The herald., 1898-04-29
MAKING OF WAR PLANS
CONTINUES AS IF THE CASH
WE'RE IN HAND
CUBAN INVASION IMMISENT
As Shown by the Charter of Vessels to
Transport Large Bodies
Troops
Associated Press special Wire

Associated Press Special Wire
WASHINGTON, April 2s.-The navy de-
partment has completely ceased its pur-
chase Of ships for conversion into war
vessels, owing to the exhaustion Of the
$50.000,OOO war fund. 1t is confidently ex-
pected that congress will come to the re-
lief, as the department IS still in need
of auxiliary vessels.
The news of the safe arrival at Liverpool
of the big American sailing ship Shenan-
doah was gladly received at the depart
ment Consul Boyle at Liverpool forward
ed the information.
Dry Dock Facilities
The Port Royal dry dock, according to
welcome official information, will be ac-
cessible to our war ships, even the big
gest in the fleet should they meet with ac-
cident during the campaign. The report
from the constructor in charge shows that
the entrance to the dock is now dredged
and clear. The work of dredging the basin
Is still In progress, and. while this is not
absolutely necessary, 1t is extremely desir-
able in order to insure the safety of the
ships In docking, and the department is
endeavorng to hasten the contractors in
their work. They estimate that about IL
days more will suffice to complete it.
New Battleships
The board of bureau chiefs met today
to begin the consideration of the plans for
the three new battleshps authorized by
the naval appropriation bill, and pro-
mressed so far that circulars will be sent
out tomorrow inviting bids from the ship
builders. The vessels will be, IN the main
very similar to the battleship Illinois, now
building at Newport News. They will be
about 2,5o0O tons displacement, 10 feet
beam, 231a feet depth, 16 knots speed will
be covered with heavy armor, and armed
with 13 and inch guns, in addition to
numerous secondary batteries.
No Official Changes
1t can be stated authoritatively that
there is no prospect of change In the
head of the navigation bureau. The pres
ent efficient chief, Capt. Crownnshield
though anxious to take his place in the
fighting line, has yielded his personal am
bitions to the urgent demands of Secre-
tary Long and the president. and will re-
main at his post. He is in good health
Notwithstanding the severe strain to which
he has been subjected
Invasion Imminent
A rather striking sign of the imminence
of the invasion of Cuba was contained in
the chartering today by the war depart
ment of eight large steamers. of an aver
age capacity of about 1000 tons and able
to carry from 500 to 1000 passengers each.
These are to be used as transports for
the conveyance of the first military expedi-
tion to Cuba. The names of the boats
were the Olivette and the Florida of the
Plant line, now in the gulf; the Southern
Pacific company's steamer Aransas, the
New York and Texas company's vessels
Comal, now at Newport News. and the
Alamo en- route to the gulf, and three fine
ships of the Boston Merchants and Min
ers' line in Baltimore-the Allegheny, the
Berkshire and the Decatur Miller. The
price paid for these vessels is from $40. .OO(
to $4,000 for the 80 days for which they are
engaged. They will be taken charge of by
the quartermaster's department at the
earliest possible moment.
Campaign Plans
Gen. Shafter, in command of the United
States troops now concentrated at New
Orleans, has been in consultation with tho
officials today as to the execution of plans
of the campaign but the orders given tc
him cannot be made public.
The president and cabinet will consider
tomorrow the large number of applica tions
that have been made for appointment to
the posts of major general and brigadier
general, and there is some expectatio that
he will be able to nominate a few OF these
officers tomorrow.
Lee in Washington
f1h, 4
ter a ten days visit to his family in Vir-
ginia. With him came Miss Cisneros the
young Cuban girl rescued from Cabanas
who has been the guest of Miss Lee Ths
general shared with keen public interest
In the report of the shelling of Matanzas
He had visited this city frequently and was
familiar with the lay of the land anS the
defenses. He said the batteries were anti.
Quated and were no longer able to offer any
formidable resistance.
Gen. Lee will call at the state DEPART
ment tomorrow morning. Being still an
official he asked to be excused from discus
sing the war situation and was very reti.
cent concerning his prospective appoint
ment as major general. Gen. Lee saws he
has not yet received challenge to fight a
duel sent by Lieut.. De Carranxa, late naval
attache at Washington. It is understood
that three or four people have offered to
accommodate Lieut.. Carranza II he de.
sires meeting.
French Neutrality
The French embassy has received dis
patch from the foreign Office at Paris an
nouncing that decree of neutrality be-
tween the United States and Spain has been
issued and that detailed copy will be for
warded by mail. On the receipt Of the dis
patch the French ambassador, M. Cambon,
wrote to the state department Informing
them Of Frances neutrality. The cable
notice Is brief, stating only that the decree
follows tho treaty of Paris of 1856. The
state department has also been informed
that Mexico. Argentine Republic, Korea
and Belgium have proclaimed neutrality.
Koreas neutrality is considered important
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 bellig-
ercnts.
This assurance was conveyed to the am.
bassador. White. and is looked upon as
practically equivalent to q formal dec