The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-03-20

afiOat in the American Navy and with
this large supply in hand the Navy for
the first time in years will be more than
amply supplied with powder.
An unusually large number of Sena-
tors took advantage of the fact that
the Senate was not in session to-day
to call upon Cabinet officers with the
hope of securing definite information as
to the Cuban situation. They succeed
ed only in learning that the report OF
the Maine Court of Inquiry had not
arrived but that it was expected early
next week and that it would be for
warded to Congress Immediately upon
its arrival unless of an Unexpectedly
strathng character.
Some of them found the high officials
of the State Department dcliberating
upon the line of policy To be purSued in
case the report of the naval court should
have the effect of entirely Chminatlng
the Maine incident from the situation.
The State Department officials did not
make any positive declaration that such
information was in their possession.
rather advancing it us Il tentative sug-
gestion, and when pressed for informa-
ton on this point replied that they only
knew that the report was to come next
week and that they had no advance in
formation as to its centents.
An important contract was let by the
Bureau of Yards and Docks of the Navy
Department to-day. 1t was for dredging
about 100000 feet of the harbor about
Fort Jefferson on Dry T0rtugas Is
land, which viii enable large naval and
merchant vessels to anchor very near
the shore to take on coal This is the
fist step taken by the Navy Depart
ment toward making u naval supply
coaling station at the Tortugas, work
on which will now be pushed as rapidly
az possible. The Alabama Dredging and
Jetty Company, of Mobile, were awarded
the contract.
There is no doubt that the authorities
here are keeping themselves fully ad-
vised as to the movement of the Spanish
torpedo fiotilla, now en- route from Spain.
Persons acquainted with the facts say
that the stop at the Canaries is only
temporary and that there is mop urpoSe
on the part of the Spanish government
to turn back the torpedo boats because
of the removal of the Texas and Massa-
chusettes from Key West On the con
trary the purpose as made known in
Washington is that the torpedo f0tila
will continue it's trip to Cuba and Puerto
Rico. 1t was stated to-day by one high
in naval authority that no steps had
been taken toward interceptng this
ifotilla or warning it away.
The State Department posted the fol-
lowing memorandum during the day:
The elections for the Cuban House
of Representatives will take place on
April 24th, and that for the Council of
Administration ON April 2Sth. The Gu
ban Parliament will meet May 2nd."
The diplomatic aspect of the Spanish
question developed no new phases to-
day.
Messrs. Angulo, Valera and Cadenas,
the three commissioners named by the
Cuban Cabinet to act with Minister
Polo in framing commercial treaty,
will be presented TO Secretary Sherman
and Judge Day on Monday next. They
expect to take up the negotiations with
Commissioner KassOn after the ceremo-
ny of presentation Is concluded.
Commodore Farquhar formerly chief
of the Bureau of Yards and Docks of the
Navy Yard, was in conference with the
naval officials to-day. He reported thar
the finishing touches have been put on
the Monitor Puritan and that she is in
fine condition for sea service 1t is OK
pected that the Puritan will leave soon
for Port Royal, $. c., at which place
it has been reported the Navy Depart
ment will locate fleet of torpedo boats.
which may be called on for assistance
either by the feet ut Hampton Roads
or that at Key West should necessity
arise.
Port Royal is at a convenient distance
from either of the two places, and. al
though the torpedo boats are slower
in movement than the cruisers. they
could reach either place within reason
able time. The monitors which it has
been said will compose the fleet include
the Amphitite, Terror, Miantonomoi
and Puritan