Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-03-08
WARsHIP GOING TO HAVANA.
Cruiser Will Leave Key West To-day
for the Scene of the Maine
Wreck.

WASHINGTON March THE decision of
the navy department concerning the send
ing of ships to Cuba was made known this
Afternoon, when the following brief state
ment was posted by the bureau of nayiga-
ton:
Montgomery will relieve the Fern at Ha-
vana. Fern will carry provisions to Mat
anzas and Sagua la Grande.'
This conclusion was reached after con-
ferences between the officials of the state
and navy department and is understood to
be such an adjustment as will not lead to
further objection by the Spanish govern
Tent.
The Fern is a dispatch boat without
heavy armament or gurs, although she be-
longs to the navy and is technically naval
vessel. AS she comes as near being trans
port as anything in our naval service. her
selection will accord with the Spanish sug-
gestion that a transport or merchant ship
undertake this carriage of relief supplies.
The sending Of the Montgomery to Ha-
vana is primarily intended to replace the
Fern, which is now at Havana. The Mont
gomery is an unarmored cruiser of 2,0S9
tons. with an armament of ten guns.
The plans of the navy department are to
have the Montgomery start for Havana at
once, in order that the Fern may return to
Key West in time to take on the relief sup
plies reaching there next Wednesday. 1t
will be the second visit of the Montgomery
to Cuba, as she has only recently returned
from trip to Santiago de Cuba and
MatanZaS.
Captain Crowninshield. chief of the bu-
reau OF navigation, says that no time has
been fixed for the stay of the Montgom-
cry at Havana, as the only decision thus
far reached is that she will replace the
Fern there for the present.
The Montgomery will be the first United
States .warship at Havana since the
Maine disaster.
Key West. Fla. March NAVAL officers
here had scarcely learned of Admiral ST.
cards order directing the departure Of the
cruisers Nashville and Montgomery for
Matanzas and Sagua la Grande with sup
was received resembling it.
telegram received from Washington
was followed by a hurried conference be-
tween Admiral Sicard and Commander
West and shortly after ) o'clock Admiral
Sicard countermanded the order issued at
noon and directed that the Montgomery
the Fern was again assigned to the duty
of carrying supplies to MatanzaS The
Montgomery is being hurriedly coaled and
work on her will be carried on through
the night. 1t is hardly expected that she
will leave for Havana before morning, ana
her departure may be further m Ieis delayed pross
went on board the cruiser Montgomery late
tonight. The coaling had been stopped. as
the men were too weary after packing
away tons of ammunition to perform this
additional labor.
A high officer on board said: No. we do
not mind going to Havana bit. We shall
be off in the morning unless we get coun-
termanding order These changes have
kept us on the jump, and we hardly know
| where we are. With provisions and ammu-
milton aboard, however, We are prepared to
go anywhere.
81 have not the remotest idea how long
we shall be in Havana. 1t seems only in ac-
cordance with the naval departments policy
that We going. The department wants
the Fern to carry provisions to Cuba: the
survey boat Bache Is being used to bring
back the bodies of the Maine victims and
SO, with the court Of inquiry at Havana, it
is absolutely necessary that some boats
should be at the disposal of the American
officers there in addition to the lighthouse
tender Mangrove."
The coal lighters still alongside the
Montgomery at midnight, and 1t is pre-
sumed that coaling will be resumed at day
| break. The coal used for the Montgomery
was originally intended for the New York.
The Nashville will remain here. There
are rumors that the Detroit and Marble
| head will shortly join the fleet at the Tor
! tugas.