The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1898-03-03
FOR STARVING CUBANS.
Our Government Will Send Two
War Vessels With Food
CONTRIBUTED BY OUR CITIZENS.


The Montgomery and Nashville WIN
Carry Relief to the sufferers Near
Sagua la Graudo ana Matanzas-Llb-
eral Appropriations For the Navy.
Washington, March 3.--The decision
of the navy department to send two
ships to Cuba with supplies for the
suffering reconcentrados caused some
commotion in official circles yesterday
until the real purpose of the visit of
the ships came out. The cruiser Mont
gomery and the gunboat Nashville
We're selected for the purpose, and
orders were sent to Admiral Sicard to
put them in shape for the required SER
vice. 1t is explained at the navy de-
partment that this action was taken
at the instance of the Cuban Relief as
sociation, organized through the eff
forts of the state department for the
relief of the destitute non-combatants
in Cuba.
1t was represented to the department
that great distress prevails among the
people in the vicinity of Sagua la
Grande and Matanzas on the north
ern coast of the island, and that con-
siderable difficulty is experienced in
sending supplies there because of the
infrequent visits of the merchant ships.
On this account, and because of the
immediate demand for supplies at the
points indicated, the officers of the
association requested the secretary of
the navy to authorize the use of one
or more of the warships at Key West
in the transportation there of food sup
plies contributed by the charitable
people of the United States in response
to the appeals of President Mckinley
and Secretary Sherman.
The Montgomery will go to Matan-
zas and the Nashville to Sagua la
Grande, with the understanding that
they will remain in those ports only
long enough to deliver the supplies to
the agents of the association for dis
tribution where they will do the most
good. Although the mission assigned
to the warships will take them both
within a short distance of Havana esti-
mated at from two to four hours, it is
stated that neither vessel will visit the
Cuban capital.
To remove the impression that had
gotten abroad to the effect that the
relations between the navy department
not harmonious, Secretary Long gave
out a short statement on the subject.
He said: Congressman Boutelle has
been misunderstood. The congress-
man, who is one of the most patriotic
men in the world, is always ready to do
everything that can be done for the
navy. In his annual report the secre-
tary recommended that 1,50O men be
70 ar1i or cd nt
of the increase in the number of ships.
The naval committee, of which Mr..
Boutelle is chairman, has already de-
cided to grant this increase in the
regular naval appropriation bill. Mean
time, if there should be any immediate
necessity for more men, the same COM
mittee, and Mr.. Boutelle as it's chair
man, are ready to make provision to
| that effect at once"
1t has already been practically de-
cided by the hguse naval committee
that the price which the secretary of
the navy shall be authorized to pay
| for armor plate for the ships now
| approaching completion shall be $40O
| per ton, but no formal vote has yet
been taken on this proposition by the
| subcommittee. The work of the sub
committee, as far as it has gone, is
now being reviewed and ratified by the
| full committee Thus far the sub
committees action has not been re-
versed. The full committee has rati-
! fed the action of the subcommittee
| in recommending an increase of $780, 0OO
for ordnance, bringing the total ap-
preparation for this item up to S3OO,OOO
| besides the appropriations of $4,000 for
converting six inch guns into rapid
| fire guns, $4,000 for Gaping armoT
piercing shells and $4,000 for the man.
ufacture of cartridge making ma
chinery (the latter appropriation to &C
to the ordnance factory. An appro-
priation of $275,0O0 to increase the
speed of the Chicago and to replace
her old guns with rapid fire batterines
is also recommended and an appro-
priation of $3.50, 900 for reserve torpe-
does and appliances.
A commander for the monitor Man
tonomah which was ordered into COM
mission Tuesday, was selected yester'
day in the person of Captain Mortimer
Johnson, who It at present on waiting
orders. Secretary Long says that the
Miantonomah, with the ram Katah'
din, will remain in the Delaware for the
present at least. With the commits
sioning of these two vessels there "e-
main only the cruisers Columbia anc
Minneapolis on the Atlantic coas
available for immediate service in cast
the department should decide to com
mission more ships.
There are a number of good ships
on the Pacific coast, however, whos'
repair is under way, such as the Phila
delphia, the Charleston, the yorktown
and others, and the payrolls of th
construction bureau at the Mare Islant
navy yard has now mounted to th'
large total of 100000 per month TO
wages alone.
1t is said in the navigation bureau
that there is a pressing need of abb
machinists for the navy caused b!
the heretofore unnoted fact that ever,
one of the machinists of the Main
lost his life in the explosion. More
over, all the firemen but one wer
killed. The bureau has invited enlist
ments from men who have had nava
service before in the engine rooms.