The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-03
RELIEF FOR RECOMMENDATIONS.
THE MONTGOMERY AND NASHVILLE
TO TRANSPORT SUPPLIES.

Dispatched to Admiral Sicard to
Put the ships in Readlness--The
Montgomery to Land at MatHnzas
ana the Nashville at Sngua Ia
Grande-Ncither TO Visit Havana.
Relations Between the Navy De-
partment and House Naval Com
lnittee Declared Harmonious.
Washington, March 2.-The decision OF
the navy department 10 send two ships 10
Cuba with supplies for the suffering recon-
centrados caused some commotion in Off
cial circles to-day until the real purpose
of the visit of the ships came out. The
cruiser Montgomery and the gunboat
Nashville were selected for the purpose and
orders sent 10 Admiral Slcard to put them
In shape for the required service. 1t is
explained at the navy department that this
action was taken at the instance of the
Cuban Relief Association, organized
through the efforts Of the state depart
ment for the relief of the destitute non
combatants In Cuba. 1t was reported to
the department that great distress prevails
among the people in the vicinity of Sagua
la Grande and Mantanzas on the north
coast of the island and that considerable
difficulty is experienced In sending supplies
there because of the infrequent visits of
the merchant ships on this account and
because of immediate demand for supplies
at points indicated, the officers of the as
ISOLATION requested the Secretary Of the
Navy to authorize the use of one or more
of the warships a Key West In the trans
portation there of food supplies contribut-
ed by the charitable people of the United
states in response to the appeals of Presi-
dent Mckinley and Secretary sherman.
Secretary Long conferred with the Pres
ident on the subject, and decided to COM
ply with the request. The Montgomery
and the Nashville were selected as most
suitable for the service, and the necessary
orders were dispatched to Admiral Sic
ard. The Montgomery win go to Matanzas
and the Nashville to Sagua la Grande
with the understanding chat they will re-
main in those ports only long enough TO
deliver the supplies to the agents OF the
association for distribution, where they
will do the most good
Although the mission assigned TO the
warships will take them both within
short distance of Havana, estimated at
from two to four hours, 1t Is stated that
neither vessel will visit the Cuban capital.
To remove the impression that had got
ten abroad. TO the effect that the relations
between the navy department and the
House naval committee were not harmo-
nious Secretary Long this afternoon made
a short statement on the subject. He said:
Congressman Boutelle has been misun-
derstood. The congressman, who Is one OF
the most patriotic men in the world, Is
always ready to do everything that can
be done for the navy. In his annual re-
port the secretary recommended that l,5UO
men be added to the enlisted force on ac-
count of the increase in the number OF
ships The naval committee, Of which Mr..
Boutelle Is chairman, has already decided
to grant this increase in the regular naval
appropriation bill. Meantime, If there
should be any immediate necessity for
more men, the same committee and Mr.
Boutelle as its chairman, are ready 10
make provision to that effect at once"
A cablegram came from Gen. Lee dur
ing the day to the state department, but
1t made no reference to the Maine affair,
being devoted 10 the periodical statement
of the amount of tobacco that is being
shipped from Cuba to United States ports,
thus giving evidence of the actual removal
Of the export prohibition decree. The tele
gram was as follows: "Ffller tobacco, Feb.
26, p bales, Tampa; % Key West, 5@ Chi
cago 10 Milwaukee; 2Sth, 2S4 New York"
A commander for the monitor Minanton-
oman, which was ordered into commission
yesterday, was selected in the person of
Capt Mortimer Johnson, who is at present
on waiting orders. Secretary Long said
the Miantonomah with the ram Katah-
din, will remain in the Delaware for the
present at least. With the commissioning
of these two vessels there remains only the
cruisers Columbia and Minneapolis on the
Atlantic coast available for immediate
service In case the department should de-
eide to commission more ships. The At
lanta, at New York, could be ready for
use In three or four months, and the Chi
cago in six months In case emergency or
ders for their repair were issued. There
are a number Of good ships on the Pa
cifc coast however, whose repair Is un-
der way. such as the Charleston, the Phil
adelphia, the Yorktown and others, and
the payrolls of the construction bureau at
the Mare Island navy yard has now
amounted to the large total of 10000 per
month for wages alone.
The navigation bureau are still busy
with the preparation of the death certih-
| Gates for the families of the victims Of
has the matter Immediately In charge,
SAYS that owing to necessary formallties,
| these certificates cannot be issued before
March IS. and this answer is returned to
numerous letters daily received at the de-
partment
dt is said In the navigation bureau, that
| there is a pressing need Of able machln-
| lists for the navy, caused by the heretofore
| unnoted fact, that every one Of the ma
| chInists on the Maine lost their lives in
| the explosion. Moreover, all the aremen
but one was killed. The bureau has in
Vited enlistments from men who have had
naval service before in the engine rooms.
and. It is said that number of these men
are now enjoying the three months period
of time between enlistments, during which
| they may come again into naval service
without loss of service record, it h hoped
| that some Of them will come forward to
| an the places made vacant by the Maine
| disaster.
sir Julian Pauncefote came to the state
| department to-day bearing one Of the for
| NAL expressions Of deep coincidence and
| sympathy with the government over the
| loss of the Maine that have come now
| from every one Of the British colonies
| This latest message was as follows:
| "Washington, Feb. a. 1S9S.--Sr: At the
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