The Monte Vista journal., 1898-03-19
SPAIN IS CURIOUS.
ASKS WHY WE guy WAR SHIPS.
WIN BE Told That They Are to Take the
Place Of the Msine-Nsws From the
War and Navy Departmsnts.

III
grave import. Secretary Sherman was
not present aud 1t was Assistant Sec
Iretary Day who received the newly ac-
credited minister OH his first mission OF
Importance. The ambassador. after
n formal assurance of the friendliness
of his government, and II preface 10
the effect that this query was only OF
such interest in the affairs OF one ma
tion entertaining good will toward 1t
might make. asked Mr.. Day In the con-
ventionnl language which obtains In
Diplomacy why the United States was
purchasing war vessels In foreign
waters from foreign governments.
What the reply of Mr.. Day was cannot
be learned.
The State Department is guarding IT.
self from publication scrupulously, but
II can do Mr.. Day no injustice to say
that, shearing from the reply all I'M
necesarsy verbingc and translating the
remainder into the plain language of
everyday life. II was: That the United
States was purchasing war vessels In
foreign waters to take the place of Il
battleship owned by 1t that was lost
In foreign waters. Again there were
assurances and the senor and assistant
secretary parted with expressions of
the most kindly intentions of their
governments toward each other.
The query Is not without precedent.
but 1t was significant, inasmuch as ii
indicated an official knowledge by
Spain that this country was engaged
In making preparations for war.
This was another busy day in the
War and Navy departments. Secre-
tary .Algcr was enabled to make an al
lotment Of funds from the approprin-
tion of 80 million dollars which will
greatly facilitate the work of the bu-
rcau. These bureaus had not been
able to conclude any contacts for the
procurement of warship supplies be
cause no allotment had been made.
but this afternoon the ordnance bu-
reau was given S2,J0o,N0 and bust
ness went forward with rush. 1t Is
true that this sum Is alrendy mort
gagged under provisional arrangements
made during the past week. but with
the assurance of more funds to come
the work of the bureau is now moving
rapidly.
Secretary Long was exceedingly
busy today. having not only to give
II good deal of time to the Cabinet. to
which he was obliged to return twice.
but also being Obliged to see Il great
many persons with whom the depart
mcnt has or expects To have contract
relations. Among the latter was Mr..
Hcrreshon. the torpedo boat builder
from Bristol. II. |. He turned two
OF these boats over to the department
few days ago. and the secrctarys
purpose In consulting him was to
learn how much he could hasten the
work on one of the boats remaining in
his hands. which in ordinary times
would require two months To complete
The secretary also spent good deal
of time at intervals during the day
consulting over the long distance tclc-
phone with naval officers In New York
and IL believed much of this consul
tation concerned the procurement of
suitable vessels from among the auxi.
liary navy for war purposes.
The new cruiser Anazonns. accord
Ing to the present plans. will he
manned entirely from the san Fran
cisco. That vessel sailed M u o'clock
this morning from Lisbon and will ar
rive a' III" Tyne about Friday. II is
expected that she Will divide her ofii-
GERS and crew with the Amazonas.
placing Lieutenant Commander Ar
thur l.. Nazro. executive officer OF the
vessel. Without doubt the Amazonas $
VIII be gotten across the ocean as
soon as possible. aud II Is expected
that the san Francisco will convoy
her.
Judge Advocate General I.cmly re-.
ccivcd II telegram this afternoon from
Havana announcing the arrival there
Of the derrick Chief In tow Of the tug
Underwater. II Is expected thar ihl,
derrick VIII greatly facilitate the
work Of wrrlting the Maine.
The War Department Is greatly dis.
appointed ana annoyed M the ,iiintori.
ness shown 10y the contractors who
have undertaken To construct the new
for'iiirnfions along the coast, II ls
said that only one among the whole
number has finished his contract ON
time. The depart mcni has been great
ly embarrassed thereby In placing It's
guns. and has been obliged to extend
the time allowed these contractors.
The department has determined not
Z" submit Ia further obstruction In
prosecuting the work undertaken, but
VIII do the work itself and refrain
from entering Into contracts.
The navigation bureau OF the Navy
Department Is receiving reports of the
results Of III" efforts making NJ the
various recruiting stations TO ohiaIp
men for the navy. Twenty boys hay.
been received on board the receiving
ship Wabash NJ Ensiou. and thirty
more VIII he enlisted IN n day or two.
All Will n transferred To the trnInIn.
station nj Newport. Owing io the lin.
itcd Recommendations there. however,
the department has not been able Ia
progress ns rapidly ns II desires In On
listing hoys. So fnr the Columbia IL
about no men short Of her full u,,o,p
OF in2. hut II Is hoped that the ncc.s.
sary men. mostly fr.m.n and conI.
pnsscrs. cnn hc secured In the cours.
Of n very few days.
More than n half million dollars *
"a bc spent 10y III. navy In making
Dry T"riuga- n NOR" valuable sirni.
cgic point.
Al io'dny's cabinet meeting n large
pnrt ~ the tim" WIS occupied In n
general discussion of the measures be-.
Ing taken io place the navy on n isoI,.
cr footing Tor defense In cnsr Of iron.
hlc. The question of the purchns. of
wnrslip-. wh"r" they cosld ln Ind,
nnd nj what price. Mis- talked over.
buf without coming IA amy definite
conclusion IN nny new propositions.
Information In possession of tho
government II To Ill" effect TINT M To-
this time Spain hns moi consumma,,,i
the p,irciins" NJ III" Chilean warshlp
o'lllggins. The indications. II Is stat.