The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-03-11

|
| 1eship IN less than seven months, for
the reason that tempering and face
| hardening cannot be has1ened without
| destroying the value OF the azmor.
| REPORT OF COMaTTTFSE EXPECT
ED NEXT WEEK.
The statement was made at the navy
department today that the report of
| the Maine court of inquiry probably
would come to the department some
| time next week. 1t did not appear.
| however, that this statement was
founded upon any direct report from
the court, but was rather an estimate
based upon the progress 50 far made
as revealed by the change OF methods
ou the part of the court
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE AID
MTNISTRATION.
Many congra tulations are coming TO
the White house and the state depart
merit from all parts of the country
upon the patriotic spirit exhibited in
dealing with the fateSt phases OF the
Cuban question. Most of the them are
official in character, but many are per
sonally directed to the president
TO ENLIST s;EAMEN AT KEY
WEST.
Admiral Sicard has been authorized
to enlist suitable men for the navy at
Key West if he can find the material
He reported that he had received some
applications from machinists and sea-
men and was Immediately given the pow
er to take the men. The department is
still striving vigorously to secure ma
chinistS, especially men who know how
to run stationary engines. These men
cam be quickly taught how to run ma
1-ine engines and require little other
training to make them valuable aboard
ship.
AUTONOMY AT PORTO RICO.
Official reports Indicate that the au-
tonoIny scheme projected for Porto
Rico has been put into successful OPP
Grafton. This is interesting mainly be
| cause of resemblance between the pro-
ject and the plan which it is now
sought to put in play in Cuba.
WAR PREPARATIONS.
The war department is arranging TO
secure a large supply of the most mod
ern rifles, sufficient i'm time of emer-
gency to arm force of 100000 men.
Senior Mendonca, the Brazilian min
| lister, said today that he has received
| no information as to the reported Ie-
| gptations toward the purchase of
| construction in foreign yards. In other
| official quarters the impression IS
| growing that there lis better prospect
| of securing ships now building for
| Argentina and Chile. Brazil has been
| active of late i'm building up her navy
! and there is doubt as to her Willingness
| to part with any of the ships now
| building for her. These include two
ironclads at La Seine, France. and
| three torpedo boat catchers at Stettin
| Germany. Considerable payments
| have been made on these and they
| have become largely the property of
| Brazil 1t is claimed. however, that
the report of "a treaty between Brazil
and Chile, which would prevent either
from selling a ship unless the other
sold at the same time, is erroneous.
The administration has definite in
formation from a source which is re-
garded as beyond question to the eff
feet THAT Spain has not purchased the
two Brazilian cruisers BaT'boSo and
Anna Zonas.
COLUMBIA AND MINNEAPOLIS
ABOUT READY.
The cruisers Columbia and Minneap-
oils, it is now expected, will be fitted
out and manned by the 18th instant.
1t is likely the two vessels wifi go ina
mediately TO Hampton Roads, where
they will meet the Brooklyn.
1nasmuch as the return to Washing
ton of Mr.. Hulse, who acted as one of
the stenOgraphers of the court of in
quiry at Key West, has been made the
basis for the assumption that he
brought to the secretary OF the navy
report from the court and also that
he gave the secretary what purported
to the cause of the Maine disaster, it
may be stated by authority of the sec
retary that he has not seen or COM
municated with Mr.. HulSe since the
latterS return, nor does he expect to do
so. So far as can he gathered Mr.
Hulse left the court of inquiry because
it had no longer need for mis- services.
THE CANNON BILL SIGNED.
The president at $40 O'Clock this
afternoon signed the measure appro-
priating $50, ,1S3 900 for the national de-
fense ard it is now a law
NEW SPANISH ,WARSHIPS.
Glasgow, March 9.-rhe Spanish tor
pedo boat destroyer5 Ossado and AudiZ
left the Clyde bank this afternoon, fully
manned and with all their gums and
other arnRaments on board. They will
embark their ammun unition tomorrow at
Greenock and win sail on Saturday.
At their trials they developed a speed
Of thirty knots.
ARRIVAL OF THE MONTGOMERY.
Havana, March 9-The United States
cruiser Montgomery arrived here at
9:35 O'Clock this morning. The arrival
here of the Montgomery was very
quiet, it being generally understood
that she comes to replace the coast
survey steamer Fern as quarters for
Captain Sigsbee and others.
Comnfander Converse, OF the Mont
gomery, is a high authority ON ex-
psosiyes and his advice wsu be useful
to the court Of inquiry into the loss Of
the Maine.
.Afeer firing the usual salute and be
ing safuted in return, the Montgomery
was noored IN the principal harbor
near the wreck OF the Maine and in the
centre Of a circle of Spanish ships.
Later in the day Commander Converse
received the correspondent ON board the
cruiser and treated him gractOalSay,