The record-union., 1898-03-13
Of vessel from tour to foreign coun-

of a vessel from tour to foreign coun-
tries
The Fern, laden with supplies for the
suffering Cubans, arrived at Matanzas.
Cuba, from Key West, to day. Cap
tain Cowles merely reported his ar
rival to the Navy Department, without
making any mention OF the condition
of affairs at Matanzas. After dis
charging the stores there. Captain
CowIes viii proceed with his vessel to
Sagua and leave the remainder.
Civil Engineer a. ]. Menocal has been
detached from the League Island navy
yards and ordered 10 Key West. This
is regarded as significant ard as in
dicating q purpose on the part OF the
Navy Department to make immediate
and considerable improvements at the
naval station in Key West Fer several
years past Engineer in Chief Melville
has urged on the department the ad-
visibility Of erecting good machinery
repair shop ct this naval station, point
inc out that the great volume Of ship
ping passing from the gulf TO Europe
ard the Eastern States at present had
no place in which to make temporary
repairs on their voyages. without going
a considerable distance out of the way
His proposition was that the shop should
be originally devoted 10 naval uses. but
it might easily be arranged that mer-
chant vessels should avail cf its facilite:
in case of need. upon easy terms At
present the North Atlantic squadron Is
obliged to defer making any repairs
that cannot be done aboard. This state
of affairs could not be permitted to exist
in time Of trouble.
The battleship Iowa sailed from Key
West for Tortugas to-day, and the tor
pedo boat Dupont arrived at Key West
The gunboat Wilmington reported her
arrival at Barbados
Brigadier- General John Wilson Chief
OF Engineers of the War Department
returned to-day after & trip Of over
1900 miles, which he accomplished in
side of one week. Naturally his visit
TO Southern coast points. in which ex-
tensive Notifications work is in pro-
gress, has excited much comment Gen
eral Wilson declined. however. TO dis
cuss in any way this phase of his trip.
1t is understood that he visited Cumber-
land River, st. Johns River and the
works at Tampa and Key West, Fla
The inspection Of the Cumberland and
ST. Johns Rivers was in connection with
river and harbor improvements, the fer
rner being the point where Captain Car
ters alleged irTegularity occurred Gen
eral Wilson spent a day 81 Key West
and another at Tampa, but the nature of
| his inspections there are ont disclosed
| While at Key West he met a number Of
the officers Of the United States feet
concentrated there. and heard the usual
comment On the cause Of the disaster
to the Maine. which. however, was pure
ly speculative. he did not go to Tortu-
gas notwithstanding the reports current
while he was in the South that he was
examining this point with a view to
having plans for its fertilization put into
effect.
Consul Lee communicated to
TIE Department of State information
derived from the Passport Bureau il
| Havana, to the effect that no changes
viii be made affecting passports beyond
/ holding the passports presented for
tWen;y-four hours before delivery. TIL
Americans are allowed to land without
passports, but no one can leave port or
obtain a passage ticket by an outgoing
vessel without presenting passport
duly viZed by the Government. which IS
kept by the consignees of the vessel for
police inspection on board when it is re-
turned TO the passenger, if in order.
The Consul General recommends that
all Americans intending to visit Cuba
should provide themselves with pass
ports from the Department of state.
which serve to identify them properly
while in Cuba, and greatly facilitate
their departure when ready TO leave the
island.