The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-03-17
HOW MATTERS NOW STAND.
Spain Protests Against Keeping the
Fleet at Key West.
NO ATTENTION WILL Be PAID TO THEM
Montgomery Not withdrawn from
Havana by Any Request, but VIII
shortly Leave There.

Washington March 1J--The main devel
opinent in the situation today was the def
mite representations submitted by The
Spanish government to the state depart
ment concerning the assembling OF large
fleet of warshirs at Key West the wal
preparations and the influence which thcss
might have on the approaching elections in
Cuba. These representations were exactly
In line with the esmi-official utterances
given in these dispatches last night and
accredited to a high official oonversant
with the views of the Spanish cabinet.
While these representations can not prop
erly be regarded as a protest against the
attitude OF acts of the United States gov
| crnment they may unCuestionabiy be set
do~n es a remonstranec calculated 10 have
an effect Ia European court circles Not
however, being political protest the
statement has not called forth any official
reicinder on the part OF the state depart
mont, for 1T is lacking in tangible accuse
lions. being rather an argmnentative pre-
sentation Of alleged Spanish grievances.
The Fern sailed for Havana from Key
| Vest this afternoon. She goes to relieve
| the Montgomery as home for the officers
| engaged IN supervising the wrecking op
eiations In Havana herbor 1t is stated
unequivocally that the Montgomery is not
withdrawn owing TO any suggestion from
Spanish sources that her presence Is not
desired. 1T was the announced intention
OF Secretary Lorg when the cruiser was
| sent to Havana to keep her there only 70
long as the Fern should be engaged In TIE
work of distributing relief among the SUI
ferers in Eastern Cuba. This task having
teen performed. and owing to the return
OF the court OF inquiry from Havana, there
being fewer persons to accommodate, The
Fern, which is better equipped than the
Montgomery TO assist in the wrecking
work, is returned TO her position.
Up 10 the close of office hours the navy
department, though 1t knew officially that
the court of inquiry han come over TO Key
West from Havana, was not informed as 70
the findings or plans OF the court
1t is said that the object of the navy
department in purchasing such craft as the
late Mr.. Ogden Goelet's yacht Mayflower
is TO provide as quickly as possible num-
Der of picket boats of good speed and sea-
going ability to act as scouts, and also TO
aid our ironclads and more expensive yes
sells in operations against torpedo boats.
a large number of private yachts have
been offered to the department and other
acquisitions of the same type as the May
flower may be purchased.
Secretary Alger has made requisitions
on the president for two large alotments |
from the appropriation Of $4,000 o0l for |
the National defense 1t Is said one for So |
COO. 900 is for the use OF the engineer de- |
partment of the army in the completion |
of certain fertilization works along the |
Atlantic and gulf coasts now in progre s |
and the other Is for 2.2250o0 for the use |
Of the ordnance department of the army In |
the requirement of arms and ammunition. |
10 oh Ill ~ tie &c Io1
TO cover contracts already made by the |
military establishment
Under the recommendations of the Endi- |
colt board which some years ago made an |
exhaustive investigation of the condit on |
of the seacoast dcfenses. the department !
has been conducting at twenty-five OF tire |
twenty-seven places at which the board |
suggested work should be prosecuted. The |
board at the same time expressed its opin- |
ion that S55, 900, 900 could be we'll spent on |
these works and up to this time only |
50, 100000 has been expended 1t is sug- |
gested therefore, that tho money TO be |
allotted probably Will be spent In further
Fastening of the work already under way, |
although there are isolated cases where
new work should be begun and pushed |
with all due diligence,
General Greeley chief signal officer o.
the army. has gone to New York City for
visit OF some DAYS While there ii Is |
probable he will make arrangements for |
the work of connecting by means of te!>- |
graph and telpehone lines the various for
tihcations In the harbor of New York A
similar condition of affairs exists In other
fortitioations along the Atlantic and Pa
ciflc coasts. but ARRANGEMENTS are under
way to remedy matters.
The equipment bureau OF the navy de-
nartment has prepared itself for the equip
ment Mt very short notice OF any vessels
OF the auxiliary navy that may be acquired
with the most approved signalling devic-s
The torpedo boat Foote sailed for Key
The Marietta sailed from San Jose for
Panama
The Essex arrived at Portsmouth.
considering the competition offered by
the navy and marine corps in the enlist
nent OF recruits. the war department feels
,nat y Is doing very well In securing men
Tor the artillery regiments The adiutant
generals report today was that oaO men
nave been secured This is at the rate Of
800 per month and about as fast as the
men osn be properly taken care of How
ever, the officials are careful TO insist that
whlle they are DESTROYS Of securing as
many recruits as possible they have In M
degree abated the high requirements az
me army ms TO physcal aud moral uualI-
ties. They want the best men The rerorts
indicate that every section OF tho country
- contributing to the enlisimsnts and J,
Niose fom i'hllus, TeNas, are particularly
encouraging, With a view TO fastening tire
ORGANIZATION Of the artillery regiments.
me department has issued an order nor.
"M.ihg mon who formerly served In the
artillery branches and have since been
,rnnsferree to the cavalry and infantry
branches to return 10 the artillery arm. !
rherc are number az these men wro
seem anxious to transfer in order to be
az the seacoast In case OF trouble.
--'rf7
FRENCH ACTIVITY.
II