The herald., 1898-03-09

This, however, has not been decided upon
| A proposition that received instant at
tention andgis expected to be approved
In the end. came to the navy department
today. This was to turn over to the navy
department ten Of the best boats In the
lighthouse service These boats are from
400 to 500 tons burden. good sea boats
manned by officers thoroughly familiar
with every indentation Of the Atlantic coast
and capable of being easily transformed
into efficient gunboats. The Mangrove Is
vessel of this character. new, staunch
| and speedy. 1t Is proposed to place a
x-inch rife on pivot mount on each
vessel forward. and to place a light armoi
around the Boilers and machinery to pro-
| tect them from small-arms fire at least
Attention has also been called to the fea.
sibility Of recruiting the navy lists from
| the revenue marine cutters. a number oil
which are fully equal, being given arms
to the smaller type OF gunboats now in
| the service. II these vessels were availed
Of they would be assigned to duty along
the southern coast. maintaining blockades
and relieving the larger and more expens-
i've cruisers of much wearisome duty. Ar
rangements were perfected at the navy
department today for the relief of the
dispatch boat Fern at Havana by the
cruiser Montgomery, of Admiral S!card' 8
squadron now at Key West.
The Montgomery will relieve the Ferr
tomorrow morning, so that the latter yes.
sci may arrive at Key West Wednesday
evening In ample time to receive the food
supplies from New York, which are due
there on that day. There will be no delay
In the departure of the Fern on her er-
rand OF mercy.
The Fern has been stationed at Havana
since day or so after the disaster to the
Maine, and her principal functions for the
last week or ten days have been as q
practical floating dock for the use Of the
divers. s'7'
DU Bose IS HOPEFUL
Senor du Bose. the Spanish representa-
tive at Washington, when seen at the
spanish legation today and asked as to
the present status of affairs, said:
notwithstanding the present agitation,
Il am gratified to note that, so far as actu-
al occurrences are concerned, they are
adjusting themselves naturally and in a
manner most satisfactory to both govern
mehts. The Lee incident is closed, If, in
deed, 1t was ever open. At most, 1t was
a Misrepresentation Of what actually oc-
CURED. I am directly authorized by Senior
Gullon, the minister Of foreign affairs, to
deny that any demand or request has ever
been made for the recall of Consul General
Lee, and 1t is unfortunate and misleading
for the reports to be printed that Spain
mas Withdrawn a request or demand never
In fact made. The entire matter appers
to have risen out of some suggestion as to
the propriety of certain conduct, just as
an unofficial action relating to the two
governments may be discussed in friend
ly spirit, and with no thought of eventual
tiles on the subject. But, in any event, the
incident Is closed and has no further bear
ing on the general condition of affairs.
1.-THE matter of sending relief supplies to
CUBE. in warships is also satisfactorily
adjusted, and, so far as 1t ever amounted
to an incident, 1t also Is closed. These are
the two passing occurrences which have
appeared to awaken agitation, and, being
closed, cannot see any substantial reas-
on for further agitation.
so far as the defense bill in congress is
concerned, diplomatic etiquette precludes
my discussing 1t. But may say, unoffi-
cially, that 1t seems to be quite natural
result from the undue Importance attached
by the public to incidents now closed In
normal times these passing incidents of
the day-which are inevitable to diplomatic
intercourse between nations-could not be
seized upon by the radical branch of the
press to inflame public opinion.
Back OF these passing incidents Is the
vital Cuban problem, toward which Spain
has resolutely set her face to adjust by CIV
ing the Cuban people the most complete
control of their internal affairs. know
with what profound solicitude Premier Sa-
gasta and his associates are seeking to ac-
complish the peace and prosperity of Cuba
on a basis alike honorable to the island
and to the mother country, and through
such heroic efforts feel confident that an
honorable settlement will result and peace
be restored