Arizona republican., 1898-03-03
ny Two War Ships Have Been Ordered to Cuba
ELIEF OF NON-C0MBATANTS
The Vessels Ordered to Steer
 Clear of Havana Harbor
4 Cablegram From General Lee Re- Iating to tho Export of Tobacco Contained no alIusiOn to the Maine InVeStixa ion.

Washington, March 2.-The decision of the navy department to send two ships to Cuba with supplies for the suffering reconcentrados caused some commotion in official circles today, until the real purpose of the visit of the ships came out. The cruiser vile were selected for this purpose and orders were sent to Admiral Sicard to put them in shape for the required service. It is explained at the navy department that this action was taken at the instance of the Cuban Relief as sociation, organized through the eff forts of the state department for the relief of the non-combatants of Cuba.
 It was represented to the depart ment that distress was prevailing among the people in the vicinity of Sagua la Grande and Matanzas, on the northern coast of the island, and that considerable difficulty is experi- enced in sending supplies there because of the infrequent visits of merchant ships. On this account and because of the immediate demand for supplies at the points indicated the officers of the association requested the secretary of the navy to authorize the use of one or more warships at Key West for the transportation of food supplies con- tributed by the charitable people in the United States in response to the appeals of President Mckinley and Secretary Sherman.
 Secretary Long conferred with the president on the subject and it was de- cided to comply with the request. The Montgomery and Nashville were se- lected as the most suitable for the ser vice, and the necessary orders were dispatched to Admiral Sicard. The Montgomery will go to Matanzas and the Nashville to Sagua la Grande, with the understanding that they will re- main in those ports only long enough to deliver the supplies to the agents of the association for distribution where they will do the most good. Although the mission assigned to the warships will take both within a short distance of Havana, estimated from two to four hours, it is stated that neither vessel will visit the capital.
 A cablegram came from General Lee today to the state department, but it made no reference to the Maine affair being devoted to a periodical state ment of the amount of tobacco that is being shipped from Cuba to United States ports thus giving evidence of the actual removal of the export pro- hibition decree
 Secretary Long says that the Milan tonomah with the ram Katahdin will remain in the Delaware for the pres ent at least. With the commissioning g of these two vessels there remain only the cruisers Columbia and Min neapolis on the Atlantic coast for i'm mediate service il case the depart ment should decide to commission more ships. The Atlanta at New York could be made ready in the course of three or four months and the Chicago in six months in case emergency orders for their repair were issued. There are a number of good ships on the Pacific coast, however whose repair is under way, such as the Charleston, the Philadelphia, the Yorktown and others.