The record-union., 1898-03-08
The Matter Of Purchasing WarShips
Abroad Discussed.
Several Now Under Construction Gould be
Procured by the United States
in the Event They Should
be Needed.

WASHINGTON, March There
were no less than five important events
to-day having a bearing more or less di-
rect upon the troubled relations between
the United States and Spain, viz: TIE
Introduction in Congress by Mr.. Cam
non of a resolution carrying S50.000,0o0
for the purpose of defenses; the with
drawal by the Spanish Government of
its intimated objection to the contiru-
ance 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 army by
two regiments and the institution of ne
gotiations looking to the purchase Of
warships for our navy.
Mr.. Cannon's resolution probably led
all other topics in interest, particularly
when il became known that it was the
result Of a conference between the au-
thor, the President, Senator Hale and
other leading spirits in Congress.
AS for General Lees interests the
news of the satisfactory ending of the
incident through the withdrawal of the
suggestion by Spain was expected as
soon as it was noted that a loop-hole
had been left open through the failure
to make the complaint in anything like
ar official shape Some fear is cX-
pressed that the Consul General Will
l. 81
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
interests generally to submit his own
personal wishes to restraint and remain
at his post.
Late in the afternoon Senor Dubosie.
the Spanish Charge d'Affaires. received
a cipher cablegram from the Minister of
State at Madrid, Senior Gullon saying:
You can disavow the rumor that any
Official application has been made for
the recall of General Lee"
This confirmed Mr.. Dubosie's state.
ment that misapprephension had oc-
CURED. and that some intimation con-
cerning General Lee had been construed
into a request or demand for his recall,
which Mr.. Dubosie says with positive
ness was never intended.
As there has been no explanation SO
far of the purpose which prompted the
Introduction OF Mr.. Cannon's resolution,
il may be said that the money is wanted
primarily as an emergency fund. II is
said by officials who will have the dis
position Of ;his treasure that it by no
means follows because congress places
such a sum of money II the control of
the President that he Will feel bound 70
spend all of il. Those VINO lool, fo~ Il
Wholesale purchase e 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 substan-
tial ironclad. II does desire to get pos
session OF several Of The larger class OF
torpedo boat destroyers. such as the
fN&AUl Bl tiiF ietaSssaettt O. fsast -
I 300 tons able TO keep the sea in nad
weather. a weak point with our os n
boats and capable of enormous speed.
such as - knots. But such craft are
not for sale at all times. They are bull;
To order generally. and could not lee pro
cured 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
parf OF the Navy Department 10 lEmbe'
the navy with a lot of unserviceahit
craft in spasm Of fear. hut rather Il
get few OF the best vessels TO be had
The offers of the ships 10 the Navy
Department are now assuming definii.
and normal shape. During the day Sec
retary Lcng received a call from 4. II.
Lane representing the Maxim Noro-
enfcidt Company. and the agents CT sew
erai warships now nearing completion
IN large foreign ship yards. These III
Nude two cruisers OF the type OF the