The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1898-03-09
SPANIARDS BACK DOWN.
Request for Gen. Less Recall Is
Withdrawn.
Bill ApproprIatIng s5O,OOO.OO0 for the
National Defense Is Introduced in Con-
gress and Has the Presidents APP
prOval - Cruiser Montgomery to
Go to Havana Warsbips May
be Bought in Europe.

the troubled relations between the
United States and Spain: The intro
duction in congress by Mr.. Cannon of
a resolution carrying $50. OO0, 900 for the
public defense; the withdrawal by the
Spanish government of it's intimated
objection to the continuance in Office
of Consul General Lee; the order to
the cruiser Montgomery to proceed to
Havana in place of the Fern; the pas
sage through the house of the bill in
creasing the artillery arm by two regi-
ments, and the institution of negotia-
tions looking to the purchase of war
ships for our navy.
Mr. Cannon's resolution led all other
topics in interest, particularly when it
became known that it was the result
of conference between the author,
the president Senator Hale and other
leading spirits in congress AS for
Gen. Lees case, the news of the salts
factory ending of the incident through
the withdrawal of the suggestion by
Spain was expected as soon as it was
noted that loophole had been left
open through the failure to make the
complaint in anything like an official
shape. Some fear is expressed that
Mr.. Lee will not find hisapost very con-
genial, now that he knows he is an un-
| welcome guest in Havana, but the
administration is relying upon his de-
votion to the welfare of American in
| terests to submit his own personal
| wishes to restraint and remain at his
post.
Late in the afternoon Senor Du
Bose, the Spanish charge, received
cablegram from the minister of state
at Madrid, saying: You can disavow
the rumor that any official application
has been made for the recall of Consul
| General Lee" This confirmed Mr.. Du
Bosc's view that misapprehension
had occurred, and that some intimation
concerning Mr.. Lee had been con-
strued into a request or demand for
never intended.
AS there has been no explanation so
far of the purpose which prompted
the introduction of Mr.. Cannon's reso-
luton, it may be said that the money
is wanted as an emergency fund. Off
cials who will have the disposition of
this treasure say that it by no means
follows because congress places such a
sum of money in control of the presi-
dent that he will feel bound to spend
all of it.
Those who look for wholesale pur-
chase of warships from the bargain
counters of European builders are
likely to be disappointed The navy
department at present is inclined to
make but one purchase of this kind at
first, at least, in the shape of a substan-
tial ironclad 1t does desire to get
possession of several of the larger
class of torpedo boat destroyers, YES
sells of 300 tons, able to keep the sea in
bad weather, weak point with our
own boats, and capable of enormous
speed such as SO knots. But such
crafts are not for sale at all times.
They are generally built to order.
Secretary Long received call from
A. f. Lane, representing the Maxim
Nordenfeldt Co. and the agent for sew
eral war vessels now nearing compile
tion in foreign shipyards. These in
clude two cruisers of the type of the
Cincinnati, which are designed to be
2O-knot vessels, and two ironclads of
IA knots, which would be called third
class battleships under our rating.
These are now open to purchase, and
Mr.. Lanes visit was in this connection.
Mr.. Lane regards these ships as first
class in every particular, as they were
designed on modern principles and are
being built by one of the leading ship
building firms of Europe. They are
well along toward completion and all
four, it is said, could be in commission
within few months. They were orig
inally designed for one of the South
American republics, but there is said
to be no obligation which would pre-
vent their acquisition by the United
States.
There are things that are wanted
much more than warships in case of
trouble and the army shares these
needs, so that fair proportion of the
$50, 900, 900 would have to go to the war
department. There are no abundant
supplies of shot and shell and powder.
The army is as short as the navy of
these essential stores. 1t has been
found that there will not be nearly as
much difficulty in securing modern
arms for the army, even on war foot
ing, as was anticipated This is be-
cause certain private gun makers have
just brought out type of repeating
rifles very similar to the army rife,
using the same cartridge of 80 gauge,
and with about as great rapidity OF
fire. These companies could turn the
arms out very rapidly, so that the
Springfelds in the hands of the militia
could be replaced in short order.
In connection with the subject of
purchasing naval ammunition it is said
that no contracts have been closed,
but the facilities Of this country are
ample to meet any demand for powder,
projectiles, cartridge cases, primers,
fuses, etc,
The Fern VIII Carry Relief Supplies.
Washington, March s.-The navy de-
partment announced Monday after
noon that the cruiser Montgomery
would relieve the dispatch boat Fern
at Havana and that the Fern would
carry provisions and relief supplies to
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