The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-09-16

ment of the question of awarding the
contracts for the construction Of the
three proposed battleships. When the
bids were opened, it was found that
for the fast ships desired the Newport
News Company was the lowest bidder,
Cramp next and the Union Iron Works
just above, and all within the limit Of
cost fixed by congress. It was the
original plan to award the contracts
in that order. But upon examination
of the plans submitted by the bidders
it was found that the only thoroughly
satisfactory one was that submitted
by Cramp, who had simply taken the
alternate plans suggested by the navy
department, which amounted to
lengthening the hull Of the ships from
fifteen to twenty feet in order to gain
room for the more powerful engines re-
quired to drive the ship at a speed of
eighteen and a quarter knots instead
of sixteen knots, as first proposed. At
ter considering the subject in all as
poets the board of naval bureau chiefs
has hit upon a solution of the ques-
ton. They have invited the Newport
News Company and the Union Iron
Works Company to amend their plans
50 as to make their ships identical
with that proposed by Cramp. Mr..
Scott, of the California company, has
agreed to do this and the representa-
tive of the Newport News Company
has verbally agreed to do the same, so
it is the understanding that each of
the companies will be given a contract
for one ship.
These troops were today ordered
mustered out:
Heavy Battery G, Connecticut volun-
teers, at Mantle, Conn.
First Georgia infantry, Knoxville,
to home stations of companies.
Fourth New York light battery,
Hampstead to armory, New York.
Fifth New York light battery, Hemp
stead to armOry, New York.
Seventh light battery, Hampstead to
state army, Rochester.
THE TROOPS NOT TO PARADE.
The president has decided that it will
be impracticable for the troops at
MOntauk to take part in the projected
parade in New York city. He has ak
ed the matter over with General Miles
and with Acting Secretary MeiklejOhn
and it was finally determined to let
the matter be decided by the physical
condition of the men. To ascertain
this, the medical officers at the camp
were called upon, as was General
Shafter. All reported that the men
would not be able to stand the fatigue
of the parade before the first of next
month at the earliest.
EFFORTS TO STOP FIGHTING IN
THE PHILIPPINES.
Madrid. September 12.-The French
ambassador at Washington, NJ. Cam
bon. who has been acting for Spain in
the peace negotiations, has cabled to
the government here the American re-
ply to the Spanish note protesting
against hOstilities upon the part of the
insurgents in the Philippine islands
in spite of the peace protocol. The
United States promises to send ENJOYS
to induce the Togalos to .spect the
suspension of hOstilitieS, and to pre-
vent vessels leaving Manila with in
~SurgentS having the intention of prop
agating the Instruction in other is
lands.
Washington, September 12-The Mad
rid dispatch in regard to the Ameri-
can reply to the Spanish note protest
ing against hOStilitieS on the part of
the insurgents of the Philippine is
lands, was shown to the first secre-
tary of the French embassy. He said
that Ambassador Cambon had been
absent from Washington several weeks
anu I0e reply was not sent ny llIn per-
SOnally. If such a reply had been
made it would lave gone through the
n of the first secretary, but he
declined positively to say whether or
not he had forwarded a message Of
sue a character.
The officials of the state department
also refused to make known the nature
of the communications exchanged be-
tween the two governments regarding
this matter. 1t is known, however,
that in responSe to urgent appeals
from the Spanish government to pro-
teCt the S~paniards living in the Phil
ippines from the insurgents during the
continuance of the truce now in force.
General Otis was instructed to use his
influence with the ~inSurgent leaders to
cause them to stop active hostilities
for the time. Touching the departure
from Manila of insurgent parties on
ships to carry the revolution among
the other islands of the group, it is
learned that no such expeditions have
been sent out since the signing of the
protocol, and the incident which form
ed the basis of the Spanish representa-
tons On the subject happened some
time ago.
YELLOW FEVER REPORT.
The following report has been re-
ceived at the marine hospital bureau
from J. S. Hunter, secretary of the
state board of health of Mississippi:
One case of yellow fever in Jackson.
Thoroughly isolated by Gordon for four
blocks, with another Gordon outside of
this. No other case in city; not even
another of suspicious nature. All steps
have been taken to stamp out and pre-
vent spread of disease"
No new cases ave been reported
from Franklin. Orwood, Holly Springs,
Galveston or Key West.
MISS CLARA BARTON'S RETURN.
Miss Clara Barton and party reached
Washington today from Tampa, Fla.
Those with Miss Barton were DR.. Win
field Egan, chief surgeon of the Red
Cross; General Won Schell, of the Bel
gian Red Cross; DR.. Gill, J. A. Nc
= Dowell, Miss Lusy Graves and Miss
Annie Fowler, of Illinois. The party