The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-03-07
MAY BUY A FLEET.
Naval officers Know Where There Are
Ships For Sale.

| Ships For sale.
WASHINGTON, March 5.-There is q
promise of new and unwelcome de
velopment Of the Maine affair that may
lead to an issue between the govern
ment of the United States and the State
of Florida, if the officials of the state en-
dorse the stand taken by the local officials
at Key West. The latter have notified
Admiral Sicard that on the first of next
month they propose to enforce the state
quarantine law against all craft arriving
from Cuba as a measure of prevention
against the introduction of yellow fever.
| The notice indicates that the law will be
applied to the vessels in view of the seri-
Gus Interruptions such interference with
the free movement of his ships would
cause Admiral Sicard reported the facts
tc the navy department and awaits in
structions. The department officials can
not tolerate with equanimity the stoppage
of such craft as the Mangrove and the
! Fern on their errands of mercy nor de-
lays that may result in hindering the
work of the w1eckers engaged on the
Maine's hull and in the work of the court
of inquiry. The President probably
will communicate with the governor of
Floridv with a view to securing an
amendment of the law SO far as it is pro-
posed tofapply it to naval vessels, this be.
| ing the speediest manner of dealing with
| the case, although it may be stated that
the national government never recog-
nized the right of any local authorities to
stop it's vessels in case their movements
were deemed necessary. The warships
have voluntarily submitted to the quar-
antine when returning from any port
suspected of infection, but this is assert
ed to be merely concession and not the
recognition of any lawful right on the
part of state authorities. In viewl Of the
fact that the officers on our war ships,
with the aid of capable surgeons on each
ship, make it their pride to keep their
craft in the most. healthful condition,
naval officers feel that they may be safely
left to run their ships between Havana
and Key West without restriction. AS
an evidence of the care exercised to avoid
carrying contagion, the officials point
oAAS
wou nded survivors Of the Maine disaster
were detained for several days at Tortugas
be fore allowing them to go to Key West.
A MISSION OF MERCY.
1t is asserted positively at the State De-
partment that there has been no change
in the plans for the sending of the Mont
gomery and the Nashville to Eastern
Cuban ports with relief supplies for. the
reconcentradoes. 1t had been suggested
that the offer of merchant steamer from
New York to take some of these goods to
Cuba would relieve the naval vessels
from the performance Of this onerous
task, hut the declaration from the state
department ensures the execution of the
original programme and the ships named
will sail for MatanZas and Sagua la
Grande as soon as the goods arrive at
Key West from New York. Reports have
come to the State Department. from these
places that terrible restitution exists,
probably nowhere exceeded in the island
and the officers of the Montgomery saw
for themselves on their recent stop at
MatanZas the extent of the misery. II
is said by some correspondents Of these
off GERS that they all returned penniless
from their Cuban cruise, having been SO
moved by what they saw that they gave
away all of their ready cash.
THE PACIFIC SQUADRON.
1t was decided this afternoon to aban-
don the projected order to the ship Olym.
pja to return to San Francisco from Hong
Kong. Without this ship the Asiatic
squadron would be made up of gunboatE
and unprotected cruisers, without any
great degree of defense and no defensive
force against armored ships. The cruiser
Baltimore, now at Honolulu, has been
selected to take the powder to be brought
to that port by the Mohican further
along to Hong Kong for the vessels Of
the Asiatio squadron. Whether or not
the ship will be attached to the squadron
permanently had not yet been determined
The torpedo boat Winslow, which has
been under repair at the Norfolk navy
yard, sailed today for Key West.
THE PURCHASE OF SHIPS.
, The continued reports that Spain il
buying two war ships led to counter re
ports that the naval authorities here were
considering similar purchases. In ne
official quarter with the navy department
could the latter reports be confirmed, al
steps of this character necessarily would
| pO &udIuou Wibl UuO RlC6uCoV SoO1SoJ
There is little doubt, however, that the
; department. is informed as to the oppor
tunities for purchases should the necess1
ty for more ships arise. Thus far there
have been no negotiations for ships anc
no options asked on particular ships
Quite a number of offers of ships have
been submitted to Secretary Long by shiI
building concerns in this country ant
abroad. These have been docketed ani
fled, but beyond an acknowledgment O.
the offers no steps toward purchase have
} been taken.
Under ordinary circumstances the navy
department would require authority from
Congress to purchase war ships. There
: is no law which permits longer exercise
of authority in times of emergency thai
at other times. 1t is understood that thu
r naval authorities feel that such emer
gency measures as might be required
would have the subsequent approval o
Congress. A precedent. is cited as th'
/ purchase of naval vessel in time o
emergency without the assent of Con
gress. While Senator Chandler was at thu
head of the navy department, informa
ton reached here that the Greedy Arcti
expedition was in a perilous condition