The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-03-15
TWO NEW CRUISERS
Continued from First Page.)


changing the names of bounds of the
Military Department so as TO retain the
name of the department of theMissourl.
10 do this. however. it was necessary
to abandon the naming of the Depart
mcnt OF the Platte and the territory in
cluded within the present lmnits of that
department. will be known as the De
uartnlent of the Missouri. The Old
Department of the Missouri retains its
new name of the Department of the
Lakes.
The Spanish Minister Senior Polo Ber-
nabe, received a number of dispatches
to-day from tne Minister of State at
Madrid and from Captain General
Blanco. Those from General Blanco
were re-assuring in tone and stated
the situation ut Havana and throughout
the island was quiet and satisfactory,
The Minister of State cabled saying in
substance:
1.-The uprising in the Philippines is so
insignificant that it will be ended by the
time Won receive this"
The Minister asked that an emphatic
denial be made in his name to the re-
ports that Senior Juan CehHllos had
been in Washington as commissioner
from the Spanish government to make
overtures for terms of settlement with
the Cuban insurgents,
Senior Poles attention was called to
the reports from Spain as to the pros
rectiye sailing of the Spanish torpedo
fleet for Havana and to the significance
which had been attached in this coun-
try to this movement. The Minister
said that the movement of torpedo craft
had been long contemplated. Their
coming had no relation whatever he
declared, to recent conditions. as they
were wanted for work along the Cuban
coast.
The Minister has received no init
nation rs to the findings of the Spanish
Naval Commission, which is Investigate
ing the Maine disaster. He says this
commission Is proceeding with the same
Formally and secrecy as the United
States Court of Inquiry and that no in
timation of its findings will be iustife1
until the formal report is presented to
the Spanish government. Mr.. Polo
added that his personal belief. however.
was that there is no doubt the Spanish
Commission will report that the Maine
explosion was due TO accident, and said
he was convinced that this also will be
the conclusion reached by the people
in this country when all the facts in
the matter are made known.
The recruiting branch Of the Navy De-
partment is naturally one of the biggest
brancehs of the service just now. 1t
is in the temporary command of Cap
tain HemIihill during the absence i'll
the South of Captain HaWley and he
WAS busy To-day with a representative
of the railroads engaged in arranging
for terms for transportation of recruits
TO the seaboard and of sailors already
in the service from one port to another
made necessary by the commission of
new ships. a problem that confronts
the recruiting iffice is to procure the
necessary force of enlisted men for
manning the two ships which have been
purchased from Brazil.
Col Myron NJ Proctor, one of the
leading business men of Washington,
who accompanied Senator Proctor in his
recent visit to Cuba. said to-day that
the Americans ON the island had no
doubt that the disaster to the Maine was
caused through Spanish agency. Their
belief. however, he said, could not be
traced to any authoritative source. The
insurgents Col. Barker thought, were
in better shape than ever before and
dependence in time.
The Cubans, as rule. he believed. |
wonid be glad to see the island come un-
der the American flag. and would do
what they could to bring about that re-
suit The Colonel reiterated his state
ment of last might that the situation
of the reconcentrad0s was deplorable in
the extreme They were confined with |
nd II lnF :
to starve. The generosity of the |
American people, however, was begin |
ming to be felt and the extreme distress |
was gradually being relieved. He spoke J
in the highest terms of General Lee and
the work he was doing. and also OF
Consul Barker. who had made great
personal sacrifices for the starving peo-
pie within his district.
Representative Elliott of South Caro-
lima, called at the Navy Department to-
day to talk with the officials respecting
the clothing of the Naval Militia. I'm
der the existing regulations the depart
ment has no authority to expend any
of the small allotment of funds made
iby Congress for the use of the Naval
Militia, for the purpose of clothing. lei
is all consumed in the purchase of boats,
equipments, arms, books signal flags.
etc. For several militiamen have been
trying hard to secure a modification OF
the law that would permit of the ap.
plicanti0n of at least "a portion of the
militia approportion for the purchase of
uniforms. This has been accomplished
at last through the inclusion in the
pending Naval bill of a suitable amend
ment. However, this new clause under
ordinary conditions would not go into
effect before July / next. Representa-
tive Elliott is endeavoring to secure the
departments aid in having the section
go into effect Immediately upon the
passage of the bill, in which case a con-
siderable body of the South Carolina
militia can be put into active service at
once. The department is thoroughly
committed 10 the measure.
The tug Leyden, "a fine steel boat, has
been ordered from Newport to Key
West.
Cablegrams received at the Navy De-
partment to-day announce that the Ban
croft sailed yesterday from Lisbon for
Norfolk and the Helena from Lisbon
for Key West 10 join the squadron.
This leaves Admiral Howell at Lisbon
with his flag ship San Francisco as the