The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-29
WE SENT A SHIP TO AFRICA.
NAVr DEPARTMENT CONCEALED TIE
MoNTooMEnY,s MOVEMENTS.

II Admits That She Was Sent to the West
Coast Of Africa but Denies That she
Has Been Doing Police Duty for tho
British-Has Returned to Buenos Avres.
WASHINGTON. Dec. 2S.-It came out to-day.
In consequence OF some remarks made by Sem
ator Mason OF Illinois. that despite the Dstruc-
tons to Rear Admiral schley not to permit
any OF the vessels Of the South Atlantic squad
ron to 60 to Africa during tho British Hoer
War. tho Department ordered the cruiser
Montgomery. one OF schley's ships, to visit
ports on the west coast OF Africa
since the war began. While the visit
would not otherwise have been considered
as anything out OF the ordinary. for the
cruiser. according to all accounts. did not 60
near Delagoa Bay. Cape Town or Durham. the
secrecy which the Navy Department has OBJ
served regarding the Montgomery's move
ments makes It certain that the Department
had some reason. OF which 1t did not want the
public to know. for sending her to the African
coast. Definite Information 10 not obtain able
at the Department, but the admission 10 made
there that the MONTGOMERY did visit two wost
African ports
Senator Mason says that he has been in
formed by an officer on board the Monteomery
that the cruiser has been doing police duty for
the British Government on the African coast.
and that he intends TO make the matter the
subject Of u resolution OF inquiry In the SEN
ate. The Senator says that his Informant
wrote that the British ships In the waters OF
Sierra Leone. a British colony. had been sent
TO do duty nearer the scene OF war. and that
this withdrawal caused tho natives OF the
colony to become rebellious. The Montgom-
cry. according to the Senator's informant. was
then sent to Sierra Leone TO overawe the NAL
contents. Senator Mason says that his resolu-
ton will ask the Secretary OF the Navy to
inform the Senate II the Montgomery Ia re-
naming at Sierra Leone In pursuance Of any
understanding with Great Britain. and n not,
why the cruiser has beer kept In that vicinity.
The most explicit denial was made at the
Navy Denartm ent Of Senator Msaon's implied
a,iesations that the Montgomery visited
standing with Great Britain and that sh. has
SfsP no Was.r roiBS u, ha, sbon.
only explicit thing that the DEPARTMENT has TO
sSs S ane %n, rsSsed BY
the Bureau Of fayisatlon a. nrst but p ssere,
Ned BY 'hS MontsE2msTTy were on her her
FsSA TO Amsrcs so' and On III. @ sSs
that there was ; truth in the .u.pici ion enter.
tanned BY Senator Mason that abe had been
! DONG police nuty Tor tho brtlsn toNerLment.
| He referred THE Sun reporter to tho NavRa-
! ton Bureau for details.
| 1t was learned at the Nav CATION Bureau that
the Montgomery ls new at Buenos Avres, The
| officer TO whom app ication was made said that
he old not know when she arrived there Il
| Was his impression that she bad left Ronth
| America for Africa about NOV. j. She had
| visited Free Town. Liberia and Sierra Leone,
| aud then returned 10 South America. Beyond
| that he know nothing.
TIE most plausible erpla AM alton yet obtain ed
| from 70 stable soU roo 10 that the Montgomery
was aent to LiheriN to ascertain the truth OF re-
ports that Great Britain and Germany contem-
plated SELLING that country. These reports
| were published bout the time the Montgomery
started for Africa. The United States Govern.
| ment hae always taken raternhl interest IN
the negro republic. and would certainly NOT al.
! low the HeiZure 10 occur without v'gnrou. rro-
! test at least A desire on the part OF the
Navy Depar' III ont to establish a cooling station
! at Free Town. Liberia. 10 raid also to have heer
reason for the Montgomery's visit. This In.
formation. for II WAS q won a. such and not
suggestion. does not conflict with tho NAVY
/ Dephr ment's exclamation that the Nnnteom-
! cry was attending To ord nary business on hei
regular station. hui the Department.. oon.
! cralinent ~ the cruisers movements Indicate.
that It has, not been ma frank as It may bt
, obliged 10 be II Senator Mason's resolution /.
| presen ted and adopted.