The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-03-08
FIFTY MILLIONS
Will Be Voted by Congress as
m Emergency Fnnd. NJ
TO BE USED IN CASE OF WAR.
Uncle Sam Looking About For
; Powerful War Vessels.
MAY MAKEPUROHAsEsINE IN EUROPE

OoNos ohlSiut5 w III INV
IndIscrlminate Purchases, Though
Mr.. Charles Cramp Asserts That an
International Syndicate Is Endeav-
oring to Unload Flimsliy Built ves-
sells on This Country-SpaniardsD Deny
i. the Report That Consul General Lee's
Recall Had Been Urged.
Washington, March S.-There were
no less than five important events yes
terday having bearing more or less
direct upon the troubled relations be-
tween the United States and Spain, viz,
the Introduction in congress by Mr..
Cannon Of resolution carrying $780,
100000 for the public defense; the with
drawal by the Spanish government of
its intimated objection to the contin-
uance in office of Consul General Lee;
the order Of the cruiser Montgomery
to proceed to Havana in place of the
Fern; the passage through the house
of the bill increasing the artillery arm
by two regiments, and the institution
of negotiations looking to the purchase
VI WdTS1lpS lOF our navy.
Mr.. Cannon's resolution probably
leads all other topics in interest, partic-
ularly when 1t became known that it
was result of a conference between
the author, the president, Senator
Hale and other leading spirits in con-
gress.
As for General Lees case, the news
of the satisfactory ending of the Incl
dent through the withdrawal of the
suggestion by Spain was expected as
soon as it was noted that a loOphole
had been open through the failure to
make the complaint in anything like
an official shape. Some fear is eX-
pressed that the consul general will not
find his post very congenial, now that
he knows he is an unwelcome guest in
Havana, but the administration Is re-
lying upon his devotion to the welfare
Of the Americans in Cuba and Ameri-
can interests generally to submit his
own personal wishes to restraint and
remain at his post.
Late in the afternoon Senor Du Bose,
the Spanish charge, received a cipher
cable from the minister of state at
Madrid, Senior Gulon, saying: You
can disavow the rumor that any official
application has been made for the re-
call of General Lee"
This confirmed Mr. Du Bosc's view
that Misrepresentation had occurred
and that some intimation concerning
General Lee had been construed into
a request or demand for his recall,
which Mr.. Du Bose says with positive
ness was never intended.
AS there has been no explanation so
far of the purpose which prompted the
Introduction of Mr.. Cannon's resolu-
ton, it may be said that the money
Is wanted primarily as an emergency
fund. 1t Is said by officials who will
have the disposition of this treasure
that it by no means follows because
congress places such sum of money
in the control of the president that
he will feel bound to spend all of 1t.
Those who look for wholesale pur-
chase of warships from the bargain
counters of European builders are
likely to be disappointed. The navy |
department at present is inclined to
make but one purchase of this kind, at
first at least, in the shape of a sub
stantial ironcad. 1t does desire to get |
possession of several of the larger
class Of torpedo boat destroyers, such
as the Sokul. of the Russian navy, veS-
sells of 800 tons able to keep the sea
in bad weather. a weak point with our
own boats, and capable Of enormous
speed such as 32 knots. But such craft
are not for sale at all times; they are
nd |
be procured 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 a lot of unser-
viceable craft in a spasm of fear, but
rather get few of the best vessels to
be had.
The offers of ships to the navy de-
partment are now assuming definite
and formal shape. During the day
Secretary Long received a call from A.
T. Lane, representing the MaXim-Nor-
denfeldt company, and the agent for
several war vessels now nearing COM
pletion in large foreign shipyards.
These include two cruisers of the type
)I tne ClfcnlIldtl, WHICH are ueSlBlleu
o be 20 knot vessels, and two ironcads
If IA knots. which would be called
hird class battleshiDs under our rat
ng. These are now open to purchase,
md 1t is understood that Mr.. Lanes
,isit was in this connection. Mr.. Lane
'egards these ships as first class in
very particular, as they were designed
IN modern principles and are being
,uilt by one Of the leading shipbuilding
irms of Europe. They are well along
oward completion. and all four, 1t is
aid. could be in commission within q
ew months. They were originally de-
igned for one Of the South American
epubics, but there is said to be no
obligation which would prevent their
cquisiton by the United States. Mr..
Iane recently sold the navy depart
nent 60 Of the Maxim Nordenfeldt
apd fire guns, and his standing with
hlcials Is such as to give his repre-
eplations as to ships much weight.