Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1898-03-24
SPAIN DON'T LIKE 1T.
Too Many Warships In the Vicinity
of Cuba.


Washington. March lS-The main
development in the Spanish situation
yesterday was in connection with the
definite representations submitted bv
the Spanish government TO the state
department concerning the assembling
OF a large feet of American warships
at Key West, the war preparations
and the influence which these mlghl
have on the approaching elections in
Cuba. Those representations were
exactly in line with the semi-oficial
utterances given in these dispatches
and accredited to a high official con-
~versation with the views of the Span
ish cabinet. While these representa-
tons cannot properly be regarded as
a protest against the attitude and
acts of the United States government
they may unQuestionably be set down
as a remonstrance calculated to have
an effect in European court circles.
Not, however, being a technical pro.
test the statement has nc: called
forth any official rejoinder on the part
OF the state department. for 1t is lack
ing in tangible accusations, being
rather an argumenstive presentation
Of alleged Spanish grievances.
The Fern sailed for Havana from
hey West yesterday afternoon. She
goes TO relieve the Montgomery as a
home for the officers engaged in super
vising the wrecking operations In Ha-
vana harb0r. Ii is stated that the
Montgomery is rot withdrawn owing
to any suggestion from Spanish
sources that her
Presence Is Not Desired.
It was the announced intention of
Secretary Long when the cruiser was
sent 10 Havana TO keep her there only
80 long as the Fern should he engaged
IN the work of distributing relief
among the sufferers in Eastern Cuba
This task having been performed and
owing 10 the return of the court of
inquiry from Havana. there being
persons to accommodate. the
Fern. which is better equipped than,
the Montgomery to TO assist in the
wrecking operations, is returned 10
her position.
ID 10 the close of office hours the
navy department. though il knew Of
nciaily that the court Of inquiry had
come over TO Key West from Ha-
vana, was not informed as &c the find
ings or plans of the court. IL is said
that the object of the navy depart-
ment in purchasing such crafts as the
late Ogden Goelet's yacht Mayfiower
is TO provide as quickly as possible
a number OF picket boats Of good
speed and seagojng ability TO act as
scouts and also I aid our iropclads
and more expensive vessels in opera.
lions against torpedo boats. A large
number Of private yachts have been
offered TO the department. and other
acquisitions of the same type as the
Mayfiower may be expected.
The feet ar Key West will be aug.
niented within the next day or two by
the arrival OF the gunboat Annapolis.
the torpedo boat Foote and the naval
tugs Leyden and Samoset, while the
gunboat Helena is now on her way
from the European station under or
ders TO report at Key West. The
Helena has reported her arrival az
Funchal on her way 10 join the feet.
These and the other vessels previous
~ ordered to that point constitute
The Largest Assemblage
Of war vessels made since the demon.
straticn following the yirginius affair.
and, considering effectiveness ana
armament. II is the strongest assem-
blage OF ships for other than naval re
view purposes. since the war.
The feet now at Key West and
Tortugas is as follows: Cruisers New
York. Detroit, Marblehead; battleships
Massachusetts, Indiana. Iowa. Texas:
-nnboat Nashville, dispatch boat Fern
n torpedo boats Dupont. Gushing.
Porter. Winsicw and Ericsson. To
these VIII soon be added the I'VE yes
sells now en- ronte there. In addition
10 these the Montgomery Is at Ha-
vana and Is practically a part OF the
fleet; the gunboats Wilmington and
l Gushing and cruiser Cincinnati are al