The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-04-14
THE NINE EXPERT TALKS.


THE NINE EXPERT TALKS.
Saws He Can Prove the Maine Was
...own Up and Can Trace the Act.
London, April 14.-The Daily Mail
nuhlishes this morning an interview
with Joseph PANEL Gibbons, the sub-ma-
rine expert. in which he ridicules the
Spanish denials of his statement as TO
the sale by him of submarine mines to
Spai n. and declares that he can prove
that the United States warship was will
fully and deliberately blown up.
What is more. according to the Daily
Mails report he thinks it possible to re-
duce the explosion to the act of two men
or even to one individual.
THE PURCHASES OF LINERS.
Washington. ID. c., April 13.-Probably
the most significant action at the Navy
Department was the ISSUE of instructions
to the Naval Auxiliary Board at New
York for the immediate purchase of the
ocean grey-houndS st. Paul and SIT.
Louis, of the American Line, the pun
chase of another first class auxiliary
cruiser yesterdayprobably the Yorktown,
Of the Old Dominion Line and the pur-
chase of the Brazilian cruiser NicthHOy.
The last named vessel is about to he in
spected and the result will determine
the question of her acquiremnt by the
United States Navy.
The purchase of the st. Paul and the
St Louis is probably the most eXpen-
sive transaction consummated by the
Navy Department since the beginning
of the war excitement. The amount
paid for them is an official secret but it
is known to he somewhere in the neigh
borhood of S5,000,000.
TIE report made by the Rodgers Aux
Hilary Board for the armament OF these
steamers provides for two six inch rapid
fire and ten FIVE inch rapid fire guns for
for the main battery of twelve six
Founders for the secondary battery. The
steering gear of these vessels as well
as the magazines will be protected by
IA belt of coal With rush work the
vessels viii he I'm readiness for service
in about thirty days
LEE CONFERS WITH BOARD.
Another event was the conference last
ing over an hour between Consul Gene
raj Lee and the Naval Strategic Board,
Welt. Rear Admiral Walker. retired,
Captain Caspar f. Goodrich, Of the
Naval War College Commander Rich
afdson Glover and Captain Cr0wnin-
shield. Chief of the Bureau of Naviga
ton. Although the proceedings were Sc
cret. it is known that they related al
most wholly to the military defenseless
Of Cuba and especially of the forts at
I oafr a,flt4 tipr md
experience naturally gave much weight
to his observations and ne was ques-
toned in detail as to the armament Of
the forts at Havana harbor. the location
and strength of land batteries and other
points of military Importance that his
residence had given him knowledge of.
The conference discussed thoroughly the
entire question Of offensive and defensive
movements in the neighborhood of Cuba
in the hight of the information which
General Lee was able to iInpart.
Prior to meeting of the Strategic
Board. General Lee spent half an hour
in conference with Assistant Secretary
Day in the latter's office.
Signs of activity for what now seems
to be probable conflict were continued
at the War Department.
FOR MODELLING TROOPS.
Complete arrangements have been
made for the immediate mobilization oil
practically the entire military force OF
the government at the Chickamauga
Park at the first signs of trouble. 1t is
expected in case of necessity a call viii
be issued for about 10000 troops, pre-
ferable from the National Guard of the
different States and Territories. In the
event that the war policy contemplates
the invasion of Cuba, the army may be-
increased to 100000 men. OF this. the
regular troops and the National Guard
will aggregate about $1,000 men, and
the remainder will be made up of vol
unteers. In the event of call upon the
National Guard, attention will be di-
rected first to the organizations in the
States of New York, PENNSYLVANIA and
Ohio and the District of Columbia.
General Miles plan is to mobilize sew
enteen of the twenty-five regiments of
infantry and five of the ten regiments OF
cavalry at the Chickamauga Park as
speedily as possible.
General Fhglcr. Chief of the Bureau
Of Ordnance of the Army. is lending
effort toward the supplying of the sea
coast Notifications with the rapid fire
and other formidable guns and in this