Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-03-14
FROM WASHING TON.
Correspondence OF the Alexandra Gazette
WASHINGTON, March a.

The Spanish minister, Senior Polo y
Barnabe, received a number of dis
patches to-day from the Minister of
State at Madrid and from Captain Ger
eral Blanco. Those from Gen. Blanco
were reassuring in tone and stated
that the situation in Havana and
throughout the island was quiet and
satisfactory. The Minister OF State
called, saying in substance "The up.
rising in the Philippines is so insignifl-
cant that it will be ended by the time
YOU receive this" Senior Palo did not
nave occasion 10 visit the State Depart
ment to-day. At II o'clock he made
his first formal call on the French am.
bassador and at y o'clock on the Brit
ish ambassador. The minister asked that
an emphatic denial be made, in his
name, to the reports that Senior Juan
Ceballos had been in Washington as a
commissioner from the Spanish govern
ment to make overtures for terms OF
settlement with the Cuban insurgents.
The Minister has received no intima-
ton as to the findings of the Spanish
naval commission which is investlga-
ting the Maine disaster. He says this
commission is proceeding with the
same formality and secresy as the Uni
ted States court of inquiry, and that
no intimation Of its findings will
be iustiaed until the formal
report is presented to the Span
ish government. Mr.. Polo added
that his personal belief, however, was
that there is no doubt the Spanish COM
mission will report that the Maine ex-
plosion was due to accident, and said
he was convinced that this also would
be the conclusion reached by the peo-
pie in this country when all the facts
in the matter are made known.
Conditions appear to be quieter on
the surface at the Navy Department to-
day. Probably this was because Secre'
tary Long and leading bureau officers Of
the department were called to the Cap
itol during the morning TO inform the
appropriations committee OF the needs
OF the naval service in the matter Of
legislation. Ia the various bureaus,
however, there was hum of industry
aud the work progressed as necessarily
and steadily as for the past two weeks.
The recruiting branch of the Navy De-
partment is naturally one of the biggest
branches of the service just now.
1t is in the temporary command Of
Captain Hemphill and he was busy to-
day with representatives of the rail-
roads engaged in arranging for terms
for transportation of recruits. A prob
lem that confronts the recruiting Office
is to procure the necessary force of en-
listed men for manning the two ships
which have been purchased from Bra
iii, the AmsZonas and the Admiral
Breu. 1t probably will require abou
$50 men for each ship.
1t is said here that Spain has not and
cannot purchase ships from either Chill
or the Argentine Republic.
rne dig armored cruiser Brooklyn ar
rived at Fortress Monroe this morning
dlreca from La Guayra, Venezuela.
She has made q fine run up and, it is
expected, will await at Hampton Roads
the arrival of the Minneapolis and Co.
llmoia which are now fitting out at
Philadelphia. This force will form an
excellent nucleus for the. projected
"nying squadron" in case the depart
meut decides to form one.
Senator Proctor called at the War
Department to-day to see Secretary
Al.er. He was given right of way
over a number of persons who were
waiting for the Secretary in the recep
ton room, and for nearly half IN hour
recited to Secretary Alger the events
aud observations of mis- trip. Later
Senator Proctor called at the White
House and had quite an extended coz
ference with the President, to whom
he narrated his observations in Cuba.
Secretary Long and Chief Engineer
Melville, and other officers of the navy,
were before the House committee on
naval affairs to-day, to explain some
estimates they made for the naval ap-
preparation bill. Nothing was said
about battleships or dry docks. The
main point Of Secretary Longs hearing
was suggestion to raise the age limit
of entrance to the service OF the officers
o. the medical corps from 81 10 80.
This, however, has been already done
by the committee. The raising of the
limit will result in q material increase
in the number of officers in that branch
of the service. Chief Engineer Mel
vile called for an increase in the engi-
neer corps Of the navy, which he said was
imperatively needed He asked that
provision be made for rs more assistant
engineers 1t was also pointed out
that the number of assistant paymasters
was deficient by about 90 An appro.
priation was asked for When the hear
ing was closed the committee began
the consideration of the establishment
oflnew dry docks and entered into
long discussion as to the relative merits
of the respective cities asking for the
docks.
Cablegrams received at the Navy De.
partment to-day announce that the
Bancroft sailed yesterday from Lisbon
for Norfolk and the Helena from Lisbon
for Key West to join the squadron.
This leaves Admiral Howell at Lisbon
with his flagship San Francisco as the
sole representative of the United States
navy in European waters. 1t is stated
at the Navy Department that the Mar
blehead. which arrived at Tampa Sat-
uriay night. was ordered to that place
simply to take on some stores for the
North Atlantic squadron. The torpedo
boat Foote arrived at Charleston yes.
terday on her way to Key West to join
the tlotilla. The Fern sailed yesterday
from Sagua for Key West having de-
iivered sores for the starving reconcen.
tredoes. The battleship Iowa came