The herald., 1898-04-08

for big fleets. the officials did consent to
say that the Detroit and the Marblehead,
which left the squadron at Key West yes
terday, had not received any important
orders from the department. 1t is said
they left the fleet only for patrol duty
along the coast. In addition to spending
some time with General Miles and with
General Wilson, chief of the Engineers
Corps, Secretary Alger saw a number Of
visitors today who came on business mat
ters.
PROTECTION TO CITIZENS
WASHINGTON. April THE arrange
ments for protection Of American citizens
from violence include both the islands of
Cuba and Porto Rico. While the majority
Of our people in Cuba are in Havana, there
is a comparatively large number congre-
gated at Mantanzas. Sagua La Grande ard
other large points. The arrange
ments for the care Of the people at these
latter ports have been nearly as complete
as those adopted for the relief Of the Amer.
leans at Havana. An official of the State
Department said today that arrangements
for the homecoming Of all Americans in
Cuba were now ample and complete as
could be mde In the limited time pernis-
sible under existing conditions. Consul
General Lee had been clothed with ample
authorfty-to take any steps he may deem
necessary for the safety of these people
Arrangements have been made with the
steamship line in connection with Jamaica
to have their vessels touch at the various
Cuban ports other than Havana.
TWO FAST CRUISERS
NEW YORK, April 1.-THE Auxiliary
ri hoc 1oo frcf o<aJ 80
anime the steamers Normannia and Col
umbia with view to their purchase for
use as war vessels. These steamers ply
between New York and Hamburg in the
service of the Hamburg American Line
and are now in Europe. Both are ex-
ceedingly fast. The Normannia has made
the run from Southampton to New York
at an average speed of more than 20 knots
an hour. The Columbia is very nearly as
fast. Both vessels have demonstrated
their seaworthiness under the most ad-
verse conditions.
The Normannia was once swept by a
tidal wave and lived through it like a
cork.
These vessels were both built in Scot
land. The Normannia is 500 feet long,. 81
feet beam and 81 feet deep. The Columbia
is 464 feet long, 55 feet beam and 27 feet
deep. They are considered two of the best
vessels of the Hamburg-Ameri Line.
THE FLYING SQUADRON
FORT MONROE, Va, April 1.-THE bat
tleship Texas steamed into Hampton
Roads this morning and at 8 o'clock
dropped anchor with the flying squadron
off Fort Monroe. She is fully painted the
lead color and is in the best of shape.
GEN. WALLACES VIEWS
CRAWFORDSVILLE. Ind, April T.
Gen. Lew Wallace believes that war is
Inevitable and it will be of
much greater length and scope than peo-
pie now imagine. In an address here on
the Cuban question Gen. Wallace declared
for Intervention. He reviewed the trouble
from its origin and said:
president Mcxinleys course has been
wise and statesmanlike. 1t represents the
loftiest type Of patriotism and fearless
ness, for it requires much to stand as he
has stood for the right. while around him
have ragged the impatient people and
scheming politicians. Ten days ago we
were not prepared for war and had Con-
gress at that time forced the issue, the re-
suit might have been most disastrous and
fatal"
MINING THE HARBORS
HAMPTON ROADS, Va, April I'm
obedience to an order telegraphed from
Washington, Colonel Frank. commander
Of Fort Monroe. has the engineer corps
hard at work mining the entrance to
Hampton Roads.
Two hundred and fifty mines are in the
hands of the engineers and they are being
placed with great speed. Each mine is
about three feet in diameter and five feet
long. The mines are made of galvanized
iron and each will hold about 400 pounds
Of gun-cotton.
Army men say that the laying of the
mines means that Immediately on the dec
laration of war the flying squadron will be
sent off and the defense of the harbor in
trusted to the fort and the floating SUBJ
marine mines.
ORDERED TO WASHINGTON
PORTLAND, Ore, April 7.-Captain
George c. Reiter, U. S. N, in charge of
the Thirteenth Lighthouse District, has
received orders to leave for Washington,
D. c., today.
A SPANISH CONSUL LEAVES
TAMPA, Fla, April 1.-THE Spanish
Consulate here is deserted. Consul Soils
having departed for Washington by the
order of his government.
ALL QUIET AT HAVANA
HAVANA, April 7.-There is no excite
ment here today and no reason for any,
as far as it is possible to see. Consul-Gen-
,eral Lee has not decided when he will
send the American citizens away.
SHIPMENT OF POWDER
SAN JOSE, April THE records Of the
railroad freight department here show that
in the four weeks ending last Saturday
night 295,O0O pounds of powder have gone
East from the Santa Cruz Powder Works.