The Portland daily press., 1898-03-15
ST. LOUIS MAY NOT SAIL.
Board of Auxiliary. Cruisers Looked at
American Line Steamers Yesterday.

New York, March 1.-THE board of
auxiliary cruisers for the United States
navy, which was appointed to acquire
ships of the merchant marine for use in
the event of war, met for organization
today.
The special board organized with the
selection of Captain Frederick Rodgers
of the naval board of inspection and
survey as president, Lieutenant Sargent,
recorder of the board of inspection, and
secretary, and Lieutenant Commander
Kelly, as advisor.
The board inspected the st. Louis and
the New York of the American line this
afternoon. The visit to the ST. Louis was
brief, The steamship has been constructed
under supervision of naval experts and
all of the officers composing the board
were familiar with tbs plans. The New
York was constructed when the company
sailed its ships under the British tag.
The New York was at one time IN the
reserve of the British admiralty and was
built under the supervision of English
officers. The inspection of all vessels on
viii h the government has option by rea-
son of the subsidy act, will be proceeded
with as rapidly as possible.
Clement A. GIisconi, president Of the
Navigation company, owners of the
"A
the board today with reference to the ST.
Louis. What result this consultation had
could not be learned. 1t was said by q
member of the board that nothing had
been decided The st. Louis is still ad-
yertised to sail on Wednesday; but 1T was
admitted by an official of the company
that he did not know whether or not she
would. Lieut.. Commander Kelley de-
clined to say that the steamer would be
held in this port
TRAIN ATTACKED IN CUBA.
Havana, March 1.-The train from Ma.
tanzas for Havana when near Jaracoa,
about % miles out, was fired on this
evening and three men wounded. MT.
Geo. Barnum, an American OF Savan-
nah, received slight wound in the arms.
The secretary of the Matanzss munich
pality was severely wounded. Mrs.
Barnum was with her husband at the
According to advices from Matanzas it
il hoped to get some of the stores from
the Fern distributed tomorrow, but
many bitches are in the way and work
may not be completed before Wednesday.
BEFORE NAVAL COMMITTEE.
Washington, March 14.-Secretary
Long, Chief Engineer Melville. Surgeon,
General Van Reypen, Captain O'Neil
and Chief of Ordinance and Paymaster
General Stewart of the navy, were before
the House committee on naval at airs
today to explain ONE estimates they made
for the naval appropriation bill. Nothing
was said about battleships or dry docks.
The main point of Secretary Longs
hearing was suggestion to raise the age
limit of entrance to the servicesof the Off
GERS of the medical corps from II to ~.
This, however. had already been done by
the committee. The raising of the limit
will result in a material increase in the
hor of off
service Chief Engineer Melville called
for an increase In the engineer corps OF
the navy which he said was imperatively
needed. He asked that provisions be
made for seventy more assistant en-
gineers. 1t was also pointed out that "a
number of assistant pay masters was
deficient by twenty. An appropriation
was asked for. When the hearing was
closed the committee began the consider
alton of the establishment of new dry
docks and entered into long discussion
as to the relative merits of the respective
cities asking for the dry docks. The
committee finally adjourned until tomor-
row without deciding any of the ques-
lions before it.
INSURGENTS IN GOOD SHAPE.
Washington, March Ex-senator Proc
t,r called at the war department today
to see Secretary Alger. He was given
mr. ,feren e over a number of persons,
who we're waiting in the reception room
aa4 for nearly half hour reoited to Sec
1erary Alger the events and observations
OF his Cuban trip.
Later Senator Proctor called at the
White House and had quite an extended
conference with the President to whom
ha narrated his observations in Cuba.
Col Myron M. Parker, one of the lead
ing business men of Washington, who &C
coinpauied Senator Proctor in his recent
visit to Cuba, said today that the Anne
+ cans on the island had no doubt that
tie disaster to the Maine WAS caused
through Spanish agency.
Their belief, however, ne said, could
not he traced to any authoritative source
The insurgents, Col Parker thought,
were in better shape than ever before and
would be able to accomplish their in
dependence in time.
SPANISH SQUADRON SAILS.
London, March IA special despatch
from Cadiz announces that the Spanish
squadron has sailed from that port.
1t is understood that the Spanish war
ships are going to Porto Rico, where they
will await the orders of Captain General
Bla1co.
ships Helena and Bancroft in a .souther-
lv direction from Lisbon may possibly
be connected with the simultaneous de-
parture of the Spanish squadron from
CadiZ, which is situated on the southern
coast of Spain.
Rumors have it that the Bancroft and
Helena may follow the Spanish ships
across the Atlantic.
The despatch adds that enthusiastic
crowds of people gathered to bid farewell
to the Spanish war vessels
POLO HEARS FROM BLANCO.
Washington, March 1.-The Spanish
minister Senior Polo Bernabe received
a number of dispatches today from the
minister of state at Madrid and from
Captain General Blanco.
Those from Gen. Blanco were reassur-
ing in tone, and stated that the situation
at Havana and throughout the island was
quiet and satisfactory. The minister of
state cabled saying in substance:
"Ths uprising in the Philippines Is so
insignificant that it will be ended by the
time you receive this. :"
Senior Polo did not have occasion to
visit the state departments today.