The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1898-03-11
WAR SHIPS FOR CUBA.

WARRINGTON, March The deci-
sion of the navy department to send
two ships 10 Cuba with supplies for tho
suffering reconcent adde's caused some
commotion in official circles yesterday
until the real yarport OF the visit Of
the ships carie out. The cruiser Mont
gomory and the gunboat Nashville
We're selected for the purpose, and or
ders were sent To Admiral Sicard to
put them in shape for the required
service.
1t is explained at the navy depart
mcnt that this action was taken AZ the
instance ofthc Cuban Relief association.
organized through the efforts OF thu
state department Tor the relief of the
\ destitute noncombatants in Cuba. IL
was represented to the department
/ that great distress prevails among the
people in the vicinity of sagua In
Grande and Matanzas. on the northern
coast OF the island, and that consider
able difficulty is experienced in send
ing supplies there because OF the IN
frequent visits of merchant ships.
On this account. and because of the
immediate demand for supplies at the
points indicated, the officers of the as
sociation requested the secretary OF
the navy to authorize the us, of one or
more of the war ships at Key West in
the transportation there of food sup.
plies contributed by the charitable
people OF the United states in response
to the appeals of President Mckinley
and sherman
Long conferred with the president on
the subject and il was decided 10 COM
ply with the request
The Montgomery and the Nashville
We're selected Is most suita Die for the
service, and the necessary orders were
dispatched to Admiral Sicard. The
Montgomery viii go to Matanzas and
the Nashville to Sa-ua la Grande.
with the understanding that they will
remain in those ports only long enough
to deliver the supplies TO the agents of
the association Tor distribution where
they will do the most good.
Although the mission assigned to the
war ships viii take both within short
distance of Havana. estimated ut from
two to four hours. il is stated that
neither vessel viii visit the Cuban cap
ital.
To remove the impression that had
gotten abroad to the effect that the e.
lations between the navy department
and the house naval committee were
not harmonious Secretary Long
yesterday afternoon gave out short
statement on the sub ject. He said
Congressman Boutellc had been mis-
understood. The congressman. who is
one of the most patriotic men in the
world. is always ready TO do every
thing that can be done for the navy.
In his annual report the secretary
recommended that 800 men be added
to the enlisted force on account OF the
increase in the number OF ships. The
naval committee. Of which Mr.. Bou.
telle is chairman, has already decided
TO grant this increase in the regular
naval appropriation bill. Meanwhile.
If there should be any immediate
necessity for more men the same com.
mittee and Mr.. Doutcllc as its chair
man. are ready TO make provision to
that effect at once
A cablegram came from Gen Lee
during the day tothe state department.
but il made no reference To the Maine
affair. being devoted TO the periodical
statement of the amount OF tobacco
that Is being shipped from Cuba 20
United states ports thus giving evil
denee OF the actual removal OF the ex-
port prohibition decree. The tele-
gram was as follows:
FILLER tobacco. February q. :. Tampa. ., Key
West. So Calcago, ID MILWAUKEE,; -stA. 81
Now York
Capt. Chester. commanding .hc south
Atlantic station. was also heard from,
his cablcgram relating to the docking
OF the gunboat Clstinc at Port OF France.
The department has sen. him the nee
essary authorization and the snip viii
60 into dry docs there.
A commander for the monitor
Miantonomah. which was ordered into
commission Tuesday. was selected in
the person Of Capt. Mortimer johnson,
who is AT present on waiting orders.
Secretary Long says that the Mianto-
nomah. with the ram katahdin
will remain in the Delaware for
the present ut least. With the
commissioning of these two vessels.
there remain only the cruisers Column
bia and Minneapolis on the Atlantic
coast for Immediate service in ease the
department should decide TO commits
sion more ships. The Atlanta. Mt New
York. could be made ready IN the
course OF three or four months. and the
Chicago in six months. in ease cner-
gcncy orders for their repair were is
sued. There are "A number Of good
ships on the Pacific coast. however,
whose repair is under way. such as the
Charleston. the Philadelphia. the York
town and others, and the pay rolls of
the construction bureau at the Mare
Island navy yard now aggregate $780,
600 per month for wages alone.
The navigation bureau is still busy
with the preparation Of the death ccrtifi-
Gates for the families of the victims of
the Maine disaster. Capt. Hawley,
who has the matter Immediately in
charge. says that owing TO the ncccs-