The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-03-15

been assigned TO duty at Fort Point,
haTbor of Galveston, Texas.
All the movements indicated above
are to be made without delay and are
the results of the recent tour of in
spection CT General Merritt.
RELIEF WORK OF THE RED
CROSS.
Havana March 1.-THE weather
continues to be delightful and the city
is tranquil as the skies are blue.
Capt. Sampson seems to have recover
ed from his slight indisposition and the
United States naval court of inquiry
into the loss CT the battleship Maine,
over which he presides, is pursuing its
usual course.
The relief work of the Red Cross so
ciety in the city and country is daily
becon1ins, more systema tized, effective
and regular.
Miss Clara Barton and the collector
Of customs have had most pleasant
interviews, during which Miss Barton
assured the official that the Red Cross
people earnestly deprecated any at
tempt, no matter from what source, to
evade or infringe the customs laws of
Spain or Cuba, and the collector eX-
pressed his desires and intention to
do all in his power to expedite the ad-
THE YACHT ANITA FINED.
The American yacht Anita which
brought a congressional party here
has been fined $500 for, it is alleged,
not having her papers in proper order.
The gentlemen who arrived here on
the Anita, Senators Gallinger, Thurs
ton and Money, and Representative
Cummings and William Alden Smith,
accompanied by their wives, We're pre-
sented at the palace at 10 o'clock this
morning by Consul-General Lee and
were cordially received by Captain
General Blanco This afternoon the
congressional party paid a visit to
camp of reconcenrados at Regla. To-
night they will go by sea to Matanzas
This afternoon the members of the
autOnOmiSt cabinet called upon Com
mander Converse and the officers of
the Montgomery. The appropriate sa-
lutes and ceremonies were observed,
as was the case earlier in the day,
whenGeneral Parade. representing the
governor-general, visited the Mont
gOmery.
"A Spanish report says that govern
ment troops operating in the Sierra
Maestro, have had a skirmish with an
insurgent force and have inflicted ''nu-
merOus alsseS'' uponShIa insurgemtsnlso
capturing five prisoners and destroy
ing the plantation of the enemy. The
troops, it is further said, lost three
men killed and had ten wounded.
MINISTER BERNABE'S VIEWS.
Washington, March 11.-Senor Luis
Polo Y Bernalbe, the new minister. was
seen at the Spanish legation today by
an Associated Press reporter and for
the first time since his arrival con-
sented to speak concerning Spanish af-
fairs, observing such reticence ON GER
tain phases as diplomatic propriety
required. Since the ministers arrival
he has received a caIblegram from Cap
tain General Blanco, stating that the
Cuban cabinet has designated Seniors
SevalliOs, Of New York, and Barilla,
secretary of the Havana chamber of
commerce, to act with Senior Angulo
in negotiating a commercial treaty be
tween the United States and Cuba.
The minister referred incidentally to
this fact, as he regarded it as another
evidence of the complete autonomy
which Spain had granted to Cuba.
Speaking of the present policy of
Spain in giving autonomy for Cuba the
minister Said:
THE government has granted autOn-
Omy on the lbrOadeSt and most liberal
lines. Naturally With an insurrectiOn
dragging toward it's close, there are
iZatiOn Of plans so comprehensive as
to embrace the entire internal ma
chinery of Cuba. The autonOmist cab
met is organized, and in it's hands is
the direction of the domestic affairs of
the island, pending the meeting of the
Cuban parliament.
THE naming of Cuban delegates to
come to Washington and arrange a
commercial treaty, shows how fully
5@l, ,,o1o
bans control of their own affairs.
These delegates will have in their own
hand the making of this tariff ar
rangenent and without them I could
do nothing
When Senior Polo's attention was
drawn to recent critical phases of the
Spanish situation he spoke with much
reserve. The Lee incident happened
while he was on the ocean, and he
knew nothing, he said, of the circurn-
stances, although he felt confident a
misunderstanding had grown out of
some casual allusionS to General Lee
not meant as any intimatiOn that his
recall was desired.
The minister was then asked if he
viewed the present condition of affairs
between the United States and Spain
as indica ting war. After a moments S
hesitation, he answered gravely:
Il am sure the United States does
| not want war, just ais 1 am sure that
! the Spanish government does not want
| war and will do everything honorable
| in its power to avert such a calamity
PROPOSED SPANISH TREATY.
So far as the proposed treaty will af-
| feet Spain, it is probable that the lead
| ing tariff concession granted to Amer
| lean imports Will be on machinery,
electrical appliances OF all kinds, and
| various woods which are used largely
in Spain. American petroleum and
| cotton are the principal American I'M
/ ports in Spain, but it is not probable
| that duties will he reduced ON those
articles They enjoy a monopoly in
the Spanish market, and to this ex-
tent they receive all the benefit which
| Spain feels warranted in giving them.
| They are, however, among the lead
| ing revenue producing articles, and the
| present rates are said to be such that
they could not be lowered without in
! juriOuSly affecting the revenue. In