The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-03-11

ed for thu carrying OF THY
are essentially fighting machines, ard
every inch Of available room IS taken
with their own supplies CT co-dage,
canvass. coal. etc. This was Sd ap-
parent. that the plans contemplated
putting the relief supplies On deck. COW
ering them viii tarpaulin, ard trusting
TO the weatler and a quick trip 10 keep
the provisions and clothing from dam
age. The Fern, not being 50 essential
~ a fighting machine, but more Of the
type of a yacht for rhe speedy convey
| ance CT naval dispatches, has consider
-, able more room for slowing supplies,
both below and on deck.
The Cuban relief committee co,~ntei
on sending % tons 10 Key West. but
this b2s now been increased TO 100 tons
It left New York on one of the Mallory
Lire Of beats yesterday and is due at
Key West next Wednesday. The ans
fer VIII take a day. and the plan has
been TO have the government ship Start
next Thursday for CuOa-
The decision of the administration TO
send supplies tic the recommendations in
Cuba was arrived at early in the week.
GeTI5ral Lee had represented that ne
had been unable TO distribute the goods
that had been received IN answer &c the
American people. He reported that
many tons OF these supplies were stor-
ed in (HalDana and could not be for
warded to the eastern end of the is
land. The United States cCnsuls at
Matanzas and Sagua. la Grarrda had
come in person TO Habara to seek for
relief after reporting to the state de-
| partment the terrible conditions exist-
ing in their respective districts.
The state department Immediately
instituted inquiries, and learning thac
the origina. decree of the Spanish gov
eminent, authorizing the free admis-
sion of supplies applied only to the
port of Habana, secured permission
for the free reception of these supplies
at al ports.
The next obstacle met was the diff
fCulty OF ,trans-shipping the goods
from Habaala eastward, there being a
s~emi-weekly service by steamer, and
THAT subject to many ve~XatiOns. When
the United States cruiser Montgomery
returned from her cruise, which in
cluded the Cuban ports of Matanzas
and Santiago. the officers brought har-
rowing tales of the distress existing
there.
Captain Cr~oWninshield, the chief of
the navigation bureau of the navy de-
partment, an officer of the Soundest
discretion and judgment, was en- the
ship, an accidental passenger. He told
President Mckinley directly what he
IIdA lSd1 lltu. i lit ItSu1l "dS the I'LL
mediate decision of the navy depart
ment to accede to the requests of the
relief committee in New York to for
ward their supplies to the eastern
ports Of Cuba. One of the American
lines Of steamships running to New
York had offer ed to take the bounte
u contributions OF the American peo-
pie to Key West and the president
himself gave the orders for their car
vio 90 to q q Staro C1u1na nv &c INV IF tho
available ships of the North Atlantic
squadron.
The announcement by the associated
Press Of the purpOs of the government
to send supplies to Cuba ON naval YES
sells was made last Wednesday,. With
in "a hours there were signs of resiS-
lance on the part of the Spanish gov
eminent. At first this took the shape
of a formal inquiry by the Spanish
charge d'atfaires, Senior du Bose, as to
the correctness of the report, the in
Quiry being cOuched in an i~ncredulOus
tone, and later when the affirmation
came, there was lodged, not a formal
protest, but rather an i~nsinuatiOn that
the movement of the naval ships would
not he acceptable; that it would be
construed into an act of active SYM
pathy On the part of the government
of THE United States with the insug-
| gems.
But the president had satisfied him
self that the cOurS Sc he had chosen
that of sending the supplies in a naval
vessel-Was the only one THAT seemed
to promise a prompt and efficient re
lief. There was no time for diplomatic
usages, as General Lees report stated
that hundreds were dying daily, and
Senior du Bose was 50 informed.
Senior du Bose, when seen at the
Spanish legation today, could add little
to the fund of information on the two
subjects which were attracting so
much official and public attention. He
had received no word fICm his gov
nne concerning General Les, and
he stated positively that no suggestions
concerning General Lees retirement
hao been submitted by him to the state
department. AS to the sending Of relief
| supplies by the Montgomery n Nash
Willie, Mr.. du Bose said he felt that
merchant vessels were much better
equipped for such service, ard their
use was not open to that miSc0nStruc-
ton in sending supplies 10y vessels OF
the navy.
The news concerning General Lee
| aroused the deepest interest end no
little excitement throughout Washing
ton, and for the time being the usual
quiet Of Sunday evening was put
aside. In hotel corridors, at the clubs
and in all public places it wa the alb
sCrting topic, and not since the Maine
disaster was such widespread popular
interest evinced in the Spanish situa-
ton.