The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-03-22
NO TECHNICAL PROTEST
HE FERN Is SENT TO REPLACE
THE MONTGOMERY.
ADMINISTRATIONS APOLOGY FOR SAME
The Fleet Now at Key West--An Ambulance
Ship Contract for Shot and SneII--A
Cuban Officer Wants to
Invest Havana.

Washington, y. c., March 16.-The
main development in the Spanish situa-
ton today was in connection with the
definite representation submitted by
the Spanish government to the State
Department concerning the assembling
Of Il large fleet of American war ships
at Key West, the war preparations.
and the influence which these have
had on the approaching elections in Gu
ba. These representations were eN-
actly in line with the semi-offivial utter
ance given in these dispatches last
night, and accredited to a high official
cOnversant with the views of the Span
ISL Cabinet. While these representa-
tons cannot properly be regarded as Il
protest against the attitude and acts
Of the United States government, it may
unqucstionably be set down as a remon-
STRANGE calculated to have an effect in
European court circles. Not, however.
being Il technical protest, the statement
has not called forth any official rcjoind-
CT on the part of the State Department,
for it is lacking in tangible accusations,
being rather an ar%gunpntative %prescnta-
ton of alleged Spanish grievances.
The Fern sailed for Havana from Key
West this afternoon. She goes to re-
leye the Montgomery as a home for the
officers engaged in supervising the
wrcckin- operations in Havana harbor.
1t may be stated unequivocally that
the Montgomery is not withdrawn ow-
ing to any suggestion from Spanish
sources that her presence is not dc
sired. 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 enga ged 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 bet
ter equipped than the Montgomery to as
sist in the wrecking operations, is re
turned to her position.
Up to the close Of office hours the
Navy Department. though it knew off
cia!ly that the Court Of Inquiry had
come over TO Key West. from Havana,
WAS not informed as to the findings or
plans of the court.
The late Mr.. Ogdcn-Goclet's Yacht
Alayfiower Was purchased by the govern
mcnt today. 1t is said that the object
of the Navy Department is to provide as
quickly as possible Il number Of picket
boats Of good speed and ~seagoing ability.
to act aS scouts, and also to aid our iron
cladS and more expensive vessels III
operations against torpedo boats. \.
large number of private yachts have
been offered To the department and other
3cpnISItIOnS of tho Same tynn a - HE
Maytiowcr may be expected.
The fleet ut Key West will he augu-
mentcd within the next day or two by
the arrival of the gunhoat Annapolis.
the torpedo boat Foote and the Naval
tugs 1eyden and Samoset. while the
.unhoat Helena is now on her way from
the European station under orders to re-
port at Key West. The Helena re-
ported her arrival today at Eunchal. on
her way TO join the fleet. These and
the other vessels previously ordered 10
that point constitute the largest assem-
blagc of war vessels made since the
demonstration following the Nirginius
affair, and considering effectiveness and
armament it is the strongest assembla@e
Of ships. for other than review purposes,
since the war. The fleet now at Key
West and Tortugas is rs follows:
Cruiser New York. battle ship Mas>a-
chusctts, battle ship Indiana. battle ship
Iowa. battle ship Texas. cruiser Detroit.
gun boat Nashville. Cruiser Marble
head, dispatch boat Fern, torpedo boats
Dupont, Gushing, Porter. Wirslow and
Ericsson. To these will lc added the
five vessels now Ell route there. In ad-
dition to these the Montgomery is at
Havana and is practically a part Of the
fleet. the gun boats Wilmington and
Castlnc and cruiser Cincinnati are at
Barbados, the Newport at Colon, with
th" Puritan. Newark. .Amphitritc and
other ships of the North Atlantic squad
ron at points along the coast further
northward.
In point of ships the fleet under Rear
Admiral Case on January ;. 1871, fol
lowing the NlrglniuS affair, was CON
,Siderably larger. Although formidable
in its day, this aggregation was made
up Of the old style wooden ships. moni-
tors which bad gone through the civil
war, and every available craft that
could bear guns Compared with the
modern battle ships and cruisers Of the
new Navy it was insignificant in ton
mage and general effectiveness. 1t is
noteworthy, however, that this formida-
bic gathering of ships was at the same
point as the prescott gathering. and
/ ttl liz a itiNd IJtI lpu Will spain, dlIt
that il did NOT eventuatc in war.
Secretary Alger has made acquisitions
on the President for two large alIot-
ments from the appropriation Of 500
OOO, 600 for the national defense. One is
for So, 600 for the use of the Engi-
ncer Department of the army in the com
pletiOn of certain fortification works
along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts now
in progress, and the other is for S2,22J,-
OOO for the use Of the Ordnance Depart
ment of the army in the requirement OF
arms and ammunition. Pretty much al
of this money is needed to cover con
tracts already mad by the military es-
tabIishment.
An encouraging telegram came to the
department from Admiral Bunce, com