The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-03-11
passing on the privileges which the Ha-
vana authorities had accorded them.
NEW SPANISH MINISTER.

The new Spanish minister, Senior
Polo Bernabe, will arrive in New
York tomorrow on the German Line
steamer. He is expected at the lega-
tion the following day, and arrange
ments then will be made for the pre-
sentatiOn of his credentials to Presi-
dent Mckinley.
TO PURCHASE JAPANESE CRUIS-
ERS.
1t is known positively that negotia-
tiOnS are in progress toward having
the United States acquire the two crack
cruisers now building for Japan, one at
the Cramps ship yards at Philadelphia
and the other at the Union iron works
Of San Francisco. How far they will
succeed cannot be said at this time 1t
is known positively, however, that no
overtures have been submitted thus far
to the authorities at Toxic, and it
would be for them to give the final de-
cision. Pending this, a contract could
not be made nor an option given.
THE BROOKLYN ORDERED TO
NORFOLK.
The big armored cruiser Brooklyn
started away from La Guayra today
under orders from the navy depart
ment directly for Hampton Roads,
She has been making a flying cruise
in the West Indies and around the
eastern end of Cuba, and it was the
original intention to have her go to
Colon on the Isthmus and thence to
work northward along the eastern
coast Of Central America. The send
ing of the ship to Hampton Roads in
stead of returning her to Key West,
whence she came, is taken as an evil
dence Of a change in policy on the part
of the naval Stra'tegiStS, who may have
come to the conclusion that the gath
erng of the most and best of the YES
sells of the North Atlantic squadron at
Key West is putting too many of our
eggs in one Basket, and unduly expos
ing the eastern coast. There has also
been talk of
ORGAN1lINGiA iAFLYING SQUADRON
composed altogether of fleet cruisers,
four in number, and having them
ready to go to sea at a moments notice
in pursuit of an enemy's ships, relying
upon the big battleships for the home
guard. This, however, has not been
decided upon.
TO ARM LIGHTHOUSE TENDERS.
attention, and is expected to be approx
ed in the end, came to the navy de-
partment today. This was to turn over
to the navy department ten Of the best
boats in the light house service. These
boats are from 300 to 400 toms burden,
good sea boats, manned by officers
thoroughly familiar with every inden-
tation of the Atlantic coast and bile
of being easily transformed into eff
cient gunboats. The MangroVe is a
vessel of this character, new, staunch
and speedy. 1t is proposed to place a
6-inch rifle on a pivot mount on each
vessel forward and to place light ar
NOR around the boilers and machinery
to protect them from small arms fire at
least. The attention of the department
has also been called to the feasibility
Of recruiting the naval list from the
revenue marine cutters, a number of
which are fully equal, being given
arms, to the smaller type of gunbOats
now in the service. If these vessels
We're availed they would be assigned
to duty along the southern coasts,
maintaining blOckades and relieving
the larger and more expensive cruisers
of much worriSOme duty.
DU BOSE THINKS GREAT HAIR
MONY PREVAILS.
Senior du Bose, the Spanish represen-
tative in Washington, when seen at the
Spanish legation today and asked as to
the present status of affairs, said: Not
withstanding the apparent agitation, I
am gratified to note that so far as
natural occurrences are concerned, they
are adjusting themselves naturally and
in a manner more satisfactory to both
governments.
SPANS THIRD COMPLAINT
In conjunction with the intimaitiOns
of the Spa nish government regarding
Consul Geeral Lee and the class of
Cuba, a third inquiry was made. Cap
tain Crowinshield was the object of
a request for information as ito the ma
ture of his recent trip to the West In
dies. The Spanish government had
been informed that CrOWminSfieId ON
this occasion had been in communica-
tion with Itihe insurgents and even went
SO far as to give them indirect aid
Through filibustering sources. When
the matter was brought to the a.tten-
ttion of President Mckinley ain imrned-
late denial in explicit terms was re-
turned. Spain thereupon closed the in
cident with acceptance of the presi-
DENTS statement, saying they had been
mfsinfOrmed.
New York, March S.-A copyrighted
cablegram to The Evening World to-
day from George Bronson Rea, ait Ha-
vana, says: General Lee said last
might to me- If Spain wishes to declare
any or all of us persona non grata it
rs her privilege to do So but if we must
leave town we will leave with the
American flag flying and a brass band
at the head of the procession
Some persons, in order to increase
the excitement, are urging General
F'itZhug Lee to resign, but the consul
general said to a. correspondent today:
*'I will stick by the ship of state un-
til the cIollds RON by
CONSUL BARKER RESIGNS.
The resignation of Walter B. Barker,
United States consul at Sagua la
Grande, was confirmed by roday's aid
vices Mr. Barker has been ON the
verge of nervous prOStratiOn- Alexan-
der C. Brice, THE United States consul
at tMatanzas, says he cannot much long
er stand the strahn under which he
has lived the hast two years.
The Fern will lbe replaced by the
United States cruiser Montgomery,
which is to arriVe here uOmOTT,OW