The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-05-16

Washington, May 13-Admiral Dewey
cabled the navy department from Ma
Mia that he had reconsidered his plans
respecting the Boston and had con-
cluded to allow the cruiser TO come 10
the United States at once. The admiral
said nothing further as TO his own re-
turn to the United States.
The officials Of the navy department
expressed some surprise at the an
nouncement through the Associated
Press cablegram from Manila that
Dewey will occupy four months in the
cruise, for this period is at least twice
the time that would be required TO
make straight cruise homeward
However it is supposed that he desires
to delay his arrival in the United
States until the hot weather of summer
has passed, being already debilitated
from his long exposure to the ener-
waiting heat of the Philippines.
Postmaster General Emery Smith to-
day promulgated an order limiting the
use of signs bearing the words United
States Mall to such street cars as are
actually at the time carrying mail and
cars used for no other purpose.
THE POPULAR GIFT TO DEWEY.
Secretary Long today said of the
proposition to present Admiral Dewey
with a home to be paid for by popular
subscription: THE proposed gift Of a
home to Admiral Dewey is not only a
great and deserved tribute to him, but
an expression of the generous gratitude
of the people. 1t is something in which
they will all wish to share and in which
the widows mite will be as big as the
millionaire's check. Handsome as is the
gift, the spirit that prompts it is still
finer"
THE REINA MERCEDES SAILS.
The navy department was notified to-
day that the former Spanish cruiser
Reina Mercedes had sailed from San
tiago. She will be brought to the Nor
folk navy yard and there turned over
by the Merritt & Chapman Wrecking
Company to the naval authorities.
Much interest attaches to the coming
of this vessel, as she is probably the
only one Of the captured Spanish ships
of any size which will be in condition
to be brought to this country. The Mer-
cedes was the ship sunk in the channel
at the entrance of Santiago harbor as
a means of barring it to the American
warshipS. After the fall of Santiago an
inspection of the sunken ship showed
that she was in fairly good condition,
as she had not been sunk in action, but
by the opening of her portfolios. A con-
tract was made with the wrecking
company by which they agreed to de-
liver her to the Norfolk navy yard, part
of the pay for service being conditional
on the successful execution Of the
work.
GOMEZ'S DOUBLE DEALING.
Havana, May 13.-General Gomez is
acting queerly regarding the distribu-
tion of the $4,000 900 advanced by the
United States government for the pay
ment of the Cuban troops, and the
commissioners chosen by him to as
sist in the distribution as representa-
tives Of the Fourth Fifth and Sixth
army corps, either refuse to act or fail
to appear AS the arrangements to pay
the soldiers have been pending for
three and a half months, further delay
is especially annoying.
This evening General Brooks sent
Major Kennon, of his staff, to see Co
mez regarding the situation. Gomez de-
clared that he was unable to explain
why the Cuban generals appointees
would not serve, and expressed the be-
lief that their action was due to the
influence of his enemies. He said also
that he would call upon General Brooke
on Monday.
Senor Nolasc, Gomez's secretary,
said tonight that Gomez would not
agree to have the arms in the arsenals
under control of the Americans and
wanted them to be in the custody of
the Cubans exclusively AS General
Gomez saw the order regarding the
disposition of the arms before il was
made public and approved il, this is a
new attitude. The fact seems to be that
the Cuban commander feels that he is
losing his hold upon Cuban opinion. He
has been startled by the caricatures
and attacks which have appeared in
the local press and wishes apparently
to prolong the payment of the troops
and then gain time for his political
maneuvers; and, possibly to withdraw
altoget' er from the negotiations, lay
ing the blame for his course upon Cen
eral Brooke and then to lead a violent
anti-American party
General Gomez is said TO be fIv
disappointed at being unable to get
General Brooke to agree to his sugges-
ton for an army Of 5000 Cubans.
INCITING THE CUBANS AGAINST
AMERICANS.
The Cuban, Colonel Enrique Collazo.
in letter to La Lucha, published to-
day sounds an alarm and calls the
Cubans TO witness the danger OF the
country in longer submitting to the
Americans. In his communication Col
onel Collazo says:
The conclusion is logical that we
cannot serve Cuba and America, their
ideas being contradictory. We are
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