The age-herald., 1898-03-03
SECRETARY LONG
 PRAISES BOUTELLE Says the Attitude of the Maine Congress-
 man Has Been Misunderstood.

Washington, March 2-To remove the impression that had gotten abroad to the effect that the relations between the navy department and the house naval commit tee were not harmonious, Secretary Long this afternoon gave out short statement on the subject. He said: "Congressman Boutelle has been misunderstood. The con- gressman, who is one of the most patriotic men in the world, is always ready to do everything that can be done for the party. In his annual report the secretary recom- mended that 1,50O men be added to the en- listed force on account of the increase in the number of ships. The naval commit tee, of which Mir Boutelle is chairman, has already decided to grant this increase in the regular naval appropriation bill. Meantime If there should be any immedi- ate necessity for more men, the same com- mittee, and MT. Boutelle as its chairman, are ready to make provision to that eff feet at once.'
 A cablegram came from Gen. Lee during the day to the state department, but it made no reference to the Maine affair, be- ing devoted to the periodical statement of the amount of tobacco that is being shipped from Cuba to the United States ports, thus giving evidence of the actual removal of the export prohibition decree.
 Commander of the Miantonomah
 The commander of the monitor Mian- tonomah, which was ordered into commits sion yesterday, was selected in the person of Capt. Mortimer Johnson, who is at pres-. ent on waiting orders. Secretary Long says that the Miantonomah, with the ram Katahdin, will remain In the Delaware for the present at least. With the commits sioning of these two vessels there remain only the cruisers Columbia and Minneapolis on the Atlantic coast available, for imme- diate service There are a number of good ships on the Pacific coast, however, whose repair is under way.
 The navigation bureau is still busy with the preparation of the death certificates for the families of the victims of the Maine disaster. Capt. Hawley, who has the mat ter immediately in charge, says that owing to the necessary formalities these certih- cates cannot be issued before March 15, and this answer is returned to numerous letters daily received at the department
 It is said in the navigation bureau that there is a pressing need of able machinists for the navy, caused by the heretofore un- noted fact that every one of the machin- ists the Maine lost his life in the ex- plosion.+ Moreover, all the flremen but one were killed.
 The bureau has invited enlistments from men who have had naval service before in the engine rooms and, as it is said that number of these men are now enjoying the three months period of time between enlistments during which they may come again into naval service without loss Of service record, it is hoped that some of them win come forward to fill the places made vacant by the Maine disaster.
 Pauncefote Expresses Condolence
 Sir Julian Pauncefote came to the state department today bearing one of the formal expressions of deep coincidence and sympathy with the government over the loss of the Maine that have come now from every one of the British colonies. This message was from Sir Alfred Maloney, governor of the Windward Islands. Both the state department and the de- partment of justice have received consider able detailed information relative to the alleged filibustering steamer Dauntiess. This is accompanied by the suggestion that the vessel might be libelled under the navigation laws for concealing her name, and under the neutrality laws for carrying war material to the Cubans. The correspondence began on January 17, last, and covers much data on the past record of the Dauntless. It states that the mid- dle of January last the Dauntless was how ering between Florida and Georgia ports, for the evident purpose of eluding detection so as to get away with a filibustering party for Cuba.
 Suspicious of the DauntIess
 The intimation was conveyed to the de- partment of justice that this purpose was so clear that it would be wise precautfon to place a deputy United States marshal or deputy collector of customs on board the ship. memorandum recites the basis of suspicion of the Dauntless It states that in the case of the United States vs. John D. Hart, recently approved by the court of appeals. the testimony of one of the witnesses was that the Daunt1ess had painted out her name in order to avoid recognition while taking supplies for the Cubans from the island of Navassa to Cuba The testimony of this witness is given in detail.
 He says the supplies were first brought from the limited States to Navassa on the ship Laurada. where they were transferred to the DauDtless. He says that he noticed that the word "Daunt4ess'' appeared on the buckets, handles and yawls of the ves- sel. but that the name on the bow was covered with a piece of canvas, and the name on the stern was painted out For this alleged offense against the navigation laws 1t is pointed out the Dauntless has never been prosecuted, and 1t is claimed is now subject to Mbel. The Memorandum also cites another instance occurring last May when tt Is stated the United States cruiser Marblehead overthauaed the Daunt- less. 1uereupont " es etaleur eipe 1aAMptiSs1 threw over her cargo, "as witnessed by the officers of the Marblehead."
 It Is also state that the Dauntless has been known to apply for clearance from Florida ports Wl1en she had on board car- goes congigne6 ITO the president of the Cuban. republic" This material. already in the ha1lds of the authorities here, will be supplemented by additional information bearing on the recent movements of the Damntdees, although t is eatd that the chewing already made enfIlces for ectton aGadnst the Veensl.