The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-03-18

talic cartridges with ~smokeless powder.
There were three bidders. viz: The
MO Metallic Cartridge Company.
the United States Cartridge Company
and the Winchester Repeating Arms
Company. The bids were the same in
a c case $3.50 for the brown powder
cartridges n s27 for the smokeless
powder cartridge. One company Of
fered 10 deliver $1,000 at once and all
the offers contemplated a delivery of
100.o10 a day after a few days.
The bids for shot. shell and cartridges
will be briefed and the awards made
within the next few days. as the war
at once
SYMPATHY OF EUROPE FOR
SPAIN.
London. March I5.-The Vienna cor
respondent of The Times telegraphs an
abstract OF an article in The St. Peters
burg Novore Eremya. which he thinks
deserves attention as giving an &C
curate account CT the views and in
tentiOns of al least three of the great
powers. The correspondent says:
The article asserts that the United
States are well aware that in declar-
ing war against Spain they could not
count upon the approval of any Of the
European powers. All. it alleges,
would sympathize with Spain; if not
actively, certainly by a categorical pro-
test against President Mckinley's con-
duct. This is also we'll known at Mad
rid"
The Vienna correspondent of The
Standard declares that Austria and
Germany ~sympathize with Spain. the
former being actuated by family ties
between the two reigning houses and
the latter by a grudge against the
United States.
The Paris correspondent OF The
Times says: According to informa-
ton Obta ined from good sources, the
Austrian emperor is making great eff
forts 10 induce the European powers
to present to the United States the dan
ger to Europe of their carrying any
furth~r interference in Cuban affairs.
Emperor William is warmly Seconding
the efforts of Emperor Francis Joseph.
The American government is aware OF
this cituatiOn."
NOT SATISFACTORY TO THE
JUNTA.
New York, March III. NJ. Ceballos,
| general manager of the Spanish trans
Atlantic Company, made the following
statement today:
Il regret to see my name published
in the morning papers in connection
with negotiations toward peace to be
established in the island of Cuba and
stating that I was acting with full
knowledge of the Sagasta ministry, all
Of which I deny to be the case What
| ever, interest I may take in this mat
ter is sorely prompted by my desire to
| prevent a conflict between Spain and
the United States and to establish, if
possible, a basis, as very true Ameri-
| can hopes to, that will give us peace at
| an early date with honor for all con-
cerned."
Thomas Estrada Palma, of the Cuban
revolution party in this city. said today
that the proposition for Cuban pacifi-
cation reported to have been offered by
Senior Ceballos, was not satisfactory
to the junta
LOOKING AFTER AUXILIARY
CRUISERS
| New York, March 14-The board of
! auxiliary cruisers of the United States
navy, which was appointed to acquire
ships of the merchant marine for use
in the event of the breaking out of war,
! met for organization today. The new
board supercedes the office of United
States inspector of merchant vessels,
| which has been held by Lieutenant
Commander J.. D. j. Kelly in this city
since May of last year. Commander
Kelly is a member of the new board.
"A member of the board said today
that it had power to pre-empt any YES
sci that had been constructed under the
subsidy of congress and was engaged
i'm carrying the mails" The board or
ganized with the selection of Captain
Frederick Rodgers of the naval board
Of in~SpectatOrs as President. Lieu
tenant Sergeant recorder Of the board
of inspectors, as secretary, n Lieu
tenant Commander Kelly as advisor.
The board inspected the st. Louis and
the New York, of the American Line
this afternoon.
Captain Rodgers has very positive
instructions to make thorough inspec-
tons and immediate report. He has
been directed to examine all steamships
available for auxiliary cruisers and
supplies transports, fast tugs for use
as rams, and steam yachts that could
be quickly transferred into SerViceable
torpedo boats. He has been instructed
also to telegraph his recommendations
to the secretary Of the navy so that
action may be taken without unneces-
sary delay. 1t was said by a member
of the board his morning that the de-
partment's orders were hurry up" or
ders, and that the work of the board
would be completed as expeditiously
as possible.
Another member of the board said:
Just as soon as our mission here had
been announced, We began to receive
offers from the steamship companies.
The owners of all the available Amer
lean steamships in the harbor, l be
lieve, 1 am safe in saying, have placed
their vessels at our disposal. Merchant
vessels. tugs and yachts are included in
this. We have had a particularly
large number of yachts offered to us
and we will, no doubt, enter into ne
orr SioYinpc for q nIryohlr- Of rhpSn'
The ST. Louis is advertised TO sail
on Wednesday, but it was admitted
by an official OF the company this
morning that he did not know whether
or not she would do so.