The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-03-03
Cruiser Montgomery and Gum
boat Nashville Under Orders.
WON'T STOP AT HAVANA
No Friction Between the Navy Depart
ment and the Naval Committee.
Machinists Are Wanted-Ex-
pressions of Sympathy.

| fering reconcentrados caused some
commotion in official circles until the
real purpose of the ships came out. The
cruiser Montgomery and the gunboat
Nashville were selected for the purpose
and orders were sent to Admiral Sicard
to put them in shape for the required
service. 1t is explained at the navy
department that this action was taken
at the instance of the Cuban Relief as
sociation, organized through the efforts
of the state department for the relief of
non -combatants in Cuba. 1t was rep
resented to the department that great
distress prevails among the people in
the vicinity of Sagua Lagrande and
Matanzas, on the northern coast of the
island, and that considerable difficulty
is experienced in sending supplies
there because. of the infrequent visits
of the merchant ships. On this account
and because of the immediate demand
for supplies at the points indicated, the
officers of the association requested
secretary OF the navy to authorize the
use of one or more of the warships at
Key West in transporting food from
the United States in response to the
appeals of President Mckinley and
Secretary Sherman. Secretary Long
conferred with the president on the
subject, and it was decided to comply
with the request. The Montgomery
and Nashville were selected as the most
suitaoie, and the necessary orders were
dispatched to Admirable Sicard.
The Montgomery will go TO Matanzas
and the Nashville to Sagua La Grande,
with the understanding that they will
"A n n q n.1Jxy apo oh
to deliver the supplies to the agents of
the association for distribution where
they will do the most good. Although
the mission assigned to the warships
will take both within a short distance
of Havana, estimated at from two to
four hours, 1t is stated that neither
vessel will visit the Cuban capital.
To remove the impression that had
gotten abroad to the effect that the re-
lations between the navy department
and the house naval committee We're
not harmonious, Secretary Long this
afternoon gave out a short statement
on the subject. He said: Congress
man Boutelle has been misunderstood.
The congressman, who is one of the
most patriotic men in the world, is al
ways ready to do everything that can
be done for the navy. In his annual
report the secretary recommended that
1890 men be added to the enlisted force
on account of the increase in the num-
Der of ships. The naval committee of
which Mr.. Boutelle is chairman, has
already decided to grant this increase
in the regular naval appropriation bill.
Meantime, If there should be any i'm
mediate necessity for more men. the
same committee and Mr.. Boutelle, as
Its chairman, are ready to make pro-
vision to that effect at cnce.'
A c1Diepr3m came from General
during the day to the state depart
ment, but 1t made no reference to the
Maine affair. being devoted to the Pc
fiodical statement of the amount of to-
bacco that is being shipped from Cuba
to the United States ports, thus giving
evidence of the actual removal Of the
export prohibition decree. Captain
Chester. commanding the South Allan
tic squadron. was also heard from, his
cablegram relating to the docking of
the gunboat Castine, now at Port au
Prince. The department has sent him
the necessary authorization and the
ship will go into dry dock there.
A commander of the monitor Mianto-
nomah, which was ordered into COM
mission yesterday. was selected in the
person of Captain Mortimer Johnson,
who is at present on waiting orders.
Secretary Long says that the Mianto-
nomah, with the ram Katahdin, will
at least. With the commissioning of
these two vessels. there remain only
the cruisers Columbia and Minneapolis
on the Atlantic coast for immediate
service in case the department should
decide to commission more ships. The
Atlanta at New York could be made
ready in the course of three or four
months and the Chicago in six months,
in case emergency orders for their re-
pairs were issued. There are a number
of good ships on the Pacific coast. how
ever. whose repair is under way. such
as the Charleston. the Philadelphia, the
Yorktown. and others, and the pay
rolls of the construction bureau at the
Mare Island navy yard have now
amounted to the large total of 100000
per month for wages alone.
The navigation bureau is still busy
with the preparation of the death GER
tificates for the families of the victims
OF the Maine disaster. Captain Haw-
ley, who has the matter Immediately
in charge. says that owing To the neces-
sary formalities these certificates can
not be issued before March Is. and this
answer is returned to numerous letters
received at the department daily.
II is said in the navigation bureau
that there is a pressing need of able
machfnists for the navy. caused by the
heretofore unnoted fact that every one
of the machinists on the Maine los his
life in the explosion. Moreover. all the
firemen but one We're killed The bu-
reau has invited enlistments from men
who have had naval service before in
the engine rooms and, as il is said
that number of these men are now
enjoying a three months, period Of time
between enlistments. during which they
may come again into the naval service
without loss of service record ii is
hoped that some Of them will come for
word 10 fill the places vacated by the
Maine disaster.
Sir Julian Pauncefote came TO the
state department to-day. bearing one OF
the formal expressions of deep condo
lenee and sympathy with the govern
ment over the loss Of the Maine that
have come from every enc Of the Brit
ish colonies This --latest was a. fol-
lows:
Washington. Feb. =, 1s9s.-sir 4,