The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-03-15
THE CRISIS NEAR AT HAND.
Continued from First Page.)

- sAA'A4A" y = 1LADllS olld II PEI
sOnal of political motives had figured
in the transaction. Heretofore there
had been only one military centre
along the Atlantic, namely: that at
New York, but the present condition
of affairs made it apparent from a
military standpoint that ii was desir-
able to have another centre on the
south Atlantic. AS a result the inter-
Tor military centre, heretofore known
as the department Of Texas had been
moved eastward and conferred at At
lanta.
WE'LL PREPARED FOR ANY EN-
EMERGENCY.
The bureau of construction Of the
navy department finds itself exception
ally we'll prepared for any
work that 1t may be called upon 70 per-
form in connection with the auxiliar-
cruisers. It is said that less than O..
hours work would be required in the
bureau office here to complete all the
plans for the transformation Of two
of the best ships on the Atlantic into
auxiliary cruisers. The detailed work
Of reconstruction could be accomplish
Cd with like dispatch at the League is
land navy yard.
TO OPEN RECRUITING STATION.
The secretary Of the navy direct
ed that a recruiting station be opened
in Washington, Immediately, the spec
fdl purpose being to secure ordinary
seamen and machinists.
The naval inspection board has gone
to Norfolk to examin the Machias,
just returned from the STA station
by way Of Suez.
THE FERN AT MATANZAS.
The Fern, laden with supplies for the
suffering Cubans, arrived at MatanZas
LF,Il 80 fprIo LDnN NNnct "
Captain Cowles merely reported mis-
arrival to the navy department without
making any mention of the condition
Of affairs at Matanzas. After d~ischarg-
ing the stores there Captain COWleS
will proceed with his vessel to Sagua
and leave the remainder.
A SIGNIFICANT ORDER.
Civil Engineer A. J.. Menocal has
been detached from the League island
navy yard and ordered to Key West
This is regarded as significant, and as
indicating a purpose on the part of the
navy department to make immediate
and considerable improvements at the
naval station in Key West.
Brigadier General John M. Wilson,
chief of engineers Of the war depart
ment, returned today after a trip of
over 5000 miles which he accomplished
inside Of one week. Naturally his visit
10 SOUTHERN COdSl IbOIIilS, "ltIe
Sive fertilization work is in prOgreSS
has excited munch comment. General
Wilson declined, however, to discuss in
amy wa this phase of the trip. 1t is
understood that he visited Cumber-
land river, st. Johns river, and the
works at Tampa and Key West, Fla.
RUSHING ARTILLERY TO THE
COAST.
Chicago, March 12.-Quartermaster
General Lee, of the army department
of the lakes, is making arrangements
to transport batteries of artillery now
at forts in the west to the Atlantic
seabOard and gulf of Mexico. Today
the western railroads having ~headquar-
tiers in Chicago and ST. Louis and other
western cities were invited to tele-
graph by noon of the 18th instant pro-
pOsals for transporting a battery of ar
tillery from Fort Riley, Kas., to Fort
Monroe, Va; another from Fort Riley
to New Orleans, La, and a third from
Fort Riley to Savannah, Ga. Each
battery consists of five officers, sixty
five men. fifty-fve horses, four guns
with caissOns, battery FORCES and camp
equipage, and will require one Pullman
car, two tourist sleepers, three palace
stock cars, three flat cars and six
freight cars. Each battery is to be
run through, men, horses, guns and
property, IDStIueI III one ldlI VI oIit
or more sections. The equipment must
go through from the initial point with
out change and must be ready to leave
Fort Riley by noon of the 10th instant.
THE SPANISH NAVY.
Madrid. March 12.-The Spanish
torpedo fotilla has not yet left Cadiz.
The vessels will sail for the Canary
islands as soon as the weather mod
crates.
The Liberal gives the following as
the present strength of the Spanish
navy: Protected ships Il, unprotected
20. gunrboats so. torpedo boat Destroy
ers IA, torpedo boats IA, transports 20.
NETWORK OF MINES IN HAVANA
HARBOR.
Newport News, Va, March 12.-Ac-
cording to Captain Granmeyer, Of the
steamer Castillo, from New Orleans to
Hamburg. which is now cCaling here,
there is a network of mines in Havana
harbOr. Three years ago, he says, his
vessel was about to steam into the har-
Dor when he was signaled not to enter.
A pilot boarded the ship and explained
that engineers were planting mines and
that it would be necessary for him to
wait several hours before proceeding
into port. Captain Granmeyer was
then master of the steamship AlbanO.
He was at one time in the German
navy.
GEORGIANS READY FOR THE
FRAY.
OwOssO, Mich, March 12.-General j..
Il. Gordon. of Georgia, who lectured
here last evening on Last Days of the
C~onfederacy." has received a telegram
from his state saying: "One undred
and fifty thousand Of your comrades
stand ready to follow your lea IN the
protection of our national honor
Said the general: Il think / hear
rebel yells and yankee huzZas mingled
as our common country unites in pro-
lection of our flag"
Havana, via Key West, Fla, March
12.-It is impossible to send direct from
v anything in refutal of Cap
tain Peral's statement Of yesterday re-
garding the views of the Spanish court
of inquiry, as to the Maine disaster.
However. an American officer, who is
an expert says, in effect, and his words