Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1898-03-28

universal throughout Ou1IAoA SASAOo
yesterday that the elimination or the
spanish crisis is near at hand. WlUn
the report that the Maine court OF IN
curry was only little while Off, with
the white house the center OF long ana
earnest conferences between the pres
ident and party leaders of congress,
and with the exceptional activity
towards emergency preparations in the
war and navy departments there was
abundant evidence that definite re-
suits regarding the Maine disaster and
the Cuban question in general were
about to be reached. Among the
presidents callers were Senators
Cockrell, Turpie and Foraker, General
Dan. Sickles, former United States
minister to Madrid, and Representative
William Alden Smith, who recently
returned from a trip to Cuba. The
call of Messrs. Turpie and Cockrell
was regarded as particularly significant
as they are representative democrats
in the senate, and their visit followed
that of Senator German Tuesday. 1t
was generally understood that in the
present emergency the presidents de-
sires are for patriotic unity without
reference to party. Secretaries Long
and AIger also conferred with the pres
ident during the day. Long later said
that the Maine report would probably
reach Washington tonight. There has
n1o q
report to congress early next week,
probably Monday, accompanied by a
message from the president. lit is
definitely settled, however, that the
message and papers accompanying it
will relate exclusively to the Maine
disaster. 1t will not take UP the fear
full condition of affairs in Cuba, as
shown by the report of the consuls,
these being reserved for subsequent
action and later message to con-
gress.
Secretary Long has determined to Or
der the double-turreted monitors, Puri-
tan and Terror, to Key West, where
they will reinforce the squadron in
those waters He also has determined
to bring into service the eight single
turTeted monitors at the League Island
navy yard in Philadelphia, two of
which will be sent to Boston, two to
New York, four to be held in reserve
at Philadelphia, and the Puritan and
Terror to take the place of the bat
tleships Massachusetts, and Texas, re-
Gently withdrawn from the squadron
at Key West. 1t is stated at the de-
partment that this move was in accord
ance with the program previously
agreed upon, although this program
had not been announced heretofore
The Puritan, by many experts, is re-
garded as the most formidable fight
ing machine in the navy. In addition
to other preparations for possible
trouble, the navy department has taken
steps toward utilizing ten of the sea-
going revenue cutters for use along the
Atlantic coast These cutters will be
the first sent to Norfolk where addi-
ttonal guns will be nounted, then they
will proceed to Key West and become
part of the squadron there. Their
main service will be as naval pickets,
a chain Of these fleet cutters being
maintained outside of the cruisers and
battleShips. The revenue cutter SER
vice now ready for instant and active
service is 124 line officers, "a engin-
eers 900 enlisted men and 10 vessels.
The navy opened bids yesterday for
extensive improvements at Dry Tor
tugas and Key West, the formal trans
fer having been effected. as regards
Tortugas, which passes from the
treasury to the war department.
These consist of two solid steel piers
to be constructed at Dry Tortugas,
viii two extensive coal sheds and an
elaborate mechanical equipment for
loading vessels with coal. At Kew
West the improvements consist of
steel pier and two coal sheds, with
similar machinery for loading war
ships with coal. The bids ranged
from $l,151, 900 for the entire work
down to about 100000 The award
will be made within the next day or
two.
The senate committee on foreign
relations yesterday discussed the Gu
ban situation. The concensus of
opinion based on information received
from the administration was that the
president is pursuing "a WISE conser-
vative course. rendered necessary in
the issues which involve peace or war.
1t was the opinion that the inevitable
tendency was towards rupture with
Spain, and that the United States po-
BitiOn was becoming stronger and
stronger every day. The committee
was aware that the Maine disaster
would be treated as a separate and
distinct incident for the present.
The amendment to the sundry civil
bill, pending before the senate COM