The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1898-03-22
SPAIN DON'T LIKE 1T.
Too Many Warships In the Vicinity
of Cuba.


of Cuba.
Washington, March 18.-The main
development in the Spanish situation
yesterday was in connection with the
definite representations submitted by
the Spanish government to the state
department concerning the assembling
of a large feet of American warShips
at Key West, the war preparations
and the influence which these might
have on the approaching elections in
Cuba. Those representations were
exactly in line with the semi-otticial
utterances given in these dispatches
and accredited to a high official con-
versation with the views of the Span
ish cabinet. While these representa-
lions cannot properly be regarded as
a protest against the attitude and
acts of the United States government
they may unquestionably be set down
as q remonstrance calculated to have
an effect in European court circles.
Not, however, being a technical pro.
test the statement has not called
forth any official rejoinder on the part
of the state department, for it is lack
ing in tangible accusations, being
rather an argumenative presentation
of alleged Spanish grievances.
The Fern sailed for Havana from
Key West yesterday afternoon. She
goes to relieve the Montgomery as a
home for the officers engaged in super
vising the wrecking operations in Ha-
vana harbor. 1t is stated that the
Montgomery is not withdrawn owing
to any suggestion from Spanish
sources that her
Presence Is Not Desired.
1t was the announced intention Of
Secretary Long when the cruiser was
sent to Havana to keep her there only
so long as the Fern should be engaged
in the work of distributing relief
among the sufferers in Eastern Cuba.
This task having been performed and
owing to the return of the court of
inquiry from Havana, there being
fewer persons to accommodate, the
Fern. which is better equipped than
the Montgomery to to assist in the
wrecking operations, is returned to
her position.
Up to the close of office hours the
navy department, though it knew Of
ucldlly UudC the court OIL inquiry udQ
come over to Key West from Ha-
vana, was not informed as to the find
ings or plans of the court. 1t is said
that the object of the navy depart
ment in purchasing such crafts as the
late Ogden Goelet's yacht Maytiower
is to provide as quickly as possible
a number of picket boats of good
speed and seagoing ability to act as
scouts, and also to aid our ironclads
and more expensive vessels in opera
lions against torpedo boats. A large
number of private yachts have been
offered to the department, and other
acquisitions of the same type as the
Mayflower may be expected.
The fleet at Key West will be aug
mented within the next day or two by
the arrival of the gunbOat Annapolis.
the torpedo boat Foote and the naval
tugs Leyden and Samoset, while the
gunboat Helena is now on her way
from the European station under or
ders TO report at Key West. The
Helena has reported her arrival at
Funchal on her way to join the fleet.
These and the other vessels previous
" ordered to that point constitute
The Largest AssembIage
of war vessels made since the demon
stration following the Virginius affair.
and, considering effectiveness ana
armament, it is the strongest assem-
blage of ships for other than naval re-
view purposes, since the war.
The fleet now at Kew West and