The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1898-03-10

lore the caDlner, the views OF all its.
members personally given and the.
fullest opportunity afforded for dis
cusslon. But in this case the Associ-
ated Press bulletin furnished to some
members of the cabinet the first infor-
nation they had that Gen. Lees SER
vice was open to question. The ground
on Which Gen. Lees recall was asked
are not officially disclosed. 1t is
known, however, that the Spanish
government has chafed for some time
over Gen. Lees. presence in Havana,
although this has never taken the
form of definite protest prior to the
present tine.
Caused No Little Excitement
Senior du Bose, when seen at the
Spanish legation, could add little to-
the fund Of information on the two
subjects which were attracting So
much attention. He had received no
word from his government concerning
Gen. Lee, and he stated positively
that, no suggestion concerning Gen.
Lees retirement had been submitted
by him to the state department. AS
to the sending of relief supplies by
the Montgomery and Nashville. Mr..
Du Bose said he felt that merchant
vessels We're much better equipped for
such service and their use was not
open to the misconstruction possible
in sending supplies by vessels of the
navy.
The news concerning Gen. Lee
aroused the deepest interest and no.
little excitement throughout Washing
ton, and for the time being the usual
quiet Of Sunday evening was put
aside. In hote. corridors, at the clubs
and in all public places it was the alb
Sorblng topic, ana not since the Maine
disaster was Such widespread popular
interest evinced in the Spanish sltu-
alton.
Washington, March 9.-There were
no less than five important events
yesterday having a bearing more or
less directly upon the troubled rela-
tons between the United States and
Spain, viz: The Introduction in con-
gress by Mr.. Cannon Of a resolution
carrying $5O,000,OCO for the public de-
tense, the withdrawal by the Spanish
government of it's intimated objection
to the continuance in office of Consul
General Lee, the order to the cruiser
montgomery to proceed to Havana in
place Of the Fern, the passage through
the house of the bill increasing the ar
tlllery arm by two regiments, and the
institution of negotiations looking to
the purchase of warships for our navy.
Mr.. Cannon's resolution probably led
all other topics Of interest, particular
~ when it became known that it was
the result of a conference between the
author, the president, Senator Hale
and other leading spirits in congress-
AS for Gen. Lees case, the news Of
the satisfactory ending Of the incident
through the withdrawal Of the sugges-
ton by Spain was expected as soon
as it was noted that loophole had
been left open through the failure to-
make the complaint in anything like
an official shape. Late in the afternoon
Senior du Bose, the Spanish charge, re-
celved cipher cable from the minis
ter of state at Madrid, saying: "You
can disavow the rumor that any Of
fetal application has been made for
the recall Of Gen. Lee" This con-
frmed Senior du Bosc's view that a
misrepresentation had occurred, and
that some intimation concerning Gen.
Lee had been construed into a request,
or demand for his recall, which Senior
du Bose +t'' : -'-' = 49,
Says With Positiveness
was never intended. AS there has been
no explanation SO far Of the purpose
which prompted the introduction Of
Mr.. Cannon's resolution, it may be
said that the money is wanted pri-
marily as an emergency fund it Isl
said by officials who will have the
disposition Of the treasure that it by
no means follows, because congress
places such a sum of money in the
control of the president, that he will
feel bound to spend it all. Those who
look for wholesale purchase of war
ships from the bargain counters Of
European builders are likely to be dis
appointed. The navy department at
present is inclined to make but one
purchase of this kind, at first at least. :,
in the shape Of a substantial ironclad.
1t does desire to get possession of sew
eral of the larger class Of torpedo
boat destroyers, such as the Sokul, Of
the Russian navy, vessels Of 800 tons,
able to keep the sea in bad weather, a
weak point with our own boats, and
capable Of enormous speed, such as
81 knots. But such craft are not for
sale at all times; they are built to
order generally and could not be pro-
duced 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 a lot of I'M
serviceable craft in a spasm of fear,
but: rather, to get few Of the best
vessels to be had.
Many Ships Are offered.
The offer Of ships to the navy de-
partment are now assuming definite
and formal shape. During the day
Secretary Long received a call from
A. e. Lane, representing the Maxim
Nordenfeldt company, and the agent
for several war vessels now nearing
completion in large foreign shipyards.
There are things that are wanted much
more than warships in case Of trouble
with Spain, and the army shares these
needs, so that a fair proportion Of the
$5O,000,O00 would have to go to the
war department.. These are abundant
supplies Of shot and shell and powder.
The army is as short as the navy Of
these essential stores. While no exact
estimate has been made Of the share of
the $5O,O0O,OOO appropriation to be al
lotted to ammunition, it is estimated
that at least $10,0OO,OOO would be so
assigned, owing to the enormous cost
of reflling the ammunition chests of