The record-union., 1898-03-03
No Indications at
the Capital
That Serious Trouble is
Appreciated.
There is No Unusual Stir or
Activity at Bureaus.
Wt.ers Preparations for Emsfgen-
Alan Mouli hc hnraycnf
Wters Preparations for EmeFgen-
cias Would be Apparent.
Two WarshpS Ordered to Sail for Cuba,
but Their Mission is Only to Take
Supplies 10 Suffering
nesUEceniradoes.

WASHINGTON. March 2.-The decls-
ion Of theNavy Department TO send two
shins to Cuba with supplies for the suf-
fering reconcentrados caused some com
motion in official circles to-day, unth
the real purport of the visit of the shlps
came out. The cruiser Montgomery ana
the eunboat Nashville were selected tor
The purpose. and orders We're sent 10 Ad-
miral Sicard to put them in shape for the
required service. 1t is explained at the
Navy Department that this action was
taken at the instance Of the Cuban Re
lief Association. organized through the
efforts of the State Department Tor the
relief of the non-combatants IN CUBA.
It was represented to the department
that distress prevails among the
people in the vicinity of Sagua La
Grande and Matanzas, on the northern
coast of the island. and that consider
able difficulty is experienced in send
ing supplies there because of the in
frequent visits of merchant ships. On
this account. and because Of the iInTnedi-
ate demand for supplies at the points in
dicated the officers of the association
requested the Secretary of the Navy to
authorize the use of one or more war
shfps at Key West in the transporta-
ton there of food supplies contributed
by the charitable people of the United
states in response to the appeals Of Pres
ident Mckinley and Secretary Sherman
Secretary Long conferred with the Pres
ident on the subject, and it was decided
to comply with the request. The Mont
gomery and the Nashville were selected
a. most suitable for the service and the
necessary orders We're dispatched TO Ad~
niral sicard.
The Montgomery viii go TO Matanzas
End the Nashville to Sagua La Grande
with the understanding that they will
remain in those ports only long enough
20 deliver the supplies to the agents OF
the association for distribution. where
they viii do the most good. Although the
mission assigned TO the warships will
take both within short distance Of
Havana. estimated 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 rela-
tons between the Navy Department and
the House Naval Committee We're not
harmonious. Secretary Long this after
noon gave out a short statement on the
subject. lie said
Congressman Boutelle has been mis-
understood. The Congressman. 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 an
nual report. the Secretary recommended
that 900 men be added 10 the enlisted
force on account Of the Increase in the
number OF ships. The Naval Commit
tee. Of which Mr.. Boutelle is Chairman.
has already decided to grant this in
crease in the regular naval appropria-
ten bill. Meantime. if there should he
any Immediate necessity for more men
the same committee, and Mr.. Boutelle,
as it's Chairman. are ready TO make pro-
Vision to that effect at once.
\ cablegram came from General Lee
during the day, 10 the state Depart
ment but II made no reference to the
Maine affair. being devoted to the peri
oaical statement of the amount of To-
bacco thai is being shipped from cuba
to the United States ports, thus giving
evidence OF the actual removal Of the
expert prohibition decree.
Captain Chester commanding the
South Atlantic station. was also heard
from. his cablegram relating to TIE
docking OF the gunboat castine. now at
Port au Prince. The Department has
cent him the necessary authorization
and the ship VIII go into the drydoek
there.
a commander for the monitor Mian-
tononlah. which was ordered into eon-
mission yesterday. was selected to-day
in The person Of Captain Mortimer
johnson, who is az present en- waiting