Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1898-03-26


desire to sell any war vessels. but
would gladly part with them II they
are needed by this government. This
was In reference TO reports about the |
Chilean warship O'Aiggins and the |
Argentine ship MARITIME.
Beyond the Amazonas. her sister
ship. Abreuall. and the yacht May
mower, no purchase OF ships have
been made by the navy department
A number OF fleet steam yachts owned
In the omitted States are being offered
TO the department. and II Is probable
that some OF these win be purchased
Secretary Long takes the view that
falling to secure the torpedo boat de-
stroyers he wants the best plan Is for
him TO equip some OF these speedy
boats with torpedo tubes and light bat
| teries and improvtse torpedo boats.
The semi-ofiicial statement given out
/ at Madrid advancing the government
view that a demand for indemnity
based on Spanish responsibility for the
Maine explosion would be Indignantly
repealed By Spain attracted much In
terest I'm oflcial circles. There has been
little doubt for some time that Spain
was preparing for the contingency Of
an adverse report by the American
court OF inquiry. and t. that end was
preparing to anticipate and onset It
by making clear the government pol
| Icy of standing by the report OF the
| Spanish commission
Along with the semi-of1cial state
ment from Madrid that a demand for
Indemnity win be Indignantly repealed.
Is the further statement from reliable
sources that Spain has made It clear to
the authorities here that Intervention
may lead to war.
| VhA uanafa held hrrf q hrfa4 session IN
Monday. After adjournment the Cuban
| question was freely discussed. and the
belief was expressed that the admins
( trstion would take decided action with
In the next ten DAYS. Some say that
intervention viii follow the report Of
the board OF inquiry, while others be-
lievo recognition OF Cuban indepen-
dence more probable.
The enlistment branch OF the navy
department on Monday issued a large
poster advertising for men for the
United States navy. Enlfstments vii
be made at the navy yards at Boston
Brooklyn, League Island. Washington
: Norfolk and Mare Island, &c Soutf
street. New York city; United States
steamship Michigan. at Erie, Pa: Gus
tom House. New Orleans. and the Gus
tom House. Gloucester. Mass. The fol
!, lowing classes OF men are wanted
Seamen. Is to So years OF age. AZ e.
per month; ordinary seamen. Is to 30
Z SO per month; chief machinists. is t
y IS. $40 per month; machinists. frs
class. IS to IS. $50 per month; machin
lists. second class, is to IS, $40 pc
month The requirements for enlist
ment provide that all candidates mus
pass a physical examination. and sea
men, ordinary seamen and machinist
must pass a technical examination a
~ well.
II At the cabinet meeting on Tuesda
Ie the Spanish situation was discussed q
a. length, and after the members ha
separated Secretary Long declare
that the report OF the Maine board {
ie inquiry would not be given out fc
SO publication until next Monday or Tues
a. day. as the president desired to give Ii
-, report careful study Other cabinet Of
fcers stated that the general plan II
r cluded the sending OF a presidenti'
message along with the report, stain
-, that Spain had been called upon
make suitable response to the case 6
. presented by the court of inquiry.
- While the cabinet associates Of II
- president maintained the usual r
- serve as to the exact character OF Il
-, deliberations. yet 1t was conceded TIL
-. the discussion proceeded on the theol
- that the coming report would sho
~, that the Maine explosion was not Il
- result OF an accident. but was due
"a external cause.
- There is no doubt that substanti
he unnnimity exists on the part OF L
20 president and all his cabinet. both
,s- to the Maine question and the gener
subject of Cuba. The possibility of
,+v recourse to Intervention In case Spa
- declined to make suitable response
10 the representations we Will make aft
receiving the Maine report has be
- fully discussed. There is q very e'
= dent intention TO consider all eventua
,ra ties, including the recourse to int
venthan, the recognition Of indepen
- ence and other methods which appe
20 to suitably meet the requirements
such q condition. 1t is Deneved to
the intention OF the president, no
ever, to bring about a very mater
and satisfactory condition in Gu
by what shall seem to be the best a
most practicable method OF obtain
this end.
The preparations FOR the defense
the national capital have been prac
cally completed so far as its appros
by water is concerned The battery
Sheridan's Point. on the Potomac. j
above Mount Vernon. is now compile
ly manned and viii prove a power
4 auxiliary to the main battery at +
Washington, on the opposite shore
"a the river, nearer the city.
= Colonel WiIliston, who was recen
= placed In command OF the Sixth ar
- leary, one OF the new regiments auth
ICED by congress, conferred with G.
eral Miles yesterday In regard to
defenses OF Baltimore. He Is station
at Fort McHenry. Nd, just outside
Monumental City.
The army and navy preparations
sh- continuing without interruption,
Off though they have now become
on regular as to lapse into routine OF
,er- gigantic scale. No further purcha
hen OF warships have been concluded .
ma ana the negotiations are not assum
con a promising aspect, except IN sho"
ded that the United states can comma
and the market against SPAIN