The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-04-29

will be covered with heavy .armGs and
armed with 10 6 inch guns in addition to
numerous secondary batteries.
1t can be stated authoritativesy that
there is no present prospect of u change
in the head Of the navigation bureau.
The present efficient chief Captain
Crowninshield, though anxious to take
his place in the fighting line, has r7ieldei
his personal am billions and will semain
at his post.
The war department today chartered
eight large steamers OF an average capaci-
ty of about 1000 tons and able to carry
from 500 to 1900 passengers each. These
are to be used as transports for the con-
veyance of the first military expedition to
Cuba, The names of the boats are the
Oiivette and Florida of the Plant line,
now In the gulf; the Southern Pacific
tcompany's steamer Arkansas, the New
York and Texas company s vessel Comal,
now at New York and the Malamon no n
en- route to the gulf and three fine ships
of the Boston, Merchants and Miners line
| in Baltimore. the Allegheny, the Berk-
paid for these vessels is from $4,000 to
| S15. 900 for ths thirty days for which they
are to be engaged. They will be taken
charge of by the quarternasters' depart
ment at the earliest possible moment.
General Shafter, in command of the
| United States troops now concentrated at
! New Orleans has been in consultation
with the officials today as to the execution
| Of plans OF the campaign, but the orders
| given to him cannot be made public.
Ths President and Cabinet will con-
slider tomorrow the large number Of ap-
| plications made for appointment to, the
posts of Major General and Brigadier
| General, and there Is some expectation
| that he viii be able to nominate a few OF
| Al F14{so %pv,,< OVxy
| General Fitzhugh Lee arrived here late
today after ton days visit TO his family
| in Virginia With him came Miss Cisne-
ros the young Cuban girl rescued from
| Cabanas. who has been the guest of Miss
Lee. The General shared the keen public
interest in the report OF the shelling of
Matanzas. He had visited the city
of the land and the defences. He said
the batteries were antiQuated and were
not likely to offer auy formidable resist :
| ance. General Lee will cali at the state
department tomorrow morning.
Being still an official, he asked to be
excused from discussing the war situation
and was very reticent concerning his
prospective appointment cs major general.
| He said that he had not yet received q
challenge to fight a duel sent by Lieut.. de
| Carranza. late naval attache at Washing
ton. It is understood that three or four
neople have offered to accommodate
Lieut.. Carranza ii he desires a meeting.
The French embassy has received O
cable despatch from the foreign Office al
Paris announcing the decree of neutrality
between the United States and Spain ant
that detailed copy will be forwarded b
mail. On the receipt Of the despatch the
French ambassador, M. Camhon, wrote
to the state department. informing it o
Frances neutrality. The Gable notice il
brief. stating only that the decree follow!
the treaty of Paris of 1855.
The state department has also been in
formed that Mexico, Argentine Republic
Korea and Belgium have proclaimed neu
Koreas neutrality is considered i'm
portant, owing to her proximity to the
Philippines.
/ The state department. has heard nothing
from Germany, but this causes no appre
hension, owing to the strong assurances
! Germany has given that she will observe
strict neutrality between the two belliger
ents. This assurance was conveyed tt
ambassador White, and is looked upon al
practically equivalent toaa formal declara
| tion of neutrality.