The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-04-29


New York. Paris. Chicago.
st. Louis. Philadelphia Baltimore
Washington Buffalo.
that the Smelling was the result of direci
orders from the president. the secretary
said this was not so, the president was
| giving no direct orders on any OF these
movements.
FTTZHUGH LEE IN TOWN.
General F1tzhugh Lee arrived here late
today after ten days visit to his fam
lily in Virginia. With him came Miss
Cisneros. the young Cuban girl rescued
| from Cabanas, who has been the guest
OF Miss Lee. The general shared the
keen public interest in the reported shell
! ing of Matanzas. He had visited that
city frequently and was familiar with
the lay of the land and the defenses- He
| said the batteries were Anticipated and
were not likely to offer any formidable
| resistance. General Lee will call at the
| state department tomorrow. Being still
an official, he asked TO be excused from
discussing the war situation and was
| very reticent concerning his prospective
| appointment as major general. General
Lee says ne has not yet received a chal-
| lenge to fight duel sent by Lieutenant
De Carranza, late naval attache at
Washington. It is understood that three
or four people have offered to accommo-
date Lieutenant Carranza II he desires
meeting.
DEFENSE FUND ALL GONE.
The navy department has completely
ceased its purchase of ships for CONVEX;
sion into war vessels. owing TO the exA
haustionof the $50, 900 900 war fund. It
is confidently expected that congress will
come to the relief, as the department Is
still in need of auxiliary vessels.
The news of the safe arrival at Liver
pool of the big American sailing ship
Shenandoah was gladly received at the
department. Consul Boyle. at Liverpool,
forwarded the information.
PORT ROYAL DRY DOCK.
The Port Royal dry dock, according to
official information, will be accessible to
our war ships. even the biggest fleet.
should they meet with accident during
the campaign. The report from the con-
structor in charge shows that the en-
trance to the dock is now dredged and
clear. The work or dredging the basin
Is still in progress. and while this is not
absolutely necessary It is extremely de-
sirable in order to insure the safety of
the ships in docking, and the depart
ment is endeavoring to hasten the con-
tractors in their work. They estimate
that about fifteen days more will suffice
to complete It.
NEW BATTTESHIPS.
The board of bureau chiefs met today
to begin the constellation OF the plans
for the two new battIeshlps authorized
by the naval appropriat ton bill and pro-
crossed so far that circulars will be sent
out tomorrow inviting bids from ship
builders. The vessels will be in the main
very similar to the battleship Illinois.
now building at Newport News. They
will be of about $500 tons displacement.
70 feet beam, 231s feet depth. IS knots
speed, will be covered with heavy armor.
and armed with 10 and 6-inch guns. in
addition to numerous secondary batter
les
It can be stated authoritatvely that
there is no present prospect of a change
in the head of the navigation bureau.
The present efficient chief. Captain
Crowninshield. though anxious to take
his place in the fighting line has yielded
his personal ambitions to the urgent de-
mands of Secretary Long and the presl-
dent and will remain at his post He is
in good health Notwithstanding the Sc
we're strain to which he is subjected.
TRANSPORTS CHARTERED.
A rather striking sign of the imrnin-
ence OF the invasion Of Cuba was con-
tanned in the chartering today by the
war department OF eight large steamers
Of an average capacity Of about 1000
tons, and able to carry from 500 10 100
passengers each. These are 10 be used
as transports for the conveyance Of the
first military expedition 70 Cuba The
names of the boats are the Florida, OF
the Plant line, now In the gulf; the South
ern Pacific company's steamer Aransas.
the New York and Texas companys
vessels. the Coma, now at New York
and the Matamo, now enroute TO the
gulf. and three fne ships OF the Boston
Merchants and Miners lire In Baltimore.
the Allegheny. The Berkshire and the De-
catur Miller. The price paid for these
vessels is from $1,000 20 $1,000 for the
thirty days for which they ara engaged.
They will be taken charge Of BY the guar
termaster department at the earliest pos
sible moment
General Shafter. In command of me
United States troops now concentrated
Al New Orleans. has been IN consultation
with the officials today as 70 The sxecu-
ton II plans q The campaign. bat the
orders given 20 him cannot BE- made pub
lie TIE president and cabinet will con
slider tomorrow the large number 0. ap-
plicattons that have been made for the
appointment % he posts Of major Een-
eral and hrigstie- general. and there l.
some expectation that re viii BE abe %
nominate few OF these ozcers tonor-
row.
CRUISERS
Eas port Ne Apra 8.-The United