The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1898-03-15


the reports from Spain, as to the pros
pective sailing of the Spanish torpedo
Meet her Havana, and TO the signifi-
cance which had been attached In this
country TO this movement. The Minis
ter said that the movement of the tor
pedo craft had beeEn bcng contemplate
ed. Their coming had no relation
whatever, he declared, to recent cond.-
tions, as they were wanted for work
along the Cuban coast.
Ihe MH.iSter has received no intima-
tiCcr SIS TO the findings Of the Spanish
naval commission which is !nvestigut-
ing the Maine disaster. He says this
commission is proceeding with the
same Formally smd' secrecy as the
uGited States court OF inquiry, and
mat no hMimation of its findings VIII
be justified until the formal report is
presented 10 the Spanish Government
Alr. Polo added that his personal be-
lief, however was that's there is no
doubt the Spa,cdsh commission will re-
port thau the Maine explosion was due
to accident, and said hr was con-
Ninced that this also will be the con-
ciusion reached by the pci1ple in this
country when all the facts in the mat
ter are made k-own.
The recruiting branch Of the Navy
cDlrtmcnt Is naturally one of the
biggest branches of the service Just
irNw. 1t is in the temporary command
of Capt2tlf Hemphill during the alb
sence ~ the South of Captain Haw-
lev and he was busy to-day with q rep
reScntative Of the ruilrcadS cr!eagcd in
arranging for terms for transporta lion
OF recruits 10 the seabOard and Of
sailors, already in thu service, from
one pora to a3other, made necessary by
the commission Of new ships. a pro-
Diem that cO:pfronts the recruiting
Office is TO procure the necessary force
rf enlisted men for manning the two
ships which have bccrl purchased from
Brazil.
Col. Myron NJ. Parker, one Of the
laading business men of Washing t-n,
who accompanied Senator Proctor in
his recent visit 10 Cuba. said to-day
mat the Americans C,1 the island had
TN dSnbt that the disaster 10 the Maine
was caused through Spanish agencies
Their belief. however, he said. could
h-h he traced 20 any authoritative
source. The insurgents. Colonel Park
er thought. were in better shape than
ever before. and would be able to ac-
compl.sh their independence ir time.
Inc Cubans, as ruia, he believed.
would be glad to see the isla-;' come
undAr the American flag, and would do
what thSy could To. bring about that
result: The Colonel reiterated his
statement df last night that the Sit
GLorabe in tha extreme TraAy were
confined within narrow limits and pruc,
ucaily left 70 starve. The .,rnerOSi;y, of
the Aemi!can :ople, C1oweNar, was be-
Einn:nS To I've fHi;. and the extreme dis
EH:ss w.S gradually being relieved
He spoke in the highest terms OF Cen
eral Lee and the work h had done,
ana also cf Consul Barker, who had
made g:"1,: pa.Socatt sacrifices for the
r ,,,itJ - J,r nj,
Representative Elliott. OF South Car
olnn. c&'lhs6 AZ the Navy Department
t5'-dar' 10 ;ak with the officials res
prct'ng hhe clothing OF the naval mill
tn. Under the existing T. guiltiOns the
Department has no authority 10 eXpcnd
any cf the small allotment of funds
mad" by ConglcSs for the use Cis the
"aNI! miii;!S' fer .'he purchase OF cloth
ing. II il nj consGmcd in the purchase
of hCa.S. equipment, arms books. sig
mad flags. eu7l For several yelGs The
m.E!a'1En have bee-, trying To secure
4 mndiiica".aon of The lGtM that would
permit OF the Scplica.ion OF at least n
portion of the militia appropriation for
the purchase or uniforms This has
been accomplished at last ihrougr, the
inclusion of tbs pending naval bill OF
4 su.sah1s amertillant. However, this
new clause under ordinary conditions
/
next RIspres ;mta,:.ve Elliott is en-
deavoring to- secure the departments
aid in having the section go into eff
feet Immediately upon the passage OF
trN bill, in which case a co2sidcra bic
body OF the Sou;h Carolina militia
can be put into active service at once.
The department is; thoroughly cHnlii-
ted 10 the measure.
The u:cy I.rydsn. Il 1rc steel boat
l. 4.
Key West
Clblcginms recsivca AZ the Navy De-
pararrnt to-day ANNOUNCE ;hat tho
Bancroft sailed from Lisbon fo- Nor
folk and ths, Helena from Lisbon for
Key West 20 join the squadron. This
lclves Admiral Howeli At lisbon with
iIs nagshis, San FrA,Scisco as the sole
representative. of the United States
navy in E:urop:ln NntcIs.
1t is now Stated al the Navy Depart
men: ihat uhe Nlarbieheld which ar
rived al Tampa Saturday night, was
ordered 10 that place simply 10 take
on some stc:es for the Nor.h Atlantic
SGuadl%r-.
From unofficial Information received
here there has been n satisfactory, i'm
prov,nnant in the r.nalih of both Ad-
miral Sicard. who Is commanding the
North AItlnttc squadron. aaii, Of Cap
tain SigSbec, who commanded the
Mains before the explosion wh!lh
wrecked her.
The Bureau 2f ordnance Of the War
department opened bids to-day for a
large supply Of srmor- piercing projcc-
tiles and for 12.0Oo.000 rifle bali cart
ridges The bidding brought together
n number of The representatives OF the
large steel and ammunition companirs
some of wh-m tGrk occasion to give
assurances that In the presC..t cmcr-
Eency Govcrnmenh work would be
gwen the prcfcrci:cc over commercial
NrllnrS. Ihn hillnrs for staol ..r-.: -.