The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-03-08
The PRESENT SITUATION.
An Aerial Torpedo Boat offered to the
Government That Would Sink Any
.-, Cruiser AfIOat.

menu rs TO Tue proDaDle HnulnS oI Inc
court accustomed principally by a slgnifi-
cant remark made by Hulse.
Mr., Hulse has not made himself con-
spicuous since his return. He spent much
of the day III writing out his stenographic
notes Of tho testimony. About noon,
however. he went cut for walk, and met
several fliends, who expressed their pleas
ura at his safe return. Mr.. Huise was
jocularly asked fora copy of the Bati-
more & Ohio Road and is under oath not
to divulgt any Information he possesses
He then added seriously:
1.-THE only possible outcome of this af-
fair is war;"
Among those present were several prom
inent members of the District bar, Law
yers Colbert and Hamilton, of the Balti-
more 81 Ohio Road, and Mr. Roach, son Of
Senator Roach of North Dakota.
President Mckinley sounded thel key
note Of the situation when he said to II
caller yesterday-no less u person than
Colonel j. j. McCook.
"Ihe impression has gained that l am
lacking in backbone, My critics will dis
cover have enough backbone to cope with
this crisis
He then called for his legislative coun-
sellers and explained his desir, to avert
war if possible, but to bo prepared for it
should it come Representative Cannon
asa result introduced his bill appropriate
ing $780, 900, 00J for the use as national
fund for offence and defence.
Washington, March S.-Captain Louis
| Sorcho, of Atlantic City, Is in Washing
ton to offer his services gratis to the Navy
| Department in the work upon the sub
merged Maine.
Captain Sprcb, has u remarkable diving
apparatus. One Gifts features is tele.
phone, by which the submarine worker
| PROPOSES to talk TO tho members Of tho
Court Of Inquiry on tho Mangrove whilo
tho diver is pursuing his investigation
| Another feature isu LOO candle power
seutchlight, carried by the diver to aid him
in his work.
| Nrw York, March S.-A Havana special
to the sun says that an American schooner
is said here to have been stopped by u
Spanish warship on tho Southern coast Of
| Cuba.
Tho authorities here say that it was n
! ilibustnring vessel, but no more details
can BE- obtained officially or are allowed 10
be sent to tho press censor
There il great excitement in Hava ia.
The volunteers arc wildly enthusiastic
over the reports of war and they have had
cannon exercises to-ilay at Cabana fortress
to test the new big gnn2.
Tho volunteers declare that they will de.
fend Havana until the last one Of them is
doad. The fling Of the cannon by tho
volunteers yesterday ut Ia Cabana freight
ened many Havana families and foreign
residents The cause oil the shots was soon
explained.
The Spanish police are making more ar
rests. Yesterday at 3 O'clock in the
morning eight well known residents of
this city were driven out Of their homes
and sent 10 Cabana Fortress.
Sc'adia, Mo-, March S-Thomas J.
Brown, train dispatcher for the Missouri
Pacific, at this place, was notified yester-
day by the Commissioner of Patent, that
he had boon granted patent on an alum
nnm aerial torpedo boat. The boat OF
outtleship is constructed of aluminium,
is l!0 feet long and Ii feet in diameter.
Mr.. Brown instructed bis attorneys, at
Washington to call upon Secretary Long
and :mako the proposition.
"Wewl! doliver To the Government at
Washington an aluminium aerial torpedo
ship equipped for service, ono capable OF
crossing the ocean If necessary, carrying
enough explosives to sink any buttleship
or destroy fortillcation.'
Norfolk, Va, March o.-The fact that nc
steps have been taken to mine tho entrance
to Hampton Roads is provoking considera
bic comment, and, in case of war, it might
be possible for warshlp to reach Hamp-
ton Roads before the entrance to the har
Dor could be properly mined.
Should Havana be blockudcd, q Spanish
fleet proceeding against New York would
undoubtedly attempt to coal here ln
view of the fact, there is little doubt that
the work Of laying torpcdocs in Hampton
Roads will not bo delayed much longer.
Now York March S.-Thc passing of thu
army bill was the signal for public re-
joicng yesterday afternoon at the fort
about the harbor. Gen. Merritt was
study in smiles when the news reached
him. The first thing lie did was to tcndc
his congratulations to the officers undo
his command, who will receive promotion
Just as soon as tho two new artillery reg
ments, for which the bill provides, ar
created.
Il am more than pleased said Gen
Merritt lat the action OF Congress. Thi
bill has been before Congress for mum
~ Der of years. Time and time again l hay
urged the necessity of more men in tn
service, Each battery has had two lieu
tenants, when one is all that is necessary
The now law, $50 far as promotions ar
concerned, will affect two lieHtenanU.col
! unels, four ajors, ten captains, thirty-hv
lieutenants. and three second licutenantS
may say that although the now law vii
: not affect him, that Lieut.. Strathcr, ono G
lily ulNt- w Nulll pb " III pOJIl w nluNiC u bil
} tain. Lieut. Strather will accompany III
ON my trip south.
+ "With the addition Of go men. fc
V which the bill provides, We will be able t
. properly man the SeacOast foriiiication
= Oh both sides Of the continent. An ell
y / tlrcly new distribution Of tho artillUr
forces will not be necessary. There nj
a about tAirty.six posts under my cOmmun
e that arc not garrisoncd, This evil wi
- now be rcmGdicd.
20 II will leave for st. Augustine to-mol
Il row with Lieut. ~trather. We will
e gone three weeks. Turing my absent
9 Col. Barber will be in charge Of the is
:, land. | will be in hourly 81, telegraph
u communication with him.
81 will visit Key West and all the garr
soned posts along tho southern coast
- viii! not go to the Dry Tortugas, As yet
" have received no official communicate
g from tho War Department that ever hi
H. at hostilities being imminent.
The Weather.