The Portland daily press., 1898-03-23
G captain BARKER's MISSION.


ach diseases or ask your druggist for 1t.
CAPTAIN BARKER'S MISSION.
Was Sent to Key West But for What Pur-
pose Department Refuses to Disclose.
Washington, March 22.-The navy de.
partment was advised today of the arrival
of the cruiser Cincinnati and the gun
boats Castine and Wilmington at Port
Antonio, ia. This is about the same dis
tanoe from the South shore of Cuba as
Key West is from the North shore. The
gunboat Marietta announced her arrival
at Panama. The Dfarblehead has gone
from Port Tampa to Dry Tortugas The
officials state there is mistake in the
Key West despatch saying that the Massa-
chusetts as we'll as the Texas passed out
yesterday for Hampton Roads Only the
Texas has made move although the
Massachusetts, may follow later. Captain
Barker, naval aide to the secretary OF tho
navy. returned to his desk at the navy
department. today after few days' alb
sence. He went to Key West on secret
mission, the exact nature of which has
not been disclosed. Inasmuch as he con-
Sicard, commanding the North Atlantic
squadron and with Captain Sampson.
president OF the naval court of inquiry in
Investigating the cause OF the Maine
disaster, there appears to be good reason
far the inference that his business related
to that affair, and its probable conse-
uQenee Secretary Long is authority for
5ns statement that Captain Barker was
not aent to Key West to get the report OF
the laval court, and did not bring it back
with MIN.
osyond making this statement the
Secretary refused to say anything with
respect to the business that caused Capt
Barker to visit Admiral Sioard and the
other naval officers in Florida. Captain
Barker himself will hardly admit that he
has been sent to Key West, much less dis
cuss why he went there.
One OF the most active branches Of the
navy department just now is that engaged
in the enlistment of recruits for various
positions in the service. Yesterday notlce
was given by advertisement that recruit
ing stations would be opened at number
OF cities mostly on the coast Today the
enlistment bureau gave notice that a
b ,ard of officers would be detailed to visit
ytrious cities in the vicinity OF the Great
Lakes where there are number OF men
willing to enter the service. Many OF
them are Scandinavians, who have besn
at sea in their native country. The board
will consist Of Lieutenant Simon Cook,
Surgeon W. A. MoClurg and engineer
officer and boatswain, who have not yet
been named, They will visit st. Paul,
Duluth, Milwaukee and Chicago.
Sean1en. ordinary seamen and ma
chiuists of several classes are wanted, 6ne
pay ranging from $40 to $40 per month.
Word comes to the department tha1 6ne
recruiting board which has been at work
at New Orleans has accomplished good
results. Fifty men were enlisted at that
S,Iase and they are to be shipped promptly
IN New York and are to be distri buted
among the various ships according to the
exieencies of the service. From New
glrieaps the board goes to Galveston to
continue iGk work.
Dieut. T. ]. Blandin, formerly of the
Maine has been ordered to Washington for
examination for promotion, and then
await orders, Lieut.. G. f. W. Holman
Also of the Maine has been ordered to duty
at the Newport Torpedo station; Lieut..
T. F.. Fletcher has been detached from
the torpedo station and ordered to the
Bureau Of Ordnance. Washington, D. c.
WAR QUESTION RESTS WITH SPAIN
Washington, March 22.-The cabinet
zsssion today was even shorter than
usual All of the members arrived
promptly at II O'Clock. but before noon
the secretary OF state anu inc secretafy
OF the navy had left for their respective
departments and the other members fol-
flowed soon after. The statement was
again made by several members that
1t was not expected that the Maine report
would reach here before sometime
next Thursday land that in all probabii-
Icy the President would require until the
following Monday at least to give II
proper consideration. 1t therefore may
bs expected that on Monday or TUESDAY
ut the latest the report will be transm led
to Congress together with message from
She President indicating that its sub
stance has been communicated to the
Spanish government through Minister
Woodford at Madrid and further that he
had indicated that this government
would expect prompt reply to the ind
ing of the court. This will be substanti
ally the course pursued in case the re-
port shows that the disaster came froTs'
outside causes. While no one having g
knowledge of the matter is willing c
sneak for the President, it is believed
that the question of arbitration i'll con
nection with the disaster to the Maine
is no longer under consideration. The
recent speech of Senator Proctor seems
to have cleared the minds Of the mem
hers of the administration as to the real
ambitions in Cuba and it is now be
lieyed thas the disaster to the Maine will
he treated only as an incident to the mair
oueStion. 1t is asserted that the two are
so Intimately connected that one neces
sariiy involves tho other and it is believed
TO be- the Presidents purpose to bring