Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-03-23


civilized days.
This plan would also prevent Spain ask
ing for International arbitration. The
President, it is argued, might submit the
findings of the court to Spain without re-
what course she will pursue, and prevent
ing an appeal to arbitration.
1t Is practically settled that the Maine
explosion is merely factor in the situa-
ton, and that 1t will and must be disposed
OF Independent of the main questions. The
settlement of these questions will not be
touched on by the President when he sends
the report of the board Of inquiry to Con-
gress on Monday or Tuesday. They will
be left as sequel to the Maine horror,
and the result VIII be satisfactory 10 the
country.
May Not Ask I'm Appropriation.
Ihere are many positive statements to-
day from the Presidents advisers that he
mas not decided to ask Congress for an ap-
preparation of $500, 900 for the relief Of suf-
feriEg Cubans. Senator Cockrell said he
knew nothing of this, and Senator Foraker
said he had not even heard of such a sug-
gestion. Senator Cockrell said the Presi-
oent had not intimated such a course.
1t is said to be doubtful that such
course. without the knowledge that 1t WAS
to be followed by more satisfactory inter-
ventiol. would be satisfactory to Congress.
Republican members of the House say to-
day, as for the last few days, that they
will not be satisfied with anything less
than the recognition of the independence
Oh the Cubans.
Representative Barthoidt of Missouri
said today that recognition is what the
House will insist on. 1t win not be salts
fled with delay of any kind.
Old Monitors Pressed Into Service.
The Navy Department took the most de-
cisive step today toward defensive prepara-
ton for emergency that has been made
since the squadron was centered at Key
West. The orders today bring into service
the eight single-turreted monitors of his
tcric service during the civil war, ana
Utilize them as coast defense ships. They
Fave been lying for some time at the
League Island navy yard at Philadelphia
Secretary Long today ordered the Catskil
and Lehish to proceed at orce to Boston.
The Nahant and Jason are ordered to New
York. The MohOIac, Manhattan, Montaulk
and Cancnicus are ordered to be put in re-
pair at the League Island yard and made
ready for service at the earliest day possi-
bic. The monitors ordered to Boston and
New York will proceed under their own
steam, as they are good sea boats and their
engines are in fair condition, capable of
giving them speed of i've to seven knots
an hour The orders direct that the four
monitors remaining at Philadelphia Shall
De completed and ready for commission
within the next thirty days. In order TO
dh this three of them are to be given new
boilers, and Secretary Long approved or
GERS for these boilers. at a cost of $4,000
each.
The Terror Ordered to Key West.
Simultaneous with the issue of these Or
ders to the old single-turreted monitors,
Secretary Long also ordered ~the modern
double turreted monitor Terror from New
York to Key West, where she is to Join
Admiral Sicard's fleet. This last move
takes from New York city what has thus
far been regarded as her chief reliance for
harbor defense, and the monitors Nahant
ana Jason will now supply the place of the
Terror. While there is a vast difference
between the old and the new type of these
peculiar naval engines of destruction, yet
they are essential, and naval officers say
that II is great mistake to believe the
effectiveness of the old monitors is past.
Ihey are OF the second and third lot pat
termed after the original monitor designed
bJ Ericsson. When that craft won its his
toric victory in Hampton Roads over the
confederate ram Merrimac, which I'D to
that time had been the terror of the north
ern navy and northern seaboard, the fed
efai government ordered large number
OK monitors on the same design They
served during the latter days Of the war.
and those now brought into commission
took part in the notable naval engagement
resulting in the fall of Charleston.
Puritan Ordered to Key West.
Secretary Long today ordered the double
turIeted monitor Puritan, which has re-
cently been overhauled and repaired at
Norfoik, to proceed at once to Key West
1or service with the North Atlantic SQUAD
ron The Puritan is the largest monitor
IN the navy, and by many naval officers is
regarded as the most powerful warship in
the service of the United States.
Inc Puritan and the Terror, which has
also Deen ordered to Key West from New
1ork' VIII bring up the fighting strength
OF the fleet in Florida waters to about
what 1t was before the departure of the
battle SHIPS Massachusetts and Texas for
Hampton Roads. The two monitors are
good sea-going craft, though somewhat
slow, and would have no difficulty going
to Cuba or Porto Rico in case it was
found necessary to send them there
Effective for Const Defense.
In recent years they have been somewhat
overshadowed by the fine cruisers and bat
tie ships OF the new navy, but the Navy
Department has never lost sight of th.m
as effective coast defense vessels in time of
need. Monthly reports have been mads on
them and these show they are well equip
ped fer ths special service they ara now
called on to perform. They have two Is
inch guns, mounted in a revolving turret.
The turrets are in perfect condition and
the mechanical devices which operate the
rurrets are in good working order through
out. The guns, while not of the latest
type, are effective for heavy solid shot.
The fact that they will proceed under
their own steam from Philadelphia to
Boston indicates the confidence of naval
authorities in their seaworthiness. In a
heavy sea they are completely awash, save
the turret, but 1t Is said that this is an ad-
vantage rather than otherwise and that
even in this condition they can make some
five to seven knots an hour. OF course