Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-03-03
QUIET AT WASHINGTON.
Two ships Going to Cuba With Pro
.n.e visions.

Two Ships Going 10 Cuba With Pro
a visions.
Washington, March 2.-The decision of
the navy department to send two ships
to Cuba with supplies for the suffering
reconcentrados, caused some commotion
in official circles today, until the real
purpose of the visits of the ships came
out.
The cruiser Montgomery and the gun
boat Nashville were selected for the
purpose, and orders were sent to Ad-
miral Sicard to put them in shape for
the required service. 1t is expected al
the navy department that this action
was taken at the instance of the Cuban
Relief Association, organized through
the efforts of the state department for
the relief of the destitute non-combat-
tants in Cuba. 1t was represented to
the department that great distress pre-
vailed among the people in the vicinity
OF Sagua la Grande, and MatanZas, on
the northern coast of the island, and
that considerable difficulty was exper-
fenced in sending supplies there, be-
cause OF the i1fffequent visit of the mer-
chant ships. On this account the off,
GERS of the association requested the
secretary of the navy to authorize the
use OF one or more of the Warships at
Key West for transportation of food
supplies contributed by the charitable
people of the United States.
Tie Montgomery will go to Matan-
zas and the Nashville to Sagua la
Grande, with the understanding that
they will remain in those ports only
long enough to deliver the supplies to
the agents of the association for distri-
button where they will do the most
-.
the Warships Will take them both with
in short distance of Havana it is said
that neither vessel will visit the Cuban
capital
TosremoYe the impression that had
gotten abroad to the effect that the re-
lations between the navy department
and the house naval committee were
not harmonious, Secretary Long this af-
ternoon said: Congressman Boutelle
has been misunderstood. The congress-
man, 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 annual report, the secretary
recommended that 1900 men be added
to the enlisted force, on account of the
increase in the number of ships. The
naYak committee, of which Mr.. Boutelle
Is chairman. has already decided to
grant this increase in the regular naval
aPpI OpIidl1Ou Dlll. MEdQIlIne, II there
should be any immediate necessity for
more men, the same committee, and Mr..
Boutelle, as its chairman, are ready to
make provision to that effect
A cabegram came from Gen. Lee dur
ing the day to the state department, but
1t made no reference to the Maine af-
fair, being devoted to the periodical
statement Of the amount of tobacco that
IS being shipped from Cuba to the
United States ports, thus giving evil
dence of the actual removal of the ex-
port prohibition decree. The telegram
was as follows: "Filler tobacco, Feb.
~ Y bales, Tampa; 22 Key West; 5S4,
Chlcago; 10 Milwaukee,; Feb 28, 284,
New York;
capt. Chester, commanding the South
Atlantic squadron, was also heard from,
his cablegram relating to the docking
OF the gunboat Castine, now at Port of
France. The department has sent him
the necessary authority, and the ship
will go into the dry dock there
4 commander for the monitor Man
tonomah, which was ordered into COM
mission yesterday, was selected today,
in the person of Capt. Mortimer John
son, who is at present onwaiting orders.
Secretary Long says that the Mian-
tonomah, with the ram Katahdn, will
remain in the Delaware for the present
at least. With the commissioning of
these two vessels there remain only
the cruisers Columbia and MINNEAPOLIS,
on the Atlantic coast available for inn
mediate service in case the department
should decide to commission more ships.
The Atlanta, at New York. could be
MADE ready in three or four months and
the Chicago in six months, in case
emergency orders for their repair were
issued. There are number of good
ships on the Pacific coast, however,
whose repair is under way-such as the
('hlTlnStnn "a o1,,l; "
ton, and others-and the pay rolls of
the construction bureau at the Mare
Island navy yard have now mounted to
the large total of 100000 per month for
wages alone.
The navigation bureau is still busy
with the preparation of the death GER
uhcates for the families of victims of
the Maine disaster. Capt Hawley, who
has the matter in immediate charge,
says that owing to necessary formalities
the certificates cannot be issued before
March Is.
1t is said in the navigation bureau
that there is pressing need of able me-
chanics for the navy, caused by the
fact that every one of the machnists
on the Maine lost his life in the explo-
SION Moreover, all the firemen but one
were killed The bureau has invited
enlistments from men who have had
naval service before in the engine
rooms, and as it is said that number
of these men are now enjoying the
three months period of time between
enlistments during which they may
come again into naval service without
loss of service records, it is hoped that
some of them will come forward to fill
the places vacated by the Maine dis
aster.
Sir Julian Pauncefote came to the
state department today bearing one Of
the formal expressions of deep condo
lence and sympathy with the govern
have now come from all Of the British
colonies.
This latest message was from the gov
ernor of the Winward Islands.
There is no unusual stir about the
bureaus of the quartermaster genera
or the eommissary general of the army
where more than anywhere else the
preparations for warlike emergency
would be apparent. The officers Of
these bureaus say no accumulation ol
additional supplies is taking place, an6
that no contracts for extra supplies are
in contemplation. In the ordnance bu,
reau the placing of a large order fol
proiectiles is the result of talks between
Secretary Alger, Senator HaWley Of the
senate committee on military affairs
and representatives of the house mill
tary committee. 1t was made clear t
the secretary that it was certaint,
that appropriations would be forthcom
ing and it was deemed the part of wis
dom to make the contract now, as tht
supplies would not be on hand for som,
months.
THROUGH AT KEY WEST.