5OO0O,O0O appropriation to be al
lOtted to ammunition, it Is estimated
that at least $1O,OOO,O0O would be so
assigned, owing to the enormous cost
OF rehlling the ammunition chests of
the warshfps now in service. At pres
ent there is not enough ammunition
on hand for one refilling beyond that
now on board. A single retilling costs
$3,OOO,OO0.
1t is not felt at the navy department.
that the people of the Montgomery are
taking any particular risks in going to
Havana at this time, for it is said that
even should hostilities break out, it is
rule of honorable warfare that they
be given safe convoy out of the
waters of the hostile country. or
course Gen. Lee and the members of
the court Of inquiry at Havana would
be equally exempt from molestation.
Without delay the officers of the
adjutant generals department gave
the necessary orders for the recruiting
of the new artillery regiments author
lied by congress. The purpose is to
enlist such men as have had service
IN the artillery wherever possible, and
no doubt is entertained that plenty of
material of the right kind will offer.
%"