The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-07
SPAIN ASKS LEES RECALL.
CContInued from FLrst PAGE

tHiS Aaulnss giving aim MS eNequaluF-
This radical course is not expected, how
ever, and all the Indications reaching OIL
Gals here IS that Spain viii not proceed
further with the incident
The action regarding the cruiser Mont
'gomery and the gunboat Nashville is look
ed upon by officials here as much less
grave than that affecting Gen. Lee. Sec
rotary Long said tonight that he did not
regard the question as TO what ship should
carry the relief supplies as SERIOUS in any
way, or as likely 10. present any perplex-
ing issues. The desire of the navy de-
partment, Mr.. Long said, was merely to
get the supplies to Cuba on the most avail
able vessel. There were three of these
now at Key West, the Montgomery, Nash
Vlile and Fern, alike available for the SER
vice, and one Of these. Mr.. Long SAID
would be designated for the trip. The
Fern is a dispatch boat, rather than an
armed naval vessel and her availability
for this mission had not previously been
suggested. Her choice would probably re-
move all ground for objection, as she has
none of the characteristics of a war vessel
Mr.. Long said, however, the only decis-
ion thus far reached was that one of the
naval vessels, the Montgomery, Nashville
or Fern, should make the trip. AS this is
the first time the availability of the Fern
has been mentioned with carrying supplies,
it might be inferred that she will make
the trip
The official orders, however, continue to
stand as they We're originally made, desig-
mating the Montgomery and Nashville, but
these could be changed readily if the Fern
was felt to be best suited for the work.
The naval officials have felt from the first
that the Montgomery and Nashville are
not well adapted for carrying supplies.
They ore essentially fiobffpo machines and
every inch of available room is taken with
their own supplies of cordage, canvass, coal,
etc. This was so apparent that the plans
contemplated putting the relief supplies
on deck, covering them with tarpaulin and
trusting to the weather and a quick trip
to keep the provisions and clothing from
damage. The Fern, not being SO essenti tally
fighting machine, but more of the type
Of a yacht for the speedy conveyance of
naval dispatches, has considerable more
room for slowing supplies both below and
on deck.
The Cuban relief committee counted on
sending IS tons to Key West but this has
now been increased to 100 tons. 1t left
New York on one of the Mallory line of
boats yesterday, and is due at Key West
next Wednesday. The transfer viii take
a day, and the plan has been to have the
government ship start next Thursday fer
Cuba
The decision of the administration TO
send supplies to the reconcentra6os in
Cuba was arrived at early in the week.
Gen. Lee had represented that he had
been unable to distribute the goods that
had been received in answer to the proc
lamation of the President to the American
people. He reported that many tons of
these supplies were stored in Havana, and
could not be forwarded TO the eastern end
of the island. The United States consuls
at MatanZas and Sagua la Grande had
come in person to Havana to seek for re-
lief after reporting TO the state Department
the terrible conditions existing in their re-
spective districts.
The state department Immediately insti-
tuted inquiries, and learning that the or
| iginal decree of the Spanish government,
authorizing the free admission of supplies
| applied only to the port of Havana, Sc
| cured permission for the free reception of
these supplies at all ports. The next OBJ
| stacle met was The difficulty of trans
shipping the goods from Havana eastward,
there being a semi-weekly service by
| steamer, and that subject to many vexa-
tious local restrictions. When the United
States cruiser Montgomery returned from
her cruise, which included the Cuban
ports of Matanzas and Santiago, the Off
GERS brought narrowing tales of the dis
tress existing there.
Capt. Crowninshield, chief of the nav
igation bureau of the navy department.,
an officer of the soundest discretion and
Judgment, was on the ship, an accidental
passenger. He told President Mckinley
directly what he had learned.
The result was the immediate decision
of the navy department to accede to the
requests of the relief committee in New
laf, 70, no act-
ern ports of Cuba. One of the American
lines of steamships running to New York
had offered to take the bounteous contri-
buttons of the American people to Key
West and the President himself gave the
order fC< their carriage to Eastern Cuba
by any of the available ships of the North
Atlantic squadron.
The announcement by the Associated
Press of the purpose of the government
to send supplies to Cuba on naval vessels
was made last Wednesday. Within TWEEN
ty-four hours there were signs of resist
ance on the part of the Spanish govern
ment AT first this took the shape of a
formal inquiry by the Spanish charge
Senior Dubosc-as to the correctness of the
report, the inquiry being couched In an
incredulous tone, and later when the af-
irmadon came, there was lodged, not a
formal protest, but rather an intimasion
that the movement of the naval ships
would not be acceptable; that it would be
construed into an act of active sympathy
on the part of the government of the Unit
ed States with the insurgents.
But the President had satisfied himself
that the course he had chosen, that of
sending the supplies in a naval vessel, was
the only one that seemed to promise a
prompt and efficient relief There was no
time for diplomatic usages. as Gen. Lees
report stated that hundreds were dying
daily, and Senior Dubosc was so informed.
Senior Dubosc, when seen at the Spanish
legation to-day, 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 from his government concerning
Gen Lee, and he stated positively that
no suggestions concerning Gen. Lees re-
tirement had been submitted by him to
the state department. AS to the sending
of relief supplies by the Montgomery and
Nashville, Mr. Dubosc said he felt that
merchant vessels were much better
equipped for such service, and their use
was not open to that mlsconstruction pos
sible in sending supplies by vessels of the
navy.
The news concerning Gen. Lee aroused
the deepest interest, and no little excite
ment, throughout Washington, and for the