The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1898-03-10

stroyer and an Ironclad Especially
wanted-Two Cruisers and Two Third
Class BattIsships offered the Navy De-
partment-Now Being Built In Europe.
Much of the Projected Appropriation
Needed to Buy Ammunition-Also to
Rearm the National Guard.
WASHINGTON, March S.-There have
been no less than five important events
having a bearing more or less upon the
troubled relations between the United
States and Spain, viz: The introduction
in congress by Mr.. Cannon of a resolu-
ton carrying $50,OOO,OOO for the public
defense, 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
artillery arm by two regiments and the
institution of negotiations looking to
the purchase of warships for our navy,
Mr.. Cannons sesolution probably led
all other topics in interest, particularly
when it became known that it was the
result Of a conference between the au-
thor, the president, Senator Hale and
other leading spirits i'll congress.
AS for General Lees case, the news
for the satisfactory ending of the Incl
dent through the withdrawal of the
suggestion by Spain was expected as
soon as it was noted that a loophole had
been left open through the failure to
make the complaint in anything like an
official shape. Some fear is expressed
that the consul general will not find his
post very congenial now that he knows
he is an unwelcome guest in Havana,
but the administration is relying upon
| his devotion to the welfare of the
| Americans in Cuba and American in
| terests generally to submit his own per-
sonal wishes to restraint and remain at
his post.
Senior Du Bose, the Spanish charge,
received cipher cable from the minis
ter of state at Madrid, Senior Gullon,
saying;
''You can disavow therumor that any
official application has been made for
the recall Of General Lee"
This confirmed Mr.. Du Bosc's view
that misapprehension had occurred,
and that some intimation concerning
General Lee had been construed into a
request or demand for his recall, which
Mr.. Du Bose says with positiveness was
never intended.
AS there has been no explanation so
far Of the purpose which prompted the
introduction OF Mr.. Canndn' resolution,
it may be said that the money is wanted
primarily as an emergency fund. 1t is
said by officials who Will have the dispo.
sition of this treasure that il will by no
means follow because congtess places
such sum of money in the control of
the president that he will feeNbound to
spend all of it. Those who look for a
Wholesale purchase Of warships from
the bargain counters of European
builders are likely TO be disappointed.
The navy department at present is in
clined 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 several Of the larger
class OF torpedoboat destroyers, such as
the Solzul OF the Russian navy, vtssels
of 300 tons, able to keep the sea in bad
. ~
and capable Of enormous speed, such as
80 knots.
Secretary Long has received q call
from A. i. Lane, representing the
Maxim Nordenfeldt company, and the
agent for several war vessels now near,
ing completion in large foreign ship.
yards. These include two cruisers OF
the type of the Cincinnati, which are
| 20 hn
ironcads of Ia knots, which would be
called third-class battleships under oui
i rating. These are now open to pur
chase, and it is understood that Mr.
Lanes visit was In this connection. Mr.
Lane regards these ships as first class il
every particular, as they were desingeC
on modern principles and are beinl
built by one Of the leading shipbuildinl
firms of Europe. They are well alonl
toward completion and all four, it il
said, could be in commission within .
few months. They were originally de
signed for one OF the South American
republics.
A fair proportion of the $4,000, ,O0C
will have to go to the war department
for abundant supplies of shot and shell
and powder. The army is as short as
the navy of these essential stores. Ger.
tain private gunmakers have just
brought out type of repeating rife
very similar in general feature to the
army rifle, using the same cartridge OF
80 guage and with about as great ra.
pidity Of fire. The plants of these
companies are so extensive that they
can turn the arms out very rapidly, SC
that the Springfelds in the hands of the
militia could be replaced in short order.
While no exact estimate has been
made Of the share of the $50 900, 900 ap.
preparation to be allotted to ammuni,
ton it Is roughly estimated that at least
$40 900, 900 would be SO assigned, owing
to the enormous cost of refilling the
ammunition chests of the warships now
in service. At present there is moi
enough ammunition on hand for one
Fefilling beyond that now on board. A
single refilling costs $1,000, 900. Naval
omCers explain that rem Wlll last
through several engagements, owing to
the limit of endurance CT men while III
action.
Tho appropriation of $4,000, 900 foi
the national defense, for which pro
vision was made IN the bill introduced
in the house by Mr. Cannon, viii
not involve the issue Of bonds. This
announcement was made by the treas
ury officials, who stated that the treas
ury was amply prepared to meet any
demands that viii likely be made upor
it. On Fob. the cash in the treasury
amoRnted to SS66, ,I66, OF which
1904, ,083, ,97l was gold, $5ll 1913, 1884 silver
Sl07, ,b6l ,96S in paper currency ana S33,
: 084,00 in disbursing officers balances
etc. The net available cash ON hand