Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-03-10
SITUATION Is GRAVE
FIVE IMPORTANT EVENTS BEAR
ING ON SPANISH TROUBLE.
MILLIONS FOR THE NAVY
Administration Procures introduce
ton in Congress Of War Emer-
gency Bill Appropriating $4,000
OO0-Gu'lon Says No Request for
Lees Recall Has Been Made


no less than five important events
yesterday having a bearing more or
less directly upon the troubled rela-
lions between the United States and
Spain: the introduction in congress
by Mr.. Cannon Of a bill carrying $50
100000 for the public defense, the
withdrawal by the Spanish govern
ment of its intimated objection to
continuance in Office of Consul Gen
eral Lee, orders to the cruiser Mont
of the Fern, the passage through the
house of the bill increasing the artil-
lery of the army by two regiments
and the resuscitation of negotiations
looking to the purchase of warships
for our navy
Mr.. Cannon's resolution probably
leads all other topics in interest, par
tlculany when it became known that
it was the result OF a conference be-
tween the author, the president, Sen
ator Hale and other leading spirits in
congress-
AS to Lees case the news was
satisfactory ending Of the suggestion
of his withdrawal by Spain Some
fear is expressed that the consul gen
eral will not find the post very con
genial now that he knows he is an
unWelcome guest in Havana, but the
administration is relying upon his
devotion to the welfare of Americans
in Cuba and American interests gen
orally to submit his own personal
wishes 10 restraint and remain at the
post. Late in the afternoon Du Bose.
Spanish minister in charge, received
a cipher cable from the minister of
state at Madrid, Senior Gullon, saying:
You can disavow the rumor that any
official application has been made for
the recall Of General Lee" This con-
firmed Du Bosc's views that a mis-
apprehension existed and that
some intimation concerning Lee had
been construed into a request or
demand for his recall, which Du Bose
says with positiveness, was never in
tended.
AS there has been no exp .anatiOn SO
far OF lhe purpose which prompted the
introduction Oh MI. Cannon's pill, 1t
may be said that the money IS wanted
primarily as an emeI gency fund. 1t
is said ny the officials having the dis
position OF this tt easure that it by no
means follows that because congress
places such sum OF money i'll the
control of the president he will feel
bound to spend it ali. Thoae who
look for wholesale purchases of war
ships from the bargain counters of Eu-
ropean builders are likely to be dis
appointed. he lazy at present is
Inclined to make but one purchase OF
this KIND, in the shape OF a substan-
tial iron-clad. 1t does desire to get
possession OF several larger class tor
pedo Loaf destroyers, such as the So
kul of the Russian navy, vessels Of
three hundred tons, able to keep the
sea III bad weather "a weak point with
cur bCats) and capable OF enough
speed, such as for instance Jhirty-tWo
knots. But such a craft is built to Or
der generally and is not to be procured
in less than six months from date of
contract even in Europe unless special
prices are paid.
During the day Sc retaly Long re-
CeIl ed d call rom A. F. Lane, rep
l esenting the Maxim Norde nfdldC com
ply, and agent for several war VesseIa
now nearing completion in large for
e!gn shIpyords. These include two
cru s6rs of the type of the Cincinnati,
which was designed to be twenty
kLoC vessel, and two iron-clads of
fourteen knots, viii h would be called
thi. dclass battlesh -ps under our
rating. These are now open to pur-
chase, and it is understood that
Lanes visit was in connection with
this. The two cruisers are $50 feet
long, 43 beam, 16 draft; carry six six
inch, four fve-inch guns
and an auxiliary battery
The iron-clads have thir cen three
quarter inch belts of harveyized steel.
Their armament consists Of two ten
inch guns, four fiye-inch, two six-inch,
six siX-pourders, and four one-pound-
ers. Lane regards these ships as first
class in every respect. All four, it is
said, could be in commission within
four months. They were originally
designed for one of the South Amer
lean republics, but there will be no
obligation which would prevent their
acquisition by the United States.
There are things wanted much more
than warships in the case Of trouble
and the army shares these needs. So
a fair proportion of the 5000 900
would have to go to the war depart
ment. These needs are supplies of
shot, shell and powder. The army is as
short as is the navy on these essential
stores. 1t has been found, greatly to
the qualification of the army officers,
that there will not be nearly as much
in securing modern arms for
the army, even on a war footing, as
This is because the gun
makers have just brought out a type of
repeating rife, very similar In general
features to the present army rife, using
the same cartridge with great rapidity
Of fire. The plants of these companies
are so extensive that they could turn |
arms out so rapidly that the Spring |
1elds in the hands of the militia could |
De replaced in short order.
In connection with the subject of |