The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-12-30
HANDS OFF LIBERIA
This Is Taken to be the
Explanation
OF THE SECRET CRUISE
Of the Montgomery in West
African Waters.
u THE SECRET CRUISE

New York, Dec "A special 10 the
Herald from Washington says: It dsveI-
oped today that the United States cru,s.r
Montgomery has been on n ss,rs, ns.s-
sion 10 Liberia. Africa, performed. il il
believed, with view to disp.ayinS thu
american dag in LIberlan water~. and
the location Of site for an American
eoaling station on The Lihs-tan coast.
While the officials Of the navy DEPART
ment maintain that the cruise was OF an
ordinary character. Il Is significant that
Il has been kept profound mystery IN
TO this time. none OF the vessels move
ments having been res. aed in the daily
bulletin published b. the bureau OF navi-
CATION X is further regarded a. sirnia-
cant that the Montgomery's cruise IA
I4eertsn waters was made az a time
when reports were IN circulation that
Great Britain, Germany and Italy had
designs on the territory OF the little re-
public and these were so persistent that
Secretary Hay deemed x advisable 10
make inquiries Of the nowers named.
These INQUIRIES resulted IN assertions
that none OF the foreign governments
contemplated interfering with Llheriaa
Affairs
The secrecy regarding the MontEom-
ery's movements was carried TO such al
extent that il was not until late thus
afternoon that Secretary Long stated.
after making inquiry OF the bureau II
navigation that he had ben informed
that the Montgomery had visited Nom
revia. the capital Of liberia. and Free
town. the capital OF the British colony
OF Sierra Leone While at the former
point. Commander j. =. MerreH, Of tho
Montgomery. called upon the American
minister and. II Is understood. met the
president and his cabinet IL Is no secret
here that Liberia has LONE desired an
active American protectorate and has
made representations which lead tho
authorities 10 understand that she desirez
the establishment OF an American coal
ing station on her shores. believing that
Ii will give her additional reason for pro-
lection from this government.
The reports which have been received
a; the navy department regarding the
Llberian coast show q does not possess
a satisfactory site for coaIlnE station.
Many years ago the United States pos
sessed a coal pile at Sierra Leone. which
point !; Is believed the Montgomery also
visited. though simply for the purpose OF
taking coal on board
Senator Mason. who has received a let
ter from an officer Of the Montgomery.
states that he proposes 20 Introduce a
resolution calling upon the secretary %
the navy 20 inform the senate why The
Montgomery was ordered 10 Sierra Lee
one. and II the mission was IN pursuance
Of any understanding with Great britain
There is no doubt that the government
IS seriously contemplating the establish
ment OF a coallng station on the west
coast Of Africa and the observations
made by Commander Merreli. 81 the
will be considered IN con
nection with the decision reached
London, Dec at has been learned
By report OF the Associated Press that
the United States cruiser Montgomery
visit to Liberia Is apparently The result
Of overtures made 10 Washington By that
Though the British government
IS IN complete ignorance ~ the purpose
~ the Montgomery mission. fhe estab-
lshment OF a ooalins station ~ liberia
'y the United states df REGARDED az
scarcely probable ar IL S. asserted that
10 Liberian port has any facilities FOR
,oaling all % them being opens The
Associated Press representative learns.
however. that a far more important step
under consideration u consists Ia a
oini request ~ the United siates and
Great Britain upon France 90 define she
boundary between the territory she
Slams and that claimed By Liberia THIS
.tep is not yet decided upon bur prsat
Britain only awaits the Tn'iod States
essen, 70 become a party 20 such a re-
luest y = alleged 'ha' FrAn0e Tor many
'ears has been ~nfvoaehinE on Iberia
md = was only b. a strenuous protest ~
he United states that she vas prsysnt~i
rom apDf'Drlafing large aice o. Il
ERA N ~
According 10 tHs Hon. Arthur Fpnf0n-
~. MANAGING director - ne LIBERIA
tubner SYNDICATE which recently guar
.nteed TIE interest - liberia p1ht9
eot. ne A7niRomrr1 f'sl' Vs= 7T'ha-
- pfofnpis1 ~ a~aiff - 2Hfefthsn -
xtent - French activity Mr FenF'n-
y sad - p reporter ~ fhN AH=Elr'atsf
'rNrs- Bishop Haiz~L while iH Non
0via tHis year. strongly 7rErd ne gaf-
rnrn@ni 20 i1.e-@Fi -" iHitf1 Ssfs n
resfr'laR me b''iHiaf Nh iae 70
3lf ma t@f-~fia sppplntfa = cont nifs
D VISIT "afflngif1 t+ife -
ni'e1 states aas Alrfa1F mace f"iFn.fa-
7Hs ana pfef2ra' nc fasnsHl'F ~ -
i'ntF arnsfF nffr.Fais4 'a' So =
Fss.Hiiilf ~ oAahE siaaH se l+f