Evening journal., 1898-03-17
DiSlikeS the Presence Of
the American Fleet
at Key West.
MONTGOMERY TO ORETURN
Does Not Leave Havana, However, Be-
cause Of DOnS' Desires.
INQUIRY COURT ON AMERICAN SOIL.
Extreme Mystery Prevails as to It's In
tentIons Now That It Has Returned.
The Squadron at Key West to
he Augmented.

he Augmented.
WASHINGTON, March 1.-THE lead
ing development in the Spanish sltua-
ton Is in connection with the definite
representations submitted by the Span
tsh government 10 the state department
concerning the assembling of large
feet Of American warships at Key
West, the war preparations and the in
fuence which these might have on the
approaching elections in Cuba While
these representations cannot properly
be regarded as a protest against the at
titude and acts of the United States
government they may be unquestion-
ably set down as a remOnstrance
calculated 10 have an effect In Euro
pean court circles. Not, however being
a technical protest, the statement has
not called forth any official rejoinder
on the part Of the state department for
II Is lacking in tangible accusations,
being rather an argumentative pres
entation OF alleged Spanish grievances
The Fern is going to Havana to re-
lieve the Montgomery as a home for
the officers engaged In supervising the
wrecking operations in Havana harbor.
II Is stated unequivocally that the
Montgomery is not withdrawn owing
20 any suggestion from Spanish sources
that her presence Is not desired. It
was the announced intention Of Secre-
tary 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
fn q Of hn Of
quiry from Havana there being fewer
persons 10 accommodate, the Fern,
which is better equipped than the Mont
gomery 70 assist in the wrecl.lng opera
tions Is returned 10 her position. Up
20 the cl0se OF Office hours the navy de-
partment though II knew officially that
the court Of inquiry had come over to
Key West from Havana was not in
formed as to the findings or plans OF
the court.
It Is said that tho object OF the navy
department In purchasing such craft az
the late Mr.. Ogden Goelet's yacht May
flower Is TO provide as quickly as pos
slble a number OF picket boats OF good
speed and .eagoing ability to act as
scouts and also to aid our warships and
more ex )ensive vessels in operations
against torpedo boats a large NUM-
Der of private yachts have heon offered
TO the department, and other acquisi-
tio . of the same type as the Mayhow-
2 may be expected.
The fleet at Key West will be aug
mented within the next day or two by
7 the arrival OF the gunboat Annapolis,
the torpedo boat Foote and the naval
tugs Leyden and Samoset, while the
gunboat Helena Is now on her way
from the European station under orders
60 report at Key West. The Helena has
reported her arrival at Funchal, on her
way to Join the fleet. These and the
other vessels previously ordered to that
point constitute the largest assemblage
of war vessels made since the demon
stration following the Virginlus affair,
and, considering effectiveness and arm
ament, Il Is the strongest assemblage OF
ships for other than review purposes
since the war.
The fleet now at Key West and Tor
tugas Is as follows: Cruiser New York
battleship Massachusetts,, battleship In
diana, battleship Iowa. battleship Tex
as. cruiser Detroit, gunboat Nashville
cruiser Marblehead. dispatch boat Fern
torpedo boats Dupont Cushing Porter
Wlnslow and Ericsson. To these will
soon be added the five vessels now en-
route lueIes IN dlhltlou 70 lneSe Nnt
Montgomery Is at Havana and is prac.
tioally a part Of the fleet. the gunboats
Wilmington and Castine and cruisel
Cincinnati are at Barbados, the New
port at Colon, with the Puritan, New
ark. Amphitrite and other ships OF tn,
north Atlantic squadron at points alonl
the coast further northward.
Secretary Alger has made requisition
on the president for two large allot
ments from the appropriation OF $50.
100000 for the national defense. One 4
for s5000,O0O for the use of the enginee
department of the army in the compile
tion of certain fortihcation works alonl
the Atlantic and gulf coasts, now il
progress, and the other is for $2.225,0O
for the use Of the ordnance department
OF the army In the requirement of arm
and ammunition Pretty much all q
this money is needed 60 cover contract
already made by the military estRb
Nshment,