Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1898-03-22
WE MUST Be PATIENT
President Not Yet Ready to An
nounce His Policy.
is STILL WAITING FOR THE REPORT
Until 1t Is Received and Is Carefully
Considered He VIII Not Decide
Upon n Definite Course
NJ of Action.

70
pense was noticeable in the navy de-
partment Friday, due to the approach of
the time for the delivery of the report
of the court of inquiry. tits not known
just when the document will come to
Washington, and of course in view of
the reports of the determination of out
side parties to obtain possession of it
before the department receives the re-
port, the officials, if they know, will
not say how the papers are to be
brought to Washington. All that is
known definitely is that the president
has suggested that the report be made
as soon as possible, and in consequence
lit is expected to reach this city in the
course of two or three days. The cab
met on Friday talked over the matter,
and the time stated was the general
opinion of the members when they had
heard all that Secretary Long had to
report on the subject. There is an i'm
preston that Lieutenant Commander
Mark will bring the document, though
it is within Admiral Sicard's power to
choose any other officer.
Will BE Carefully Considered.
cabinet officer expressed the be-
lief that the report will require careful
consideration on the part of the presi-
dent and his cabinet before being given
to the public, which would seem to post
pone publication to some time about
the middle of next week, although moth
ing is certain on that point. The new
naval policy embodied in the creation
of another squadron to rendezvous at
Hampton Roads was also discussed at
the cabinet meeting at length and re-
,ceiyed unanimous approval.
No Further Purchases.
Beyond the Amazonas, her sister
ship Abreuall, and the Mayfower, no
purchases of ships have been made by
the navy department. A number of
fleet steam yachts, owned in the United
States, are being offered to the depart
ment, and it is probable that some of
these will be purchased. Secretary
Long takes the view that failing to Sc
cure the torpedo boat destroyers he
wants, the best plan is for him to equip
some of these speedy boats with torpedo
tubes and light batteries and improvise
torpedo boats.
The navy department is convinced
that the Spanish government has not
acquired possession of the Varese, the
Italian armored cruiser. 1t would not
however, be matter of deep concern
if the report were true. The depart
ment itself had the vessel in mind as
possible acquisition, but abandoned the
idea upon learning that she could not
Ibe made ready for service in less than
three or four months, which practically
emergency purchase.
A Heavy Pay Roll.
Some idea of the activity prevailing
in naval circles is given by the state
ment that the pay roll of the construc-
ton department, only one of several
departments, in the Mare Island navy
yard, Tor March was $4,000. This
great expenditure per month, it is said |
was not equaled during the late war.
/ 1t is said to be the purpose of the |
president and his advisers to keep a sep
arate and distinct account of all funds |
expended from the $5O,oO0,oOO emer-
gency appropriation made by congress
for the national defense. In accordance
with this intention, separate form of
requisition has been prepared, and all
accounts allotted from the fund are
made upon the direct order signed by
The president himself. The president |
wants to report to congress Just how
every cent of this money is spent" said
member of the cabinet, land for this
reason is adopting the course above
outlined" The amount paid for the
Mayfiower was about 100000
Z Recruiting is going on apace at all
stations for the army and navy. The
Michigan, at Erie, Pa, has enlisted So
men SO far, and good reports come
from all quarters. The Columbia and
the Minneapolis are still 21O men each |
short OF their proper force. This is ac-
counted for by the fact that firemen.
machinists and coal passers are wanted. |
An officer at the department said that
5000 landsmen could be secured in a day
ii they We're desired
( The ordnance bureau of the war de.
partment has awarded contracts for q
large number OF steel armor-piercing
md deck-piercing projectiles for the
coast 1orhf1cation guns. There were
several bidders, but instead of giving
the contract to one concern, the bureau
divided the contract SO that supplies
will be coming from several quarters at
the same time
- The Spanish Flotilln.
The navy department has the follow
Ing list of the Spanish torpedo fotilla |
now halted at the Canary islands: Tor
pedo boat destroyers, Terror, Juror and |
Pluton, each of $50 tons and speed of |
70 knots. Torpedo boats AEON, 1877 tons.
70 knots; Ragor, 100 tons, % knots:
Arlste, JUS tons, rs knots, and Cuidad |
de Cadiz, 100 tons and 20 knots.
The Court of Inquiry.
Key West, Fla, March 19.-The court
OF inquiry is diligently continuing it's
sessions on board the battleship Iowa,
and, judging from statements made bv
members, 1t is quite problematical how
many days will pass before the public
learns Its conclusions. By the courtesy
OF Rear Admiral Sicard, a CORRESPONDENT |
was enabled to escape the rigor of the
recent rule forbidding correspondents
to go on board warships, and was the
frst civilian to interview the members
OF the court of inquiry since they Sc
creted themselves on Wednesday on the
Iowa.
Capt. Sampson received the CORE
'spondent. In the admiral's cabin below
were Capt. Chadwick. Lieutenant Conn