The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1898-03-24
PATRIOTIC UNITY PREVAILS
Naine Report Will Arrive Hoaday Rsysnae
Caters Will Be Brought IntO
Service at Once
THE REVENUE CUTTERS TO
BE BROUGHT INTO SERVICE
BY THE NAVY DEPARTMENT.

Washington, March a.--The feeling was
universal throughout official circles today
that the elimination OF the Spanish crisis
was near at hand. With the report OF the
Maine court OF inquiry only a little while
on, with the white House the center OF
long and earnest conferences between the
president and the party leaders OF con-
gress, and with exceptional activity to-
wards emergency preparations in the war
and navy departments. there was abund-
ance Of evidence that definite results re-
gardlng the Maine disaster and Cuban
question in general were about to be
reached.
Among the presidents callers were Sem
ators Coekrell. Turple and Foraker; Gen.
eral Daniel sickles. former minister TO
Madrid, and Representative Smith, OF
Michigan. who has recently returned from
trip 10 Cuba. The cali OF Cockrell and
Turple WAS regarded as particularly sig
nihcant as they are representative DEM
ocrats In the senate and their visit fol-
lowed that OF Senator German yesterday.
It was generally understood that in
the present emergency the president de-
sires patriotic unity without reference 10
party. Secretaries Long and Alger also
conferred with the president. Secretary
Long later said that the Maine report
would probably reach Washington tomor-
row night. II, however. It did not come
before o'clock Thursday evening. Mr..
Long said he probably would not receive
II until Friday morning when II would
be iaid berfore the president
There has been no change in the plan
OF sending the report To congress early
next week, probably Monday. accompa-
MED by a message from the president.
1t is definitely settled however. that tho
message and papers accompanying Il
will relate exclusively to the Maine dlsas-
ter. 1t will not take up the fearful condi-
tion OF affairs in Cuba as shown by tho
reports OF the United States consuls. that
bein9 reserved for a subsequent and later
message TO congress.
Secretary Long determined today To or
der the double turreted monitors Puritan
and Terror to Key West. where they
will reinforce the squadron in those wat
ers. He also determined 10 bring into
service eight single turreted monitors at
the League Island navy yard. two of
which will be sent TO Boston. two TO New
York. and four will be held in reserve at
Philadelphia. The Puritan by many ex--
perts is regarded as the most formidable
lighting machine in the navy. In addition
10 other preparations for possible trouble
the navy department today took steps
towards utilizing all sea-going revenue
cutters for use along the Atlantic coast.
Captain Shoemaker. chief Of the revenue
cutter service, conferred with Assistant
Secretary Roosevelt during the day on
plans for turning over these cutters to
the navy. They will be first sent TO Nor
folk. where additional guns will be
mounted. and then will proceed TO Key
West and become part Of the squadron
there, The revenue cutter service now
has ready for instant and active service
i2i line officers. "A engineers, 800 enlisted
men, ana 10 vessels. of which Il are on the
Atlantic coast Two others are in the
course of construction. and with rush or
ders can be ready for service within three
or four weeks
Secretary Long said today that It had
become evident that torpedo boats could
not be bought abroad and could not be
built soon enough in this country. so that
We might have to equip other craft with
torpedoes.