The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-03-08
Representative Cannon's Resolu-
ton introduced in the House.
GEN. LEE STAYS IN HAVANA
Spain Withdraws Her Objection and
Considers the Incident Closed-The
Montgomery Ordered to Ha-
vana In Place of the Fern.

upon the troubled relations between the
United States and Spain, viz: The in
PRODUCTION in congress by Mr.. Cannon
of a resolution carrying $50.000.000 for
the public defense. the withdrawal of
the Spanish government of it's intimated
objection to the continuance in office of
Consul General Lee; the order of the
cruiser Montgomery to proceed to Ha-
vana in place of the Fern; the passage
through the house of the bill increasing
the artillery arm by two regiments, and
the institution of negotiations looking
to the purchase of warships for our
navy.
Mr. Cannon's resolution probably led
all other topics in interest, particularly
when it became known that it was the
result of a conference between it's au-
thor, the president, Senator Hale and
other leading spirits in congress.
AS for General Lees interests, the
news of the satisfactory ending of the
incident through the withdrawal of the
suggestion by Spain was expected as
soon at 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 the consul general will not find his
post very congenial, now that he knows
he is an unwelcome guest in Havana,
but the administration is relying upon
his devotion to the welfare of the Ameri-
cans in Cuba and American interests
generally to submit his own personal
wishes to restraints and remain at his
post.
Late in the afternoon Senor Dubosc,
the Spanish charge, received a cipher
cable from the minister of state at
Madrid, Senior Gullon, saying: You
can disayow the rumor that any official
application has been made for the recall
of General Lee. This confirmed Mr..
Dubosc's statement that nisapprehen-
sion had occurred. and that some inti-
nation concerning General Lee had
been construed into request or demand
for his recall, which, Mr.. Dubosc says
with positiveness. was never intended.
An Emergency Fund.
AS there has been no explanation so
far of the purpose which prompted the
introduction of Mr.. Cannons resolu-
tion it may be said that the money is
wanted primarily as an emergency
fund 1t is said by officials
who will have the disposition
of this treasure that it by
no means follows because congress
places such a sum of money in the con-
troll of the president that he will feel
look for wholesale purchase of war
ships from the bargain counters of Eu-
rope are likely to be disappointed. The
navy department at present is inclined
to make but one purchase of this kind,
al first at least. in the shape of a sub
stantial ironclad. It does desire to get
possession of several of the larger class
of torpedo boat destroyers, such as the
Sekul of the Russian navy, vessels of
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weather, a weak point with our own
boats, and capable of enormous speed,
such as 80 knots But such craft are
not for sale at all times They are
built to order generally and could not
be procured in this manner in less than
six months from date of contract, even
in Europe, unless special prices were
paid. There is no disposition on the
part of the navy department to lumber
the navy with a lot of unseryiceab1e
craft in a spasm of fear. but rather to
get few of the best vessels to be had.
The offers of ships to the navy de-
partment are now assuming definite
and formal shape. During the day
Secretary Long received q call from A.
+. Lane. representing the Maxim Nor
denfeidt company, and the agents for
several warships now nearing compile
tion in large foreign shipyards. These
include two cruisers of the type of the
Cincinnati. which are designed to be 20
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 it is
understood that Mr.. Lanes visit was
in this connection. The two new cruis-
ers are $50 feet long. f3 feet beam and
16 feet draft. They carry six 6-inch
and four 5-inch guns and an auxiliary
battery The ironclads have a 13A belt
of harveyized steel. Their armament is
two 10-inch guns, four 5-inch, two g.
inch, six 6-pounders and four 1-pound-
ers. 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 lead
ing ship building firms in Europe. They
are we'll along toward completion and
all four, 1t is said. could be in commits
sion within a few months. They We're
originally designed for one of the South
American republics. but there is said to
be no obligation which would prevent
their acquisition by the United states
Mr.. Lane recently sold the navy de-
partment so of the Maxim Nordenfeldt
rapid fire guns, and his standing with
officials is such as to give his represen-
tations as to ships much weight.
War Department Needs.
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
$50 000, 900 would have TO go TO the war
department. These are abundant sup
plies of shot. shell and powder. The
army IS as short as the navy Of these
essential stores 1t has been found.
greatly to the qualification of the army
officers. that there will not BE- nearly as
much difficulty in securing modern
arms for navy. even on a war footing,
as was anticipated This is because
certain private gun makers have just
brought out a type Of rotating rifle,
very similar in general feature To the
army rifle. using the same cartridge Of
80 gauge and with about as great a
rapidify of FIRE. The plants Of these
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