The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1898-03-10
FIFTY MILLIONS
lVill Be Voted by Congress a.
an Emergency Fnnd.
no BE USED IN CASE OF WAR.
Uncle Sam Looking About FOr
Powerful War Vessels.
..nAKSpyRoHAsEs INEURoPE

! Govcrumeut Omcials WIN Not Make
Indiscriminate Purchases, Though
Mr.. Charles Cramp Asserts That an
International Syndicate Is Endeav-
oriug to Unload Flimsily Built ves-
sells on This Country-spaniardsD Deny
tho Report That Consul General Lees
Recall Had Been Urged.
Washington, March S.-There were
no less than five important events yes
terday having q bearing more or less
direct upon the troubled relations be-
tween the United States and Spain, viz.
the introduction In congress by Mr.
Cannon Of a resolution carrying $780,
000. 900 for the public defense; the with
Idrawal by the Spanish government OF
its intimated objection to the contin-
uance In office of Consul General Lee;
the order of the cruiser Montgomery
to proceed to Havana 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
leads all other topics In interest. partic-
ularly when It became known that 1t
was q result Of a conference between
the author, the president, Senator
Hale and other leading spirits in con-
gress.
As for General Lees case. the news
OF the satisfactory ending Of the incl
dent through the withdrawal Of the
suggestion by Spain was expected as
soon as It was noted that loophole
had been open through the failure to
make the complaint In anything like
an official shape. A cable message from
Senior Gullon. Spanish minister OF for
eign affairs, disavows the report that
application had been made for Lees
recall. AZ a matter Of fact SenOr Gull
lon had expressed a personal desire TO
Minister Woooford that General Lee
be recalled 'as proof Of the good will
Of the United States" The authorities
at Washington firmly refused to give
this proof Of good WILL" Spain denies
that 1t was an official request. and the
incident Is NEEDED.
As there has been no explanation 80
far Of the purpose which prompted the
introduction Of Mr.. Cannon's resolu-
ton, 1t may be said that the money
10 wanted primarily as an emergency
, fund. It is said by officials who will
have the disposition Of this treasure
that 1t by no means follows because
congress places such sum OF money
inl the control of the president that
he} will feel bound to spend all Of It
tFhose who look for wholesale pur-
chase Of warships from the bargain
counters of European builders are
likely to be disappointed. The navy
department at present Is inclined to
make but one purchase OF this kind, at
first at least, In the shape Of a sub
stantiai ironclad. 1t does desire to get
possession OF several of the larger
class of torpedo boat destroyers. such
as the Sokul, of the Russian navy, yes
sells of 300 tons able to keep the sea
in bad weather. 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 the 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 lot Of unser-
viceable craft In a spasm OF fear, bat
rather get a 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 call from A
F. Lane, representing the Maxim Nor
denfeldt company. and the agent for
several war vessels now nearing COM
pletion 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 rat
ing. These are now open to purchase
and 1t is understood that Mr.. Lanes
visit was in this connection. 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 leading shipbuildlng
firms of Europe. They are we'll along
toward completion, and all four, 1t is
said, could be in commission within q
few months. They were originally de-
signed 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 depart
Ynent 60 OF the Maxim -Nordenfeldt
rapid fire guns. and his standing with
officials is such as to give his repre-
Bentations as to ships much weight.
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
S50.000.OO0 would have to go to the war
department. These are abundant sup
plies Of shot and 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 the army, even on a
war footing, as was anticipated. This
Is because certain private gunmnkers
have Just brought out type Of repeat