Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-03-08
PREPARING THE MONTGOMERY.
Some Surprise Among officers that She Should
Replace Mere Dispatch Boat.

Key West. March Naval officers here
had scarcely learned of Admiral Sicard :
order directing the departure of the cruS-
ers Nashville and Montgomery for Ma
tanzas and Sagua la Grande with supplies
for the reconccntTadoS before an order
was issued resembling it,
a telegram received from Washington
was followed by hurried conference be-
tween Admiral Sicard and Commander
West and shortly after 3 O'Clock, Adj
miral Sicard countermanded the order is
sued at noon and directed that the Mont
gomery proceed soon as possible to
Havana, while the Fern was again as
signed 10 the duty of carrying supplies to
MatanzaS.
The Montgomery is being hurriedly
coaled and work on her will be carried
on through the night 1t is hardly ex-
pected that she will leave for Havana be-
fore morning and her departure may be
further delayed
The official reason for the Montsom-
ery's going to Havana is that she is
merely to relieve the dispatch boat Fern.
\ naval officer-one Of the few who at
the time this dispatch is sent. are aware
of the latest change of plans-said he
thought it most significant that a cruiser
of the Montgomery's calibre should he
sent to take the place of a mere dispatch
boat
To officials. the greatest surprise when
shown the Associated Press dispatch
from Washington regarding the sending
of the Montgomery to Havana. as the
striCtest orders had been issued here L"
keep this movement secret. The frequent
changes in orders during the last u hours
have thrown all naval arrangements and
opinions on the situation into NOR" or
less disorder.
A Mallory Line steamer is expected
Wednesday, with provisions for tuba
This afternoon. the torpedo boat Porter
arrived from Mobile. The torpedo boat
Gushing win probably have to be laid M
,i,.S and h.. J'ti.. iE il IL,
too good condition. \ schooner with coal
for the fleet at the Tortugas passed dur
ing the afternoon.
Doubt has been thrown upon the identi-
tication of one of the bodies buried today,
which at Havana was believed To be that
of First Sergeant Wagner of the marines.
Chaplain Chadwick writes that it is I'M
certain whether the body is that of Wdg-
ner or that of Private Marine Iamiotts.
He says it il impossible To tell which.
Tho correspondent of 'rh" Associated
Press went on board the cruiser Mont
gomery. late tonight. The codling had
been stopped, as the men were too weary
after packing away tons of ammunition
to perform this additional labor.
A high officer on board said: mo. we
do not mind going to Havana q bit w
shall he off in the morning unless We get
another countcrmanding order. These
| changes have kept us on the jump and we
hardly know where we are. With proN-
sions and ammunition aboard. however,
we are prepared to go anywhere. nave
not the. I, hottest idea how long We Shall
be in Havana. 1t seems only in accord
ancc with the naval department : policy
that we arc going. The department wants
the Fern to carry provisions To Cuba the
survey steamer E5aChe Is beng used to
bring back the bodies of the Maine vic
| Tins. and so. with the court of inquiry at
Havana. it is absolutely necessary that
some boat should br ut the disposal ~
the American officials in addition to the