The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-08
WILLOWS TO MEET MENACE.
PRESIDENT CALLS ON CONGRESS
FOR $JO,60O,OOO.

the Public Defense-S pain With
draws Her IntimatiOn of Objection
10 Consul General Lee-Cruiser
Montgomery to Go to Havana In
stead of the Fern-NegOtiatiOns
Looking to the Purchase of War
ships Instituted.
Washington, March There were no
less than five important events to-day hav-
ing a bearing more or less direct upon the
troubled relations between the United
sates and Spain, viz:
The introduction in Congress by Mr..
Cannon Of a resolution carrying $5o,OO0,-
OH for the public defense, the withdrawal
by the Spanish government of its inti-
mated objection to Consul General Lee,
the order to the cruiser Montgomery to
proceed to Havana in place of the Fern,
the passage of the bill through the House
Increasing the artillery Of the army by
two regiments, and the institution of ne
gotiations looking to the purchase of war
ships for our navy.
Mr. Cannons resolution probably led all
other topics in interest, particularly when
Il became known that it was the result Of
a conference between the author, The
President, Senator Hale and other leading
spirits in Congress.
As for Gen. Lees case the news of the
satisfactory ending of the incident through
the withdrawal of the suggestion by Spain
was expected as soon as it was noted that
loophole had been left open through the
failure to make the complaint in anything
ike an official shape. Some fear is express
ed that the Consul General will not find
his post very congenial now that he knows
he is an unwelcome guest in Havana, but
the administration is relying upon his de-
votlon to the welfare of the Americans in
Cuba and American interests generally to
submit his own personal wishes in re-
strant and remain at his post.
Late in the afternoon, Senior Dubosc, the
Spanish charge, received a cipher cable
from the minister of state at Madrid SEN
or Gullons saying: You can disavow the
Tumor that any official application has
been made for the recall of Gen. Lee"
This confirmed Mr. Dubose's view that
am:sapprehension had occurred, and that
some intimation concerning Gen. Lee had
been construed into a request or demand
for his recall, which Mr.. Dubosc says with
1t is learned that-ths- Spanish objection
10 Consul General Lee is based largely
upon his sympathy for the Cubans and
some of his utterances which have found
their way into print. 1t is understood that
the Spaniards also take exceptions to the
friendly relations and companionship ex-
sting between Gen. Lee and correspond
ents on papers which have been decidedly
Unfrendly to Spain. 1t Is believed that
TOoT. ,,~Vf11 Il 70
and information calculated to make the
Spanish government request the recall of
Consul General Lee
As there has been no explanation so far
as to the purpose which prompted Mr..
lannon's resolution, it may be said that
The money is wanted primarily as an emer-
eeney fund. 1t is said by the officials,
who viii have the disposition of this treas
uIe, that it by no means follows because
congress places such a sum of money in
the control of the President that he will
Ieel bound to spend all of it. Those who
iook Tor wholesale purchase of warships
from the bargain counters of European
builders are likely to be disappointed The
IdYy department at present is inclined to
make but one purchase of this kind, at
Afst, at least, in the shape of a substan-
ua' iron-clad. 1t does desire to get pos
session of several of the larger class of
VI the Russian navy, vessels of 300 tons,
Hole to keep the sea in bad weather, a
weak point with our own boats, and capa-
we OF enormous speed, such as thirty two
Knots But such craft are not for sale s t
'H umes, and they are built to order gem
daily and could not be procured in this
manner in less than six months from the
ua'e OF contract even in Europe unless
special prices were paid. There is no dis
loSnon on the part of the navy depart
iNeul 10 lumber the navy with a lot of un-
NlElceable craft in a spasm of fear but
Ilo'ner to get few of the best vessels to
me offers of ships to the navy depart
ment are now assuming definite and for
tldl shape. During the day Secretary Long
leceVed call from A. r. Lane, repre-
SeuHng the Maxim Nor denfeldt Company,
ailu the agent for ships now nearing COM
pieuoh in foreign shipyards These in
i1ue TWO cruisers of the type of the Gin
n'uati, which are designed to be twenty
N'Iot vessels and two iron-clads of four
%eH knots, which would be called third
lass oattleships under our ra ding. These
S.e now open to purchase, and it is un-
hecUon
Inc two cruisers are 800 feet long, 43 feet
IAN IAN and l6 feet draft. They carry six
t" ana 4~hve-inch guns, and an auxil-
iy battery. The iron clads have a 1879
l" Delt of Harveyized steel. Their arm
,,'glt IS two ten-inch guns, four five-inch.
@o sX-inch, six six-pounders and four
s founders. Mr.. Lane regards these
t..ps as first class in every particular, as
oa We're designed on modern principles
et +o are being built by one of the leading
@lDouiding firms of Europe. They are
e. along toward completion. and all four,
said, could be in commission within
" months. They were originally de-
sned for one Of the South American re-
,'Hes, but there is said to be no obliga-
WI, which would prevent their acquisi-
on by the United States. Mr. Lane re-
,s'y sold the navy department sixty of
s Maxim Nordenfelt rapid-fire guns, and
o' atanding with officials Is such as to
re ms reports as to his ships much
mere are things wanted much more
H Warships In case of trouble and the
| ~! snares this need so that a fair pro-
rY' Ion Of the $50, 100000 would have to go
He war department There are abund-
~ sopplles Of shot and shell and powder
army is as short as the navy Of these