The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-04-05

fleet ut Key West or the squadron at
Hampton Roads. and no confirmation
could be obtained of the report that
sea orders had been sent the battle
ship Texas at New York. Secretary
Long held brief conference with Sec
retary Alger during the afternoon, and
left the department shortly after 4
o'clock. much earlier than has been his
custom for the past few weeks. UP to
the hour of his departure 1t was stated
that no advices had been received re-
garding any movements of the Spanish
torpedo fleet or other Spanish vessels.
Neither had the department been ad-
vised of any developments in the eff
fort to purchase warships abroad.
No decision has yet been reached
by the authorities as to the location of
the proposed naval base on the gulf
coast, the matter being still under con-
sideraton.
Secretary Alger has decided to rec
ommend to the president that an addi-
tional allotment from the emergency
fund be made for the use of the ord
nance bureau Of the army. The ord
nance department is still lacking am
munition for the sea coast fortifica-
tions, and the extra allotment will be
used for this purpose.
1t has been decided to detain for
time at the Chickamagua battlefield
the Twenty-fifth regiment of infantry.
which Is about to leave the various
forts in Montana for service at Key
West and Dry Tortugas. The reason
for this action Is said to be the fact
that the water supply at either of the
above named places is not satisfactory
at present Chickamagua, Genera!
Miles says, Is an excellent place for the
concentration of large body of troops,
and it is believed that the location has
been seriously considered by Secretary
Alger as point for the preliminary
gathering of troops in case of war.
General A. W. Greely, the chief sig.
nal officer of the army, left here yes
terday for the south, where he is to
make arrangements at the various sea
coast cities for connecting posts and
forts with electricity.
A Senator Charges Spanish Treachery.
It was frankly and openly charged
in the senate yesterday by Mr. Perkins,
of California, In a set speech, that
Spain was responsible for the Maine
disaster, as 1t had been brought about
by Spanish Vaccinations and Spanish
treachery. The speech Of Mr.. Perkins
was only one Of four prepared ad-
dresses upon the Cuban question de-
hvered in the senate yesterday. Mr..
Clay, Of Georgia. while hoping for
peaceful settlement of the problem the
country is now facing, declared strong
ly In favor of independence of the Gu
bans, and pledged to the adminlstra-
tion the loyal support of the south,
which in the event of war would have
to bear the brunt of the conflict. Mr..
Perkins took substantially the same
ground, and his vigorous treatment of
the Maine disaster aroused the crowd.
ed galleries to enthusiastic applause.
Mr.. Mantle, of Montana, while express
ing confidence in the administration,
maintained that the time for action
had now arrived, and that action must
be to the end that Cuba should be free
Mr.. Rawlins, of Utah, entirely ellmi-
mated the president from consideration
in his speech, holding that the case
against Spain was already made up,
and that with congress rested the re- |
sponsibility of declaring war For con-
gress to wait longer was only to in
vite criticism.
While there was no attempt to force
consideration for resolution regard
ing the Cuban situation In the house, |
there was a brief outbreak, in the
course of which the warlike temper of !
the crowded galleries was so manifest |
that Speaker Reed threatened to clear |
them If 1t was repeated. The out |
break occurred over bill to authorize |
the president to erect temporary forti-
fcations in case of emergency upon
land, when the written consent of the |
owners was obtained without await
ing the long process of legal condem-
nation. This led to a demand by Mr..
Bailey, the Democratic leader, for in
formation as to the facts which war
ranted all these war measures. The
particular statement which aroused
the galleries was to the effect that
while the Democrats were willing to
walt any reasonable time for the pres
ident to transmit message that would
meet the approval of the American
people, they would not wait minute
for him to continue negotiations with
the butchers of SPAIN" Mr.. Cannon
accused Mr.. Bailey Of 'posturing" and
playing to the galleries. The bill was
passed.
A Conservative Senator SAYS War,
Senator Mitchell, of Wisconsin, who
Is one OF the most conservative men in
the senate. and has never advocated
intervention In any way until since the
receipt Of the report of the Maine dis
aster, received letter yesterday from |
a friend in Milwaukee In which an |
argument for peace Is made. Senator
Mitchell replied: II have never fa-
vored armed interference in Cuban af-
fairs. I did not feel that we were
bound to redress the wrong Of Cuba by
resorting to war But the Maine cpl
sode will not down. Over refinement of
argument is useless. 1t stands before
the American people plain case of
Pertidy and cruelty run in
the Spanish blood. There is little else
In its history. Any nation that would
permit such an outrage to go unpun-
shed would not deserve to exist. There
are some things worse than war. There
are some things better than money"
A special meeting of the cabinet was
held last night. and at It's conclusion
Secretary Long authorized the an
that the presidents Cuban
message was finished and would be
presented to congress tomorrow. The
message, which in itself is long, will
lot be accompanied by the consular re-
ports dealing with the state of affairs
n Cuba. These will go to the COM
nittee on foreign relations Of the sem
lte for their private information, and
Will not be made public just now. The
diplomatic correspondence between the
United States and Spain will not be |
ubmtted at present.
HAVANA HARBOR WAS MINED.
Naval Attache Colwoll Has Evidence
to Prove tho Fact.
London, April "Details have been q,
btaned of the manufacture of sub.
marine mines in London for Spain, I
which was first brought to the atten- 3
ion Of the United States embassy and
abled to the United States on March ,
A man whose cards describe him az I
eing an electrical engineer, and whose