The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-03-09
Leads all her North Carolina ae8 in BOh News and Circulation

Advocate of the court, the government
may be face to face with another ana
vital issue.
DU Bose AT THE WHITE HOUSE.
Senor Du Bose called at the State De
partment hate in the day and had Il
half hours conference with Judge DAY.
He brought no dispatches and the talk
did not relate to- the present strained
condition of affairs but was rather an
informal discussion Of the condition OF
affairs in Cuba. In the course of the
visit, it is understood that Mr.. Du Bose
suggested that some of the newspaper
correspondents at Havana were tres
passing ON the privileges which the Ha-
yana authorities had accorded them.
The new Spanish Minister, Senior
Policy Bernabe, will arrive in New
York tomorrow on THE German Line
steamer. He is expected at the Legation
the following day and arrangements
then will be made for the presentation
of his credentials to President Mckinley.
TWO CRACK CRUISERS.
Washington. March SIT is known
positively that negotiations are in pro-
gregs toward having the United States
acquire the two crack cruisers now
building for Japan, one at tnc Cramps
Ship Yards at Philadelphia and the 9th
or at the Union Iron Works of San
Francisco.
How far they will succeed canont be
said at this time. 1t is known positively,
however, that no Overtures have been
submitted thlIes far to the authorities at
Toxic and it would be for them TO give
the final decision. Pending this, n con
tract could not be made, nor an option
given.
The big armored cruiser Brooklyn
started away from La Guayra to-day
under orders from the Navy Depart
ment directly for Hampton Roads. She
has been making q flying cruise an the
West Indies and around the eastern end
of Cuba and it was the original inten-
ton to have her go to Colon on the
Isthmus and thence to work nOrthward
along the eastern coast Of Central Amer
ica. The sending of the ship to Hamp-
ION Roads instead Of returning her 10
Key West whence she came is taken as
an evidence of change in policy on the
part of the Naval stratcgists. who may
have come TO the conclusion that the
gathering Of the most and best of he
vessels Of the North Atlantic squadron
Mt Key West is putting too many of our
eggs in one basket and nnduly expos
ing the eastern coast. There has also
been talk of organizing a flying squadron
composed altogether of fleet cruisers
i'onr in number. and having them ready
10 go 10 sea at a moments notice in
puisuit of an enemys shfTs relying
upon the dig battle ships for the home
sard. This, however, has not been
decided 7rgOn.
LIGHT HOUSE BOATS no BE USED
A proposition that received instant at
tcnt'0n and is expected to he approved
i'm the end came TO the Navy Depart
ment to-day. This was to turn over 10
The Navy DEPARTMENT ten Of the best
boats in the light house service. These
kNhts are are'from three to four hundred
toms burden. good soaboats, manned by
:Offlcers thoroughly familiar with every
indcntation of the Atlantic coast and ca
lNhlc Of being easily transformed into
efficient gun boats. 1t is proposed to
place y six inch rifle on pivot mount
r1l each vessel forward and 10 place q
liciht armOr around the boilers and ma
chineqy to protect them from small arms
IRE aI PdSt. 1 ne aIICHJsOn OF lHt tW-
paFtment has also been called to the
feasibility of recruiting the Naval list
from the revenue marine cutters. num-
ber Of which are fully equal. being given
arms. to the smaller tyne Of gun boats
now in the service If these vessels
were availed Of they would be assigned
to duty along the Southern coasts. main
tanning blOckades and relieving the lar
ger and more expensive cruisers of much
wOrTiSOme duty.
Senior Du Bose, the Spanish represen-
tative in Washington, when seen at the
Spanish Legation to-day and asked as
to the present status of affairs, said:
Notwithstanding the apparent agita-
ton, | am gratified to note that so far
as actual occurrences are concerned they
are adjusting themselves naturally and
in manner most satisfactory to both
governments"
ARTILLERY BILL SIGNED.
Washington, March S-The President
this afternoon signed the Hawley bill
providing for two additional regiments
of artillery to man the coast defenses.
TO INSPECT FORTIFICATIONS