The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-03-07


start next Thursday for Cuba.
The decision OF tho administration to
send supplies 10 the reconcetitrados In
Cuba was arrived ut early in the week.
Gen. Lee had represented that he had
been unable to distribute the goods
that had been received In answer to the
proclamation OF the President TO the
American people. He reported that
many tons Of these supplies Were stored
In Havana and could not be forwarded
TO the eastern end OF the island. The
United States conBuls at Siatnnzas and
Sagua In Grandc had come In person
to Havana to geek for relief after re-
porting to the state department the ter
rlble condition existing In their respect-
I've districts. ,EE
The state department Immediately In
stituted Inquiries and learning that the
original decree OF the Spanish govern
incnt authorizing the free distribution
Of supplies applied only 10 the port Of
Havana, secured permission for the
free reception OF these supplies at oil
ports.
The next obstacle met was the dill
Guilty or ans-shlpplng the goods from
Havana eastward, there being q SEMI
weekly service BY steamer and that sub
ject to many vexatious local restrlc-
tons. When the United States cruiser
Montgomery returned from her cruise.
which Included the Cuban ports OF Ma
tanzas and Santiago. the officers
brought narrowing tales OF the distress
existing there. Captain Crowninshleld.
the chief OF the navigation bureau OF
the navy department. IN officer OF the
soundest discretion and Judgment, was
on the shlpNan accidental passenger.
He told President Mckinley directly
what he learned. Tho result was the
immediate decision OF the navy depart
ment 10 accede to the request OF the re-
lief committee In New York 10 forward
their supplies 20 the eastern ports OF
Cuba, One OF the American lines OF
steamships running to New York had
offered to take the Dounteous contrl-
buttons OF tho American people to Key
West and the President himself gave
the order for their carriage to eastern
Cuba by any OF the available ships OF
the North Atlantic squadron.
The announcement by the Associated
Press OF the purpose OF the government
TO send supplies TO Cuba on naval YES
sells was made last Wednesday. Within
twenty-four hours there were signs OF
resistance on the part OF the Spanish
government.
At first this took the shape OF for
mai Inquiry by the Spanish charge
Senior du Bosc--as to the correctness OF
the report. the inquiry being couched In
an incredulous tone, and later when the
atilmation came there was lodged, not
4 formal protest. but rather an insin.
uation that the movement OF the naval
ships would not be acceptable; that II
would be construed into an act OF
active sympathy on the part Of the gov
eminent OF the United States with the
insurgents.
But the President had satisfied him.
SELF that the course he had chosen, that
OF sending the supplies In naval YES
sci, was the only one that promised
sufficient and prompt relief. There
was no time for polite diplomatic ex-
change OF notes, when according to
Gen. Lees advice. people were perish
ing from hunger by hundreds every day
In Cuba, and the Spanish charge was
so informed.
Senior du Bose. when seen at the Span
ish legation to-day, could add little TO
the fund OF information on the two sub
1ects which were attracting SO much Of
ficial and public attention. He had re-
ceived no word from his government
concerning Gen. Lee and he stated pos
lively that no suggestions concerning
Gen. Lees retirement had been sub
mitted by him to the state department.
AS to the sending of relief supplies by
the Montgomery and Nashville Mr..
du Bose said he felt that merchant YES
sells were much better equipped for such
service and their use was not open to
that misconstruction possible in sending
supplies by vessels OF the navy.