The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-03-08

b-e considered should The wdr depart
ment need 1t for is own purposes.
Possession. ii is said would be given
within forty eight hours.
SPAIN ASSEMBLING WARSHIPS.
London, March A letter just re-
ceived here from Madrid says il is de-
finitely reported there that
fresh Spanish squadron destined for
Cuba. is being organized at Cadiz. 1t
consists of four iron clads the Carlos
V, PelayO, Alfonso XIII. and another,
several gun boats and a trans-Atlan-
tic steamer.
Active work is also procee. ng upon
the torpedo boat destroyers PROSPER
ina, Audaz and Oscada, and upon the
torpedo boats HaD2na, Retsamosa ard
Earcelo, which form the second boat
ffotilla that Spain IS sending to Cuba.
Washington, March 5.-There is
promise of a new and unwelcome de-
VelOpmSnt Of the Maine affair that in
the end may lead up to an issue be
tween the government of the United
States and the state Of Florida, if the
officials OF the state endorse the stand
taken by the local officials at Key
West. The latter have notified Ad-
miral Sicard that Oh the first of next
mOrth they propose to enforce the
state quarantine law against all craft
arriving from CUBA, as a measure of
prevention against the Introduction cf
yellow fever. The notice indicates that
the law Will be applied to the naval
vessels, and in view of the serious in
terruptiOns such interference with the
free movements of his ships would
cause Admiral Sicard has reported the
facts to the navy department and
awaits instructions. The department
officials cannot tolerate with eQua-
nimity the stOppage of such craft as the
ManGTove and the Fern, on their err
rands of mercy, nor delays that may
result in the prosecution Of the work
OF the WreckerS engaged on the Maine's
hull and in the work Of the court of
inquiry. The president himself prob
ably will communicate with the gov
ernOr of Florida. with a view to sacur-
ing an abatement of the law 50 far
as 1T rs proposed to apply it to naval
vessels, this being the speediest man
ner Of dealing with the case, although
it may be stated that the national gov
ernment never has recognized the right
OF any local authorities to stop it's YES
sells in case their movement were deem
ed necessary. The WarshipS have vol
unfairly submitted to quarantine when
returning from any port suspected of
infection, but this is asserted to be
merely concession and not the rec0g-
milton of any lawful right Of the part
Of state authorities. In view of the
fact that the officers on our Warships
with the aid of capable surgeons on
each ship, make it their pride to keep
their craft in the NEST heaIthful con-
ditiOn, naval officers feel that they
may be safely left to run their ships
between Havana and Key West with
out restriction.
lAe- dow Tto
to avoid carrying contagion, the of
ficials point to the fact that without
suggestion from any of the health au-
thOrities of Florida Admiral Sicard
caused the wounded survivors of the
Maine disaster to be detained for sew
eral days at TOrtugas before allowing
them to go to Key West.
Tt is asserted positively at the state
department that there has been no
change in the plans for the sending
of the Montgomery and the Nashville
to eastern Cuban ports with relief sup
plies for the recOncentradoes. 1t had
been suggested that the offer of a
merchant steamer from New York to
take some Of these goods to Cuba would
relieve the naval vessels from the per
fOrmance of this OnerOus task, but
the declaration fl ON the state depart
nent ensures the execution CT the Orig,i-
nal programme and the ships named
will sail for Matan1as and Sagua Ia
Grande as soon as the goods arrive at
Key West from New York. Reports
that have come to the state depart
ment from these places show that ter
rihle deStitutiOn exists, probably no.
where exceeded on the island, and the
officers Of the Montgomery saw for
themselves ON their recent stop at Ma
tanzas the extent of the misery. 1t is
said by some of the correspondents of
these officers that they all returned
pennileSs from their Cuban cruise, hav-
ing been 50 moved by what they saW
that they gave away all of their ready
cash.
1t is decided this afternoon to aban-
don the projected order to the flag
ship Olympia to return to San Fran
cisco from Hong Kong. Without this
fine ship the Aslatic squadron would
be made up of g'unbOats and unprOtect-
cruisers, without any great degree CT
defensive and no offensive force against
armOred ships. The cruiser Baltimore,
now at Honolulu, has been selected to
take the powder, to be brought to that
port by the Mohican, further along to
to Hong Kong for the vessels of the
Asiatic squadron. Whether or not the
ship will be attached to the squadron
perma nently has not yet been deter
mined.
The torpedo boat Winslow, which
has been under repairs at the Norfolk
navy-yard, sailed today for Key West
TO join the ffOtilla-
The continued reports that Spain is
buying new ships led to counter reports
that the naval authorities here Were
considering similar purchases. In no
official quarter at the navy department
could this be confirmed, as steps of this
character necessarily would be guard
ed with the greatest secrecy. There is
little doubt, however, that the depart
mant is informing itself as to the op-
portunities for purchase should the
necessity for more ships arise. Thus
far there have been no negotiations
for ships and no options asked on par
ticuEar ships. Quite a number of offers
of ships have been submitted to Sec
retary Long by shipbuilding concerns
in this country and abroad. These
have been docketed and filed, but be-
yond an acknowledgment of the offers
no steps toward purchase have been
taken.
Under ordinary circumstances, the
emf would raolrir.a author