Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-03-03

| 10 Inc Starving People on Vne
Northern Coast Of Cuba-They
| VIII Not Tarry in Cuban Waters,
But Viii Discharge Their OargOeS
and Come Home at Once-Rela-
tons Between the Navy Depart
ment and House Naval Commit
tee Are Cordial-A Commander
for the Miantonomah-N VACATION
Bureau busy With Death Certifi-
Gates.
Washington. March 2.--Tne decision
of the Navy Department to send two
:. ships to Cuba with supplies for the
suffering reconcentrados caused some
commotion in onicial circles to-day
until the real purport Of the visit OF
the ships came out. The cruiser
Montgomery and the gunnoat Nash
Vile were selected for the purpose, and
orders We're sent TO Admiral oIcard to
put them in shape for the required ser
vice.
1t is explained at the Navy Depart
ment that this action was taken at the
instance of the Cuban relief ass0cia-
ton, organized through the efforts OF
the State Department for the relief OF
the destitute non-combatants in Cuba.
1t was represented to the department
that great distress prevails among the
people of the vicinity of Sagua la
Grande and Matanzas, on the north
ern coast Of the island and that con-
siderable difficulty is experienced IN
sending supplies there because of the
infrequent visits of the merchant ships.
On this account and because Of the
immediate demand for supplies at the
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 at Key West
in the transportation there OF food
supplies contributed by the charitable
people of the United States in re-
Spouse to the appeals Of President Nc
Kinley and Secretary Sherman. Secre-
tary Long conferred with the President
on the subject and it was decided to
comply with the request. The Mont
gomery and the Nashville are selected
as most
SUITABLE FOR THE SERVICE.
The Montgomery will go to MatanzaS
and the Nashville to Sagua la Grande
with the understanding that they viii
remain in those ports only long
enough to deliver the supplies TO the
agents of the association for dlstribu-
ton where they Will do the most good
Although the missions assigned to the
warships will take them both within
a short distance Of Havana, estimated
at from TWO to four hours it is stated
that neither vessel will visit the Cuban
capitol
To remove the impression that had
gotten abroad to the effect that the
relations between the Navy Depart
ment and the House navy committee
were not harmonious Secretary Long
this afternoon gave out a short state
ment on the subject. He said:
Congressman Boutelle has been
misunderstood. 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.
I'm his annual report, the Secretary
recommended that 1900 men be added
to the enlisted force on account OF the
increase in the number Of ships. The
naval committee, of which Mr.. Bou-
telle is chairman, has already declined
TO grant this increase in the regular
naval appropriation bill. Meantime, II
there should be any immediate neces-
sitv for more men, the same committee
and Mr.. Boutelle, as its chairman are
ready to make provision TO that etfect
at once"
A CABLEGRAM CAME
from Cen Lee during the DAY to the
State department, but it made no ref
erence to the Maine affair, being de-
voted to the periodical statement OF
the amount OF tobacco that is being
shipped from Cuba to the United States
norris. thus giving evidence OF the act
nal removal of the export prohibition
decree. The telegram was as follows:
..Filler tobacco February 18th, Y
bales Tampa: % Key West; 5S4 Chi
caeo: 10 Milwaukee; 2Sth, 2S4 New
York
CAPTAIN Chester, commanding the
South Atlantic station, sent cable
gram relating to the docking Of the
gunboat Castine, now at Port OF
France The department has sent him
the necessary authorization and the
ship will go into the dry dock there.
A commander for the monitor Man
tonomah, which was ordered into COM
mission Yesterday, WIS sSlGCttQ tO-ldS
in the person Of Captain Mortimer
Johnson. who is at present on wait
ing orders. Secretary Long says that
that the Miantonomah, with the ram
Katahdin. will remain in the Della
ware for the present at least with the
commissioning of these two vessels
there remain only the cruisers Column
bia and Minneapolis on the Atlantic
coast available for immediate service
In case the department should decide
| TO COMMISSION MORE SHIPS.
The Atlanta at New York could be
made ready in the course of three or
four months. and the Chicago in six
months. in case emergency orders for
their repair were issued. There are
a number of good ships on the Pacific
coast. however whose repair is under
way. such as the Charleston the Phil
adeiphia. the Yorktown and others
and the pay rolls Of the construction
bureau at the Mare Island navy yard
has now amounted to the large total
of SGT. 900 per month for wages alone.
i The navigation bureau is still busy
with the preparation of the death Ger
tificates for the families of the victims
of tile Maine disaster Captain Haw
lev. who has the matter Immediately
! in charge. says that owing TO the nee
oeeorv for4nalifipc these certificates