The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-04-05
WAR PREPARATIONS BY THE
FLEET.

Inc uIIbDdl[>tA port Sd4ACd FL Ma
looking like a white swan among the
lead colored dismantled warships. she
came from Tampa The a 5 touches to
the work OF preparing the ships for &C
tiCn were being made throughout the
day. The unnecessary boats were un-
siung from the davits and sent ashore,
along with other useless pa~raphernalia-
On the Detroit the deck wardroom has
beer completely torn away and on the
other ships similar changes have taken
place. No movement of the fleet IS ex-
pected until Tuesday OF ven later, al
though everything is in readiness for
any emergency.
Father Chadwick, chaplain, of the
Maine, left today for New York, via
Miami.
The provisions for the sufferers in
Cuba which have been at the naval
station here for over two weeks, wait
ing for o TO take them TO their des-
.tinatiOn, were today truned over to
tine Plant Line, which will probably
ship them to Havana on Tuesday nex
The patrol duty tonight was taken by
the cruiser Marblehead and the usual
two torpedo boats. The greatest vigi-
lance is observed.
The steame Mascotte, from Havana,
which arrived tonight, brought a dozen
or more French and English banker
and merchants, who had left Cuba UNI
der Geographic instructions from the
houses they represent in their reSpec
tive countries. The urgency of their
Instructions was such that no delay
was incurred by the winding up of
their business.
ALL QUIET AT THE WHITE HOUSE
Washington, April 2.-The quietude
of the White house tonight was in
striking contrast with the intense ac-
tivity and repressed excitement of the
past few days. For several hours the
president was alone in his private Ii
brary busily engaged in the prepara-
ton of his forthcoming message to con-
gress. No callers were received except
by appointment and with the two or
three whom the president did see he
conversed very briefly.
About 9 o'clock Mr.. Charles Emery
Smith, editor of The Philadelphia
Press and one of the presidents conf
Dental friends, Joined Mr. Mckinley
in the library and remained in con-
ference with him for half am hour. AS
he left the executive mansion MIR.
Smith said hat he was of course, not
at liberty to disclose the nature Of his
visit to the president. He added, how
ever, in response to inquiries, that he
could see 10 change in the situation.
Wan was, he believed, imminent, but
it might yet he averted. He was quite
satisfied that it would not be precipi-
tated on Monday and gave the impress
sion by his remarks that the fOrthcom-
ing message would not be sent to con-
gress before Tuesday. Now THAI the
COUNTRY realized that we were on the
verge of serious trouble, he said, there
was a meditative spirit abroad. The
people were thinking and preparing
themselves for right action so soon as
the time for action should ARRIVE. In
the message, Upon which so much now
hinges, Mr.. Smith felt assured that the
president would deal fully and frank
ly with congress and with the country.
The entire question in hand would he
presented calmly and thoughtfully and
with a full sense of the responsibility
of the executive. The president would.
however, indicate his own plans and
wishes, thereby accepting his share of
Whatever might be the result, as was
becoming in a brave, patrio tic, Ameri-
can president. Mr.. Smith said, in con-
clusiOn, that he knew nothing of the
prospect of mediation to be offered by
foreign powers, Except What he had
seen in the but intimated
that the question now would be settled
on the n hand by Spain and on the
other by the Ongress and the presi-
dent of the United States.
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE TO BE
SENT TUESDAY,.
AT 1870 O'Clock tonight General Gros-
emo announced positively, after an
extended conference With the president,
that the message would not he sent
to congress before next Tuesday. The
participants in the conference We're
Senator Hanna, General Grosvenor and
Judge A. c. Thompson, president of the
criminal law cOdification committee.
Attorney General Griggs was present
a short time. Genera Grosvenor said:
There is nothing new in the Spanish
situation tonight. Not the slightest
change is perceptible. : The president
is carefully considering his message
and it Will be a memorable state docu-
ment."
NO" he replied to an inquiry, 'it
will not be sent to congress ON Monday.
1t will not be before Tuesday. 1T is no
mild play to prepare such a paper
as the president will give to congress
and to the country. 1t will thoroughly
review all Of this governments diplo-
matte negotiations with Spain relative
to Cuba and will contain such recon-
mendations as will appeal to the sense
of right n justice of the American
peOple-JuSt such recommendations as
every friend of President Mckinley has
reason to expect from one 80 patriotic
and devoted to his country as he is"
DO you expect any action by con-
gress on Monday, in advance of the
presidents message?" General Gros-
venOr was asked.
"Oh, no." he replied. Congress will
be entirely willing to await the action
of the president. Everybody thorough
ly realizes that the chief of
this country cannot be taken by the
throat in a matter of this kind. He
muS have time to formulate his mes
age m his own way. President Nc
kinley for many weeks has been under
a terrific strain and in beginning to
show the effects of it. He will COM
municate to ongre and to the coun-
try as soon as possible and there is no
doubt THAT congress will respect his
desires in the matter"
During the conference the ASSociat-
ed Press news h a the Spanish tor
pedo boat fioilla had not yet arrived
at Porto Rico and that the probabili-
ties were that 1T was now at the Cane
de Verde stands was communicated
to the president. Tt was received with
much satisfaction. the DreSidant roos3