The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-09

nying cruise In the West Indies ard
around the eastern end of Cuba, and it
was the original intention to have her go
10 Colon on the isthmus and thence to
work northward along the eastern coast Of
central America. The sending of the
snip to Hampton Roads instead of
returning her to Key West, whence
sne came, is taken as an evidence of a
change In policy on the part of the naval
strateglsts, who may have come to the
conclusion that the gathering of the most
ana pest OF the vessels of the North At
lantlc squadron at Key West is putting
zoo many of our eggs in one basket, and
uhduly exposing the eastern coast There
mas also been talk of organizing a flying
squadron, composed altogether of fleet
cruisers, four in number, and having them
ready 10 go TO sea at a moments notice
In pursuit of an enemy's ships, relying up-
on the big battleships for the home guard.
ms, however, has not been decided upon.
A proposition that received instant at
tention and is expected to be approved in
the END, came to the navy department to-
gay rms was TO turn over to the navy
department ten of the best boats in the
lighthouse service. These boats are from
SVO 10 400 tons burden, good sea boats,
manned by officers thoroughly familiar
with every indentation of the
Atahuc coast and capable of
being easily transformed into eff
f1cient gunboats. The Mangroye is
q vessel of this character, new, staunch'
and speedy. 1t is proposed to place a six
inch rife on pivot mount on each vessel
forward and TO place light armor around
the boilers and machinery 10 protect them
from small arms fire at least.
The attention of the department has
also been called to the feasibility of recruit
ing the naval list from the revenue marine
cutters, a number of which are fully equal
being given arms, to the smaller type of
gunboats now in the service If these YES
sells were availed of, they would be as
signed to duty along the Southern coasts.
maintaining blockades and relieving the
larger and more expensive cruisers of much
worrisome duty.
Senor Dubosc, the Spanish representa-
tive an Washington, when seen at the
Spanish legation 'to-day and asked as to
the present status of affairs, said: Not
withstanding the apparent agitation, I am
gratitied to note that so far as actual oc-
currences are concerned they are adjust
ing themselves naturally and in a man.
ner most satisfactory to both govern
ments."
The President this afternoon signed the
Hawley bill providing for two additional
regiments of artillery to man the coast
defense.
In conjunction with the intimations of
the Spanish government regarding Consul
General Lee and the class of vessels in
which the relief supplies are to be sent
to Cuba, third inquiry was made. Capt.
Crowninshield was the object of a re-
quest for information as to the nature of
his recent trip to the West Indies. The
Spanish government had been informed
that Capt. Crownnshield, on this occa-
sion, had been in communication with the
Insurgents, and even went so far as to
give them indirect aid through flibustering
sources. When the matter was brought
to the attention of President Mckinley an
immediate denial in explicit terms was
returned. The Spanish officials thereupon
| closed the incident with an acceptance of
the Presidents statement, saying they
had been misinformed.