The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-08-16
OBJECTS TO SUPERINTENDIN
EVACUATION OF CUBA.
GENERAL LEE ON GOVERNMENT OF CUBA
August viii Leave Manila for Spain by The
First Mail Steamer. The Naval Depart
ment Will Reduce Force of Naval
Militiamen. R,vew to be Held
in New York Harbor.

Washington, Aug. 15.-The reconstruc-
tion of affairs in Cuba, Porto Rico and
throughout the Spanish West Indies is
receiving earnest consideration in Off
cial quarters, and at the White House
today the President saw a number of
prominent callers in connection with this
reconstruction in our new insular de-
pencies. General Fitzhugh Lee spent
some time with the President going
over the condition of Cuban affairs
While no announcement was made, the
impression prevailed that General Lee
would be one of the Cuban military COM
missioners to be named within a few
days. Acting Secretary Allen, of the
Navy, also saw the President concerning
Cuban affairs. 1t is probable that an
American naval vessel will go to Ha
yana harbor before long, and ut least
two naval vessels will be ordered to
Havana when the military commission
assemblies there to determine upon the
details OF Spanish evacuation. Secreta-
ry Day also conferred with the Prcsi-
dent, and later determined, the peace
terms being matured, to take weeks
vacation. He will leave either tonight or
tomorrow morning, going probably to
Canton. Assistant Secretary Moore will
be acting. Secretary of State during
Judge Days absence. The Secretarys
retirement from the head of the Depart
ment is likely to follow soon after his
return from Canton. and indeed it may
come during his absence, although there
was no outward evidence today that he
was about to close his connection with
State Department affairs.
The Navy Department decided during
the day to yield as far as practicable to
the public desire at New York for a
naval review of the ships of Admiral
SIMPSONS fleet. Accordingly acting
Secretary Allen, issued the following or
der:
.'The Department is much gratified at
the desire expressed to see IL review of
the warshps and cruisers recently or
dered home, and so far as practicable is
desirous of carrying out the wishes of
those citizens who wish to see the ships.
But neither the officers nor the men of
the fleet are in condition to participate
in d street parade The Department is
taking the opportunity of the armistice
to put these ships at once into the best
possible condition for such uses as may
hereafter be required of them. 1t is
expected all other work will be suspend
ed and the entire available force of the
navy yard directed to this work, in order
to secure the greatest possible dispatch
THE Department will direct, upon the
arrival in New York harbor, that the
fleet will steam up the North River as
far as General Grants tomb, fire a
salute and steam back. to the anchor
age. 1t is expected that the fleet will
reach -,ew York on Saturday, the 10th.
inst"
The plan is TO have Admiral Sampson
met off Sandy Hook with orders for the
procession up the North River. 1t is
expected that the fleet will be off Sandy
Hook some time Friday night but will
lie outside the harbor until Saturday
morning.
The Navy Department is taking steps
to reduce the force of naval miitiamen
called into service from the several
States. The Minneapolis is to transfer
part of her crew to the Yosemite, thus
releasing the Michigan naval miitiamen
who man the Yosemite. The Columbia
is also to transfer her crew TO the DlXle
and other auxiliary craft, thus allowing
tbe naval militiamen on these auXlllaries
to go home. In this way the naval ser
vice will speedily be returned into the
hands of the regular officers and crews