Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-12-29
UNCLE SAM ALSO
AFTER TERRITORY
Secret Mission Of Cruiser Mont.
gomery to Liberia, Africa
AFTER A COALING STATION
Liberia Is DESTROYS OF an American
proiectorate and Wants 90 Give
u Coaling station Site.

NEN III NJ @NNs ~ - ~I~N'Nfs - fa-N
Herald from Washington says:
II developed today that the United
states cruiser Montgomery has been
on a secret mission 10 Liberia, Africa,
performed, II is believed, with a view
10 displaying the American flag in Ii
berlan waters and the location Of a
site for an American coaling station on
the Liberian coast.
While officials Of the navy depart
ment maintain that the cruise was Of
an ordinary character, It Is significant
that 1t has been kept profound mys-
terry up to this time. none Of the YES
sells movements nave been recorded in
the dahy buIetln published by the
bureau OF dvlsaton, While during her
apparently prOiOngeu stay at Pernam-
bucO II was stated on several occasions
that the vessel was simply cruising up
ana down the South African coast look
ing out for American interests.
IL is further regarded as significant
that the Montgomery cruise in Lii
when reports were In circulation that
Great Britain, Germany and Italy had
designs on the territory Of the little
republic, and these were so persistent
that Secretary nay deemed IL advisable
~ make inquiries Of tie powers named.
These inquiries resulted in assertions
thai none OF the foreign governments
contemplated interfering with LiDerian
aifars.
H. secrecy regarding the Mont
ogmery's movements was carried to
such an extent that II was not until
late this afternoon that Secretary
Long stated that after making inquiry
OF ne bureau OF navigation he had
been informed that me Montgomery
had visited Monroyla, the capital Of
Liberia, and Free Town, the capital Of
the British colony Of Sierre Leone.
While at the former point, Command
CT j. Z. Merrill, Of the Montgomery.
called upon The American minister, II
Is understood, met the President and
his cabinet. II Is no secret here that
Liberia has long desired an active
American prOlectorate, and has made
representations which led the authori-
ties to understand that she desires the
establishment OF the American cOaling
station on her shores, believing that it
viii give her additional reason for pro-
lection from the government
The reportswhich have been received
at the navy department; regarding the
Liberian coast show II does not pos
sess a satisfactory site for a coaling
station. Many years ago the United
States possessed a coal pile at Sierra
Leone, which point, It is believed, the
Montgomery also visited, though SIM
ply for the purpose OF taking coal on
board.
Senator Mason, who has received a
letter from an officer of the Mont
eomery, states that he proposes to in
troduce a resolution calling upon the
secretary Of the navy to inform the
Senate why the Montgomery was or
dered to Sierre Leone, and II the mis-
sion was In pursuance OF any under
standing with Great Britain.
In the representations made by Sec
rotary Hay he has given European
powers to understand that the policy
Of the United States, With respect 10
the integrity OF Liberia has not been
changed. Naval officials decline to
state positively when the Montgomery
was In Lberian waters, intimating that
She left Pernambuco for the African
coast about November LIST.
II Is understood, on the other hand,
that the cruiser arrived at Pernam-
buco about October l4th, and after
coaling proceeded directly to Freeport.
where she coaled and then went to
Monrovla, returning to Pernambuco
about November LIST, and sailing for
Rio on November 4th. The vessel re-
NAMED at Rio until November 18th,
when she sailed for Buenos Ayres,
where she arrived on December LIST,
and has been since.
There is no doubt thar this govern
ment is seriously contemplating the
establishment of a coaling station on
the west coast OF Africa, and the OBJ
seryations made by Commander Merrill
OF the Montgomery will be considered
In connection with the decision reached.