The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1898-03-08
The Cruiser Montgomery Ordered TO Re-
lIeYe The Dispatch Boat Fern.
FERN WILL CARRY PROVISIONS TO CUBA
Tho Charge Conforms to the SUCCESS
tion OF spain That n Transport or
Merchant Vessel Carry Relief sup
plica-No Time Fixed for Mont
sOncry's Stay ut Havana.


OF the Navy Department concerning the
sending OF ships to Cuba was made
known at o'clock this afternoon when
the following brief statement was
posted by the Bureau of Navigation:
Montgomery will relieve the Fern
at Havana. Fern will carry provisions
to Matanzas and Sagua la Grande."
This conclusion was reached after
conferences between the officials OF the
State and Navy Departments, and is
understood TO be such an adjustment
as will not lead TO further objection
by the Spanish government.
The Fern Is a Dispatch boat, with
out heavy armament or guns. although
she belongs 10 the navy and is techni-
caliy a naval vessel AS she comes as
near being transport as anything In
our naval service. her selection will
accord with the Spanish suggestion that
transport or merchant ship undertake
the carriage of relief supplies.
The sending OF the Montgomery to
Havana Is primarily intended to re-
place the Fern. which is now at Ha-
vana. The Montgomery is an unar-
mored cruiser of 2,099 tons, with an
armament OF ten guns.
The plans of the Navy Department
are to have the Montgomery start for
Havana at once. In order that the Fern
may return to Key West in time 10 take
on the relief supplies reaching there
next Wednesday. 1t will be the second
visit of the Montgomery to Cuba, as
she has only recently returned from a
trip to Santiago de Cuba and Matanzas.
Captain Cr0wninshield, chief of the
Bureau of Navigation says that no
time has been fixed for the stay of the
Montgomery at Havana az the only de-
cision thus far reached is that she will
replace the FNrn there for the present
The Montgomery will he the first
United States warship at Havana since
the Maine disaster.
Key West. Fla. March NAVAL Off
GERS here had scarcely learned of Adj
miral S;card's order directing the de-
parturc of tho cruisers Nashville and
Montgomery for MatanZas and SaS7ra
La Grand with supplies for the recon-
centrados. enc an order was received
resembling it.
y telegram received from Washington
WAS followed by Il hurr&rd conference
between Admiral Scard and Clanmand
er West ard shortly after 3 o'clock Ad-
miral SiCard countermandtl the order
issued AT noon and directed that the
Montgomery proceed as soon as posi-
bic ito Havana, and the Fern was again
assigned II the duty of carrying sun
vi =
Is being hurricdly coaled. aud work on
her will be carried on through the
night. 1T rs hardly expected that she
will leave for Havana before morning
and her departure may ". further de-
layed. The official reason for the
NHmgomcry'S going Ito Havana is that
she IS merely to relieve the dispatch
boat Fern
naval ofiiccr-one OF tn. few who n t
the time this dispatch is sent. are
aware Of rhe latest change of plans
said that h: thought it most significant
that cruiser OF the Mont gomery's
caiihrc should he sent TO take tn. place
OF Il mere dispatnh boat.
ThiS afternoon the tnrnedo boat por-
ter arrived from Mobile The torpcdo
beat Cushing will pl-EbIbly have TO be
lald up for repairs. and the Ericsson is
i'll none too good condition.
Tht Mallory Line steamer Alamo ar
rived here this morning from New York
with cargo of ammunition for tho
'n".rd States fleet. Il greater part Of
winch is in:ended for she cruiser Cincin
natl
The coast survey steamer Bacha ar
rived her" from Havana. having on
board the remains OF six more Of Tho
Victims cf the disaster to the Maine
They were buried with the same ccra-
ln"n:cS observed when the first body wa 6
buried On Thursday last. and the func-
rtl procession was also in tine same
order.