Evening journal., 1898-03-03
SHIPS GOING TO CUBA
United States Cruiser and
Gunboat Ordered There.
WILL AID IN RELIEVING DISTRESS.
Secretary Alger Explains what Secretary
Long Really Meant In His Reference
to SPANS Participation In the
Maine Disaster.

Dy the navy department 10 sehu tWO
ships to Cuba with supplies for the suf-
sering reconcentrados caused some COM
motion IN official circles until the real
purport Of the visit Of the ships came
out The cruiser Montgomery and the
gunboat Nashville have been selected |
for the purpose. and orders were sent
to Admiral sicard to put them in shape
for the required service. IL Is explained /
at the navy department that this action |
was taken at the instance Of the Cuban |
Relief association. organized through |
the efforts Of the state department for
the relief OF the destitute noncombat-
ants IN Cuba. It was presented to the
department that great distress prevails
among tho people In the vicinity OF
Sagua la Grande and Mantanzas, on
the northern coast OF the island, and
that considerable difficulty Is expert
Hnced In sending supplies there because
Of the infrequent visits Of merchant
ships.
On this account. and because OF the
immediate demand for supplies at the
points indicated, the officers OF the as
ISOLATION requested the secretary OF the
navy to authorize the use OF one or
more OF the warships at Key West in
the transportation there Of food sup
plies contributed by the charitable peo-
pie OF the United States In response TO
the appeals OF President Mckinley and
Secretary Sherman. Secretary Long
conferred with the president on the sub
leot. and II was decided TO comply with
the request.
The Montgomery and the Nashville
were selected as most suitable for the
service, and the necessary orders We're
dispatched 10 Admiral Scard The
Montgomery will go to Mantanzas and
the Nashville to Sagua Ia Grande. with
the understanding that they will remain
In those ports only long enough 10 de-
liver the supplies TO the agents of the
association for distribution where they
will do the most good. Although thu
mission assigned to the warships VIII
take them both within a short distance
Of Havana estimated at from two TO
four hours. II Is stated that neither ves-
sci viii visit the Cuban capital.
The washington Post this morning
printed the following interview with
Secretary OF War Alger:
"The statement OF Secretary Long
that sbain's official participation In the
disaster to the Maine had been pract-
sally eliminated was merely an express
sion Of personal opinion on his part II
Is an Injustice to him as well as TO the
hdmlnistration 10 give an official sig
hifcance to- his expression. when he
was particular at the time TO empha-
size tho fact that he was speaking sim
ply as an individual.
'In the absence OF official facts--and
can repeat what has been said hereto
fore that the public is equally as we'll
Informed as the governrnent--no mem-
Ger OF DISQUALIFICATION can. Of course,
make an official declaration touching
SPANS rBspdhsfhlllty. moral or other-
wise There IS not an iota of informa-
ton as to the cause or origin OF the ex-
ploslcr upon which tho government can
at this time form a conclusion or base
a decision. The verdict OF the court OF
inquiry on that point must patiently be
awaited"
Beyond this Secretary Aiger would
not be quoted, but he authorized The
Post to state most positively that no
official information was being withheld
from the public. that the administration
was adhering strictly to the policy
adopted by Secretary Long, with the
approval OF the president, at the start
TO give the fullest possible publicity to
Ai facts coming officially to the depart
ments bearing Upon the loss OF the
Maine and the 250 brave seamen.
TO remove the impression that had
got abroad TO the effect that the re-
latlons between the navy department
and the house naval committee were
not harmonious, Secretary Long gave
out a short statement on the subject.
He said. Congressman Boutelle has
been misunderstood The congressman,
who Is one OF the most patriotic men
In the world, Is always ready to do ev-
erything that car. be done for the navy.
In his annual report the secretary req
ommended that 1.500 men be added to
the enlisted force on account OF the in
crease in the number OF ships. The
naval committee OF which Mr.. Bouteils
is chairman has already decided e
grant this Increase in the regular naya
appropriation bill. Meantime, II ther'
should be any immediate necessity foi
more men, the same committed and Mr.
Boutelle as its chairman, are ready t
make provision 70 that effect at once"
A cablegram came from General Le
during the day to the state depart
ment. hut II made no reference TO tn
Maine affair, being devoted TO the pc
dodical statement Of the amount of to
bacco that is being shipped from Cub
10 United States ports, thus giving evi
dence Of the actual removal of the ex
port prohibition decree. Captain Ches
ter commanding the south Atlant
station was also heard from, his ca
blegram relating TO the docking Of III
Eunboat Castine, now at Port Of Franc
The department has sent him the nee
essary authorization. and the ship wi
go into the drydock there. A con
mander for the monitor Miantonomol
lust ordered into commission. has bee
selected in the person OF Captain Mo
timer Johnson, who is at present {
waiting orders. Secretary Long sa,
that the Miantonomoh, with the IA
Katahdin, viii remain in the Delawa
for the present at least. With Il
commissioning OF these two vesse
there remain only the cruisers columb
and Minneapolis on the Atlantic Goa
available for immediate service In ca
the department should decide to cor
mission more ships.
The Atlanta at New York could
made ready in the course OF three
four months and the Chicago IN s