The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-24
Vl2SHIPS FOR KEY WEST.
Monitors Puritan and Terror to Join
the Fleet.
GALL REVENUE CUTTERS.
SslgOin5 Craft May Be Turned Over
to the Navy.

Vasbangton March 23.-The feeling was
UNIVERSAL throughout official circles to-
5sy that The elimination of the Spanish
crisis was near at hand. With the report
a. the Maine court inquiry only a little
ufo of. with the White House the cen,
long and earnest conference between
,ss President and the party leaders in
congress and with the exceptional ac-
tyttv toward emergency preparations in
tbs war and navy departments, there was
abundance of evidence that the definite
results regarding the Maine disaster ana
ne Cuban question in general were about
10 be reached.
Among the Presidents callers were Sen
at5r. Cockreli, Turpie and Foraker, Gen.
Daniel stakels. former United States min
ker 10 Madrid, and Representative Will
lam Alden Smith of Michigan, who has
recently returned from a trip to Cuba.
The cali Of Messrs. Cockrel and Turpie
was regarded as particularly significant
as they are representative Democrats in
the Senate. ana their visit followed that
otsena-or German yesterday. 1t was gen
orally understood that in the present
emergency the President desires patriotic
unity without reference to party.
Secretaries Long and Ager also con-
i,rred with The President during the day.
Secretary Long said later that the Maine
report would probably reach Washington
tomorrow night If, however, it did not
cone before s o'clock Thursday evening,
Mr. Long said he would probably not re-
ceye it until Friday morning, when it
would he laid before the President imme-
daely The Secretary did not think the
President would give the document any
consideration at a late hour tomorrow
night 1, was more probable, he thought,
if Lieut. Mark arrived at a late hour,
tina, he would take the report to hotel
1vr the night
There has been no change in the plan
Of sending the report to Congress early
rex week probably Monday, accompan-
Jed by message from the President. 1t
is definitely settled, however, that the
mess ge and the papers accompanying
u Will relate exclusively to the Maine dis-
aAer It viii not take up the fearful
condition of affairs in Cuba, as shown by
the reports of United States consuls, these
ben2 reserved for subsequent action and
ater message to Congress.
Secretary Long determined to-day to or
ger the double turreted monitors Puritan
and Terror to Key West, where they will
reinforce the squadron in those waters.
ne also determined to bring into service
Ae elelt single turreted monitors at
league Island navy yard, Philadelphia,
'"o OF which will be sent to Boston, two
w N'N York and four held in reserve at
DIa1eph!a. The Puritan and Terror
'aae Jlo place of the battleships Massa-
"se-is and Texas, recently withdrawn
+oh the squadron at Key West 1t was
1'.'I at the navy department that this
l''e was in accordance with pro-
s."lAne previously agreed upon, although
N iIos"mme has not been announced
-..''.'ie. The Puritan by many experts
'7-dIdei as the most formidable fight
"s hine in the navy.
J" addition to this and other prepara-
pgf ior possible trouble, the navy de-
0il.O. to-day took steps toward utiliz-
I'm .'' "i the sea going revenue cutters
q 'f along the Atlantic coast Capt
i@er chief of the revenue cutter
conferred with Assistant Secreta-
H. Felt during the day on the plans
A. ''aE over these cutters to the navy.
s5, "ii oe first sent TO Norfolk where
gr al guns will be mounted and then
n ''"'.d TO Key West and become a
ssr, 'ne squadron there. The main
aoWever, win be as naval pickets,
t. "' these fleet cutters being main
s~ side of the cruisers and battle
t revenue cutter service now
r, for instant and active service
na AHeers, Il engineers 900 enlisted
an. ~ vessels, of which fourteen
r. Atlantic coast. Two others are
vHt o- construction at Cleveland and
l4.I work can be completed and
d.r. sea in from thirty to forty-five
our 0n'ng the Gresham, the Algon-
a. 'heondaga and the Window are
lrr last and efficient vessels. The
| b., is considered an eighteen knot
Q.... OF them, it is said, could be
dt.r ''Verted into torpedo boats or
hot This last move will be made is
&l leiy decided Secretary Long
brr.I 'y II had become evident that
anal , Us could not be bought abroad,
C9arl. Not be built soon enough in this
ober mat we might have to equip
H. with torpedoes,
tr Wy department opened bids to-day
ugs we improvements at Dry Tor
Aayr hey West, formal transfer
rar 'u eHeqted as regards Tortugas,
tl5sl.1 ses from the treasury to the war
~" These consist Of two solid