The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-03-09
credited, aud this may be withdrawn at

4 w AlCdMAN AMI
credited, aud this may be withdrawn at
sny moment. So Consul General Lee
enauy be dismissed from his post at the
pleasure cf the Spanish govsroment
a4od this would GOT violate any section
Of io.ernasioaal Law. But be is in one
respect unique. in that be is endowed
With semi.diplouatic powers, by the
wish of eur government aud By the
consent of the Spanish go7ernment
The reques: Of the Spanish government
for bis recall may therefore be regard
ed as tantamouat to q demand for the
recall Of an Objectionable minister
such for instance as vas Senor Dopuy
De Lone. There must be some cob
s:aosional or satisfactory ressoo for suca
demand In such cases. and as those
presented agalns; Geu Lee probably
were cop6ued to the acts he has 50 far
performed With the full sauc.ion ADD
approve! of President Mckinley. the
demand was DOT eo,ertained as is clear
| IL shown 10 the forms! statement given
ous By Assistant Secretary Day Un-
der such circumstances. the incident
would close ualess Spaia took The de-
cisiye steps Of insisting cu Gen, Lees
reo,lI. aud this failing, giving him his
eYeoua.pr. This radical course is not
expected. however. and all the iodica-
tious reaching cfhcia!s here is that
Spain will not proceed further with the
incideos.
The action regarding the cruiser
Montgomery and the guuboas Nash
vile il looked upon BY officials here as
much less grave than that affecting
Gen. Lee. Secretary Long said so-oigbs
.ha. be did not regard the question a'
TO What ship would carry the relief sap
plies as serious 10 aoy way or as likely
to preseu. any preplexing issues. The
desire of the navy department., Mr.
Long said, Vas merely TO get the supplie'
TO Cuba on she most av.ilable vessel.
There are three of these nov at Key
West, the montgomery. Nashville and
Fero, alike eysiiable for the service and
one of these. Mr. Long aard. would be
designated for the trip. The Fern is q
despatch boat rather :haa an arm.
ed naval vessel. aud her availa-
biIisy for this mission had not pre-
vionsly been suggested. Her choice
would probably remove all ground for
objection, as she has nope OF the char
acteris,ics of var vessel. Mr.. Long
said, however, that the only decision
thus far reached vas that one of the
naval yessels-Montgomery, Nashville
or Fsrn-shoald' make the trips As
this is the frat time that public mention
has been made of the Fern in counec-
ton with carrying the supplies it might
be inferred that she will make the trip.
The Official orders, however. continue
to stand as they were originally made,
ds.iguating the Montgomery aod Nash
vile, but these could be changed read
ily IL the Fern vas felt to be best suit-
ed for the work. The oaval officials
have felt from the 6rst that the Mont
gomery and Nashville we're ill3 adapted
for the carrying Of supplies. They
are essentially fighting machines. and
every inch Of ayailable room is taken
With sheir own supplies of cordage,
canvas. coal. e,s. This was so appa-
rent, that the plane contemplated put
ting the relief supplies on deck. cover
iog them with tarpaulio, and trusting to
the weather and quick trip to keep the
| provisions and clothing from damage
The Fern. not being so essentially a
6ghting machine. bos more of the type
Of yacht for the speedy conveyance
of naval dispatches, has considerable
more room FOX slowing supplies, both
below aud on deck
/ Ths Caban relief committee counted
on seudiog IS tons 30 Key West, but this
has uow been increased to 100 tons
| It lefs New York on ooe Of she Nal
lory line of boats yesterday and is due
at Key West mex. Wednesday. Tb.
transfer will take day, sud she plan
has been to have the government ship
stars next Thursday for Cubs.
| The. deeisioa of che administration to
seud supplies TO sbe reconoeosrados 10
Cuba vas arrived at early in the week
General Lee had represented that he
had been uuable TO distribute the goodl
sha. hsd been received in answer to The
proolamation of the President to The
American people. He reported tha
many tons Of these supplies we're osor
ed 10 Habana and could not be for
wsrded to the eastern end of the isl.
and The United States cousuls a
Ma.anzas and Sagua la Grande hao
come in person to Habaua to-sees fol
Il rai;ef aftar renortino to the state de