The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-03-07

Official orders, however, continue to
stand as they were originally made,
designating the Montgomery and Nash
Vile, but these could be changed readily
if the Fern was felt to be best suited Tor
the work. The naval officers have felt
from the first that the NJ ontgomery and
Nashville were will adapted for carrying
s,Ioplies. They are essentially lighting
machines and every inch OF available
room is taken with their own supplies
Of cordaae, canvas, coal, etc. This was SO
aDnarent that the plans contemplated put
ting the relief supplies Oh deck, covering
tsenl With turpaulin and trusting to the
weather and quick trip to keep the pro-
visions and clothing from damage. The
Fern. not being so essentially lighting
machine, but more of the type OF a yacht
has considerable more room for slowing
eusnIies. both below anu on deck. The
C4ban relief committee counted on send
inc rs tons to Key West, but this has now
bgen increased to 100 tons. 1t left New
York on one of the Mallory line of boats
Yesterday and is due at Key West next
Wednesday. The transfer will take day
and the plan has been to have the govern
rnent ship start next Thursday for Cuba.
The decision of the administration to
send supplies to the reconcen tradoes in
Cuba was arrived at early in the week.
Gen. Lee had represented that he nad
teen unable to distribute the goods that
had been received in answer to the
proclamation of the President to the
American people. He said that many tons
of these provisions were stored IN havana
and could not be forwarded to the eastern
end of the island. The q. S. consuls at
Afatanzas and Sagua La Grande had come
in person to Havana to seek for reiier
after reporting to the state department.
the terrible condition existing III the re-
spective districts.
The state department at once instituted
INQUIRIES and learning that the original
decree of theSpanish government authorlz-
ing the free transportation of supplies
applied only to the port OF Havana,
secured permission for the free reception
of these supplies at all ports.
The next obstacle met was the difficulty
n transhipping the goods from Havana
eastward, there being semi-Weekly SER
vice by steamer, and that subject to many
yexatious local restrictions. When the Y.
S. cruiser Montgomery returned from
her cruise, which included the Cuban
norts of Matanzas and Santiago, the
officers brought narrowing tales of the
distress existing there.
Capt. Crowninshield, the chief OF the
navigation bureau of the navy depart
rnant and an officer of the soundest dis
erection and Judgment, was on ne ship, an
accidental passenger. He tcld Presldent
Mckinley what he had learned. The re-
salt was the immediate decision of the
navy department to accede to the request
of the relief committee in New York to
forward their supplies to the eastern ports
of Cuba. One of the American lines OF
steamships running to New YORK, has
offered TO take the contributions to Key
West and the President has given the
order for their carriage to eastern Cuba
by any of the available ships OF the
North Atlantic squadron.
The announcement by the Associated
Pccss of the purpose of the government
to send supplies to Cuba on naval vessels
was made last Wednesday. Within "a
hours there were signs of resistance on
the part of the Spanish government. AT
first this took the shape of aformal in
curry BY the Spanish charge d'affaires,
Senior DuBosc, as to the correctness OF
the report, the inquiry being couched in
On increduIous tone, and later when the
n
q formal protest, but rather an insinua-
sion that the movement of the naval
ships would not be acceptable; that it
would be construed into an active sym
PATTY on the part of the government OF
the United States with the insurgents.
But the President had seen himself that
the course he had chosen. that of sending
the supplies in a naval vessel was the
only one that promised sufficient and
prompt relief. There was no time for
polite diplomatic exchange Of notes when,
according to Gen. Lees advices, people
were perishing from hunger by hundreds
every day in Cuba and the Spanish charge
was go informed.
Senior DuBoso when seen at the Spanish
aepation today, could add little to the
fund of information on the two subjects
which were attracting go much official
and public attention.
He had received no word from his gov
ernment concerning Gen. Lee and he said
positively that no suggestions concerning
Gen. Lees retirement had been sub
znitted by him to the state department.
As to sending the relief supplies by the
Montgomery and Nashville, Mr.. DuBose
said he felt that merchant vessels were
better equipped for such work and not
open to that 1nisconstruct!on possible in
sending supplies by vessels of the navy
The news concerning Gen. Lee aroused
the deepest interest and no little excite
ment.
FERN WILL GO TO CUBA.
Key West, Fla, March 6.-The supplies
for the starving Cubans will not b'
taken on the cruiser Montgomery ant