The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-17
SPAIN KICKS ON UNCLE SAM.
ARMY AND NAVY PREPARATIONS
TOO WARLIIxE.


to the Mntter-Cruiser MONTGOMERY
to Return to Key West Mt once-No
Information Received by the Navy
Department From the Court of
Inquiry
Washington, March 16.-The main devel-
opments in the Spanish situation to-day
was in connection with the definite repre-
sentations submitted by the Spanish gov
ernment to the state department concern
ing the assembling of a large feet of
American warships at Key West, the war
prepare ations, and the influence which
these have had on the approaching cleo
tions in Cuba.
These representations were exactly in
line with the semi-ofacial utterance given
in these dispatches last night and credited
to a high official convcrsant with the
views of the Spanish cabinet.
While these representations cannot
properly be regarded as a protest against
the attitude and acts of the United states
government, it may unquestionahly be set
down as a remonstrance calculated to have
an effect in European court circles.
Not. however, being a technical protest,
the statement has not called forth any Of
fetal rejoinder on the part of the state de-
partment, for it, is lacking in tangible ac-
cusations, being rather an argumentative
presentation of alleged Spanish grievances
The Fern sailed for Havana from Key
West this Afternoon. She goes to reiieve
the Montgomery as home for the officers
engaged in supervising the wrecking oper-
ations in Havana harbor.
1t may be stated unequivocably that the
Montgomery is not withdrawn owing to
any suggestion from Spanish sources that
her presence is not desired.
II was the announced intention of Sec
retary Long when the cruiser was sent
to Havana to keep her there only so long
as the Fern Should be engaged In the
work of distributing relief among the
| sufferers in Eastern Cuba.
This task having been performed, and'
owing TO the return of the court OF IN
| oniry from Havana there being fewer
| nersons to accommodate, the Fern, Whlch
| is better equipped than the Montgomery
| to assist in the wrecking operations, Is re-
| turned to her position.
| I'm to the close of Office hours the navy
| department though it knew off1ciaily tnat
! the court of inquiry had come over 10
Key West from Havana, was not INFORM
ed as.to the findings or plans of the court.
The late Mr.. Ogden -Goelets yacht May
fower. was purchased by the government
TODAY. 1t is said that the object of the
navy department is to provide as quickly
as possjble a number of picket boats OF
| good speed and sea-going ability to act
| as scouts. and also TO aid our iron clads
| and more expensive vessels in operations
against torpedo boats. large number
| of private yachts have been offered TO
the department, and other acquisitions OF
the same type as the Mayfiower may De
| expected.
The fleet at Key West will be aug
rnented within the next day or two by
! the arrival of the gurboat Annapolis, the
| torpedo boat Foote and the naval tugs
! Levden and Samoset while the gun boat
Helena is now on her way from the Euro
pean station under orders to report VI
! Key West.
The Helena reported her arrival to-day
at Funchal on her way to join the fleet.
These and the other vessels previously or
dered TO that point constitute the largest
assemblage of war vessels made since the
demonstration following the Virgknius af-
fair, and considering the effectiveness and
| armament is the strongest assemblage OF
ships for other than review purposes
| since the war.
The feet now at Key West and Dry
| Torugas is as follows: Cruiser New
York. battleships Massachusetts Indiana
Iowa and Texas, cruiser Detroit gun
boat Nashville. cruiser Marblehead, dis
patch boat Fern, torpedo boats Dupont
Gushing, Porter, Winslow and Ericsson
To these Will soon be added the five YES
sells now en- route there.
In addition to these the Montgomery Is
at Havana and is practically part oi
the fleet, the gun boats Wilmington anc
Castine and cruiser Cincinnati are at Bar
badoes the Newport at Colon, with the
Puritan, Newark Amphitrite and Other
ships of the North Atlantic squadron al
points along the coast further northward
In point of ships, the feet under Rear
Admiral Cason, Jan. 8, 1874, following Tho
| Virginius affair, was considerably larger
| Although formidable in its day, this ag
| gregation was made up of the old-stylt
wooden ships. monitors, which had gone
through the civil war, and every available
| craft that could bear guns Compared
with the modern battleships and cruiser.
of the new navy il was Insignificant IL
tonnage and general effectiveness. II Il
Noteworthy HOMGNtlt iildl TINS
gathering of ships was at the same poin
as the present gathering. and during
critical period with Spain, and that i
did not eventuate In war.
Secretary Alger has made requlsltion OF
the President for two large allotmept
from the appropriation of $5O,OO0OOO TO
the national defense. One is for 5,00O. 90
for the Use of the engineer department o
the army, in, the completion OF certain
fertilization works along the Atlantic ant
| Gulf coasts now is progress, and the othe
| Is for S2.25O.000 for the use of the ordnanc'
department of the army in the acquire
| ment of arms and ammunition. Prett,
much all of this money is needed to cove
contracts already made by the militar.
establishments.
An encouraging telegram came to tn
department from Admiral Bunce, com
mandant of the New York navy yard. I
| was: Naval constructor reports docl
No. 8 pumped dry last night. Test of tn
structure satisfactory. Caisson join
leaks, but easily remedied."
The department places the date for tn
final completion of the dock at April 90
IN view of this report.
Surgeon General Van Reypen of tn
navy returned to-day from Newport News
where he went to examine into the practi
cabflity Of converting the Plant Lin
q :. Cfronda 0ftrhacno Into a ~ a -,