The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-03-29

ment to urge upon the builders Of the
recently purchased cruiser Albany,
formerly the Brazilian vessel AbrOuall.
the necessity 10 hasten the construction
of the ship with all possible speed In
the ordinary OUTS Of work the YES
sci would not be completed before next
December, but it is believed by officials
of the navy department. that If the
builders are placed under pressure she
can be made ready for sea within three
months, and perhaps ever in a little
less time.
Orders have been issued designating
Captain Sampson as commander iii
chief Of the North Atlantic station.
admiral Sicard was detached from
command OF the squadron and allowed
six months leave by orders issued to-
day. The effect Of this six months
leave is practically to close Admiral
Sicard'S executive service in the navy.
REVENUE CUTTERS ORDERED IN
TO SERVICE.
The revenue cutters which will be
ordered into service and their present
stations are: The Woodbury. at Port
land, Me; the Hamilton, Philadelphia,
the Hudson, New York; the
Boston; the Calumet, Chicago; the
Gresham, Milwaukee,; the MOrrell, VIII
N T. anu the "lT1UOln, bdIIT
more. The vessels will fit out at Nor
folk.
AT the White house it was said that
official advices here did not bear out
the suggestion of a pending crisis in
Havana, and hat there were no dis
patches from General Lee of a disQuiet-
ing nature. As to the movement of the
Mangrove, it was aid that her depar-
'ture was merely in line with orders is
-,,o1 c-ay-aroI a ox-- ora TO r0 70 II vraro
and return with the remaining officers
of the Maine now there.
HAPPENINGS IN HAVANA.
Havana, March 25.-This being the
fete of the annunciatiOn, there was lit
tie doing in private or official business
here. The Spanish divers nave not
been down to the wreck of the Maine
since last Sunday, but the American
divers ave got up two 6 inch guns.
Owing to the holiday, relief trains fer
interior points will not leave until to-
morrow. The daily distribution of re
lief at the central Station on Estrela
street is moving with admirable pre-
cisiOn.
1t is reported hat the Spanish troops
recently killed Major Rafael Castillo,
lately appointed an aide-de-camp of
General Gomez. 1t lis also alleged that
the insurgent General NodoTse mas
been shot near Alqulzar.
General Hernandez ValascO, accord
ing to Spanish reports, has burned am
insurgent camp at La Leither, prvince
of Pinar del Rio, has surprised four
other insurgent camps, killing sixty
one insurgents, has captured thirty
Others, among whom were two insur-
gent officers. The general is also said
ito have captured an insurgent camp at
Ojoude Aqua, and to have killed fifteen
inct1 r nh n~n Cnonro1 P6rno1
another Spanish representative says
while operating in the district of Man
ZanillO, province Of Santiago de Cuba,
he has destroyed a number of insur-
gent camps, plantations and farms,
killing ten insurgents and capturing
twenty two of the enamy. Colonel
Escario, it is reported from Spanish
headquarters, has also surprised sew
eral insurgent camps and has destroy
ed a number of insurgents prefectures
and many plantations.
Waterford, March 25.-The Spanish
torpedo boat destroyer Audaz haS ar
rived here with her bows stove i'm and
her stem twisted completely around
from about ten feet from the stern.
MINISTER WOODFORD DECLINES
TO TALK.
Madrid, March 25.-United State!
Minister WoOdford, interviewed to
might with reference to the report thai
he had received advices from Wash
ington as to the findings of the Maint
count OF inquiry and the proposed ac
tion of the American government, de
clined to divulge anything. Genera
Woodford said: president McKinle!
desires peace, which 1 also ~earnestl!
desire"
Ell Impartial says: "The UNITED
States are brutality forcing Spain int
a conflict. To send the Maine repOr'
, to congress is equivalent to thrOWin
a torch into a barrel of gun powder"
The government, despite such com
ments, is pursuing a conciliatory pol
} icy, and, it is believed, will propose tina
:. the Maine disaster be referred to inter
national arbitration
RUMOR OF LEE'S ASSASSINATION
BY BLANCO.
, Among the wild rumors current to
!, day was one to the effect that Unite'
States Consul General Lee at Havang
: had slapped General Blanco's face ans
that General Blanco drew his revOlve
and killed his aSsailant. The rumO
2 was ridiculed and Immediately denies
{ officially. 1T was first reported hat tn
United States would not accede to Cap
tain Sigsbee's eQuest but later infor
NATION alleges that the Washington
t government is discussing the advisa
) bility of blowing up the remains of tn
Maine. The general Ibelief in Madri'
!, lis that America does not consider tn
l Maine question a sound basis for con
tlict and is seeking vo provoke Spain
/ by sending help nOminally to the re
concentrates, but really. to the rebels
The Spanish press is unanimous ii
treating as an insult Americas sus
f picion that Spain is guilty of havint
exploded the Maine
: VALUABLE ACQUISITIONS BY TIL
| NAVY.
: New York, March 25.-Four swift
yachts, n4ne fast sea-going tugs an'
one coasuing vessel, the pick of tn
available smGall craft in the halTbors o
New York and Philadelphia, We're &C
Quired today to the Unites
: States navy by the special naval boar
!, of auxiliary vessels. AT least tW,