The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1898-03-05
WAR SHIPS FOR CUBA.

news.
WASHINGTON. March 1.-The deci-
sion of the navy department to send
two ships to Cuba with supplies for the
suffering recOncentradoes caused some
commOtion in official circles yesterday
until the real purport of The visit of
the ships came out. The cruiser Mont
gomery and the gunboat Nashville
were selected for the purpose, and or
derS were sent to Admiral Sicard to
put them in shape for the required
service.
1t is explained at the navy depart
ment that this action was taken at the
instance ofthe Cuban Relief association
organized through the efforts of the
state department for the relief of the
destitute noncombatants in Cuba. 1t
was represented to the department
that great distress prevails among the
people in the vicinity of Sagua la
Grande and Matanzas, on the northern
coast of the island, and hat consider
able difficulty is experienced in send
ing supplies there because of the in
frequent visits of merchant ships.
On this account. and because of the
immediate demand for supplies at the
points indicated, the officers of the as
ISOLATION requested the secretary of
the navy to authorize the usr of one or
more of the war ships at Key West in
the transportation there of food sup
plies contributed by the charitable
people of the United States in response
to the appeals of President Mckinley
and Secretary Sherman. Secretary
Long conferred with the president on
the subject and it was decided to CON-
ply with the request.
The Montgomery and the Nashville
were selected as most suitable for the
Service, and the necessary orders were
dispatched to Admiral Sicard. The
Montgomery will go to Matanzas 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 distribution where
they will do the most good.
Although the mission assigned to the
war ships will take both within a short
distance of Havana. estimated at from
two to four hours. it is stated that
neither vessel will visit the Cuban cap
ital.
To remove the impression hat had
gotten abroad to the effect that the re
lationS between the navy department
and the house naval committee were
not harmonious, Secretary Long
yesterday afternoon gave out a short
Statement ON tho Snh loot Un cid
Congressman Boutelle had been mis-.
understood. The congressman, who is
n of the most patriotic men in the
world. is always ready to do every
thing that can be lone for the navy.
In his annual report the secretary
recommended that 1.500 men be added
to the enlisted force on account of the
increase in the number of ships. The
naval committee, of which Mr.. Bou-
telle is chairman, has already decided
to grant this increase in the regular
naval appropriation bill. Meanwhile,
if there should be any immediate
necessity for more men the same COM
mittee and Mr.. Boutelle as its chair
man, are ready to make provision to.
that effect at once"
4 cablegram came from Gen. Lee
during the day tOthe state department,
but it made no reference to the Maine
affair, being devoted to the periodical
statement of the mount of tobacco,
that is being shipped from Cuba to
United States ports. thus giving evil
derce of the actual removal of the "
port prohibition decree. The telc-.
gram vas as follows:
Filler tobacco, February 2s. - Tampa. - Kew.
West, 5Si Chicago, 10 Milwaukee,; 18th, 2S4
New York.
Capt. Chester. commanding the south.
Atlantic station, was also heard from,
his c~ablegram relating to the docking
of the gunbOat Castine at Port of France.
The department has sent him the nee
essary authorization and the ship will
go into dry dock there.
y commander for the monitor
which was ordered into
commission Tuesday. was selected in
the person of Capt. Mortimer Johnson,
who is at present on waiting orders.
Secretary Long says that the Mianto-
with the ram Katahdin
will remain in the Delaware for
the present at least. With the
commissioning of these two vessels,
there remain only the cruisers Column
and Minneapolis on the Atlantic
coast for immediate service in case the
should decide to commits
sion more ships. The Atlanta, at New
York. could be made ready III the
of three or four months. and the
Chicago in six months. in ease eper-
gency orders for their repair were is.
sued. There are a number of good
on the Pacific coast, however,
whose repair is under way. such as the
Charleston. the Philadelphia, the York
and others, and the pay rolls of
The construction bureau at the Mare
navy yard now aggregate $780,
100 per month for wages alone.
The navigation bureau is still busy
preparation of the death certif-
,ates for the families of the victims of
he Maine disaster. Capt. HawIey.
who has the matter Immediately in
says that owing to the neces-
AIRY formalities these certificates can