Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1903-03-30
FROM WASHINGTON.
Correspondence of the Alexandria Gazette
Washington, d. c., March 30.

exnIanation made by Admiral Dewey to
the President Saturday evening regard
ING the interview published in the New
ark News last week was satisfactory 10
the President. Dewev's call upon the
President. however, was at the latter S
request. The President sent Commander
Cowles. his naval aide to the Admiral
asking that he come to the White
House. The President then brought up
the subject of the much discussed inter
view and asked for astatement regarding
it in order that he might have intorma-
ton upon which to base an answer
should the German government make
any representations to the State Depart
ment in the matter. The Admiral then
told the President that the interview re-
ported his language with substantial ac-
curacy, but that the correspondent at
tached undue importance to certain por-
tons of the interview which he (the Adj
miraD regarded as only incidental.
Moreover, the Admiral explained, he
did not expect all of his conversation
with the interviewer published. He had
talked rather freely, expecting that the
interviewer would use discretion as to
what he should publish. The Admiral
did not intend any offense to the German
government or to the German people.
His references to Germany and to the
Kaiser, he explained, were only In the
nature of illustration. As yet the State
Department has received no complaint
from Germany, and none is now ex-
pected.
The board of high ranking officers OF
the army of which Maj. Gen. S. b. Nj.
Young is the president appointed to
select the officer who will constitute the
general staff of the army, met today at
the temporary quarters Of the War Col
lege Board. Four hundred and ninety
seven names of prominent officers OF the
army were submitted by the War De-
partment to the board from which they
will select about forty-seven OIL
GERS for duty on the general staff. The
Inauguration of the general staff system
markes complete change in the admin
istration of army affairs. In the future,
or rather after August Is next when the
general staff act takes effect, the character
of the army Of the United States VIII
more nearly resemble the German army
than it does any other military organiza-
ton in the world. 1t has already been
announced that Major General Young
will be the first chief OF the staff and will
succeed Lieutenant General Nelson A.
Miles of the army. General Young will
serve in that capacity only about five
months when he will retire because OF
age. There is considerable speculation
as to the successor to General Young the
names of Major General Chaffee and
Corbin being most prominently men
toned.
President Roosevelt today issued a
general order providing for the discharge
from the Atlanta federal penitentiary OF
all prisoners transferred from State in
stitutions upon the day when their SEN
fences would have terminated under the
good conduct laws prevailing in the
states from which they were transferred.
This order will affect favorably more
than a hundred prisoners so transferred
and whose terms otherwise would have
been prolonged, in some cases as much
as three or four years.
Mrs. Roosevelt and her children left
here on their projected cruise on the
Presidents yacht the Mayhower, this
morning. They bade goOdby last night
to the President, who starts on his
western trip on Wednesday morning,
and they then boarded the MayhOwer,
which had been lying at the navy yard
here for some days. The vessel has been
entirely remodelled recently, and is in
fine condition. Mrs. Roosevelt expects
to be absent about week. If the
weather is good the vessel will go out
into tie open sea, the first stop being
made at Port Royal, S. G. If the
weather conditions prove unfavorable,
the MayAower will cruise in Chesapeake
Bay. The start from the navy yard was
made shortly before 7 o'clock this morn
ing.
Senior Quesada, the Cuban Minister,
called at the State Department this alter
noon and arranged with Secretary Hay
for the exchange of notifications of the
reciprocity treaty. The ceremony will
take place tomorrow at 10 a. M, by
which time it is thought the special
messenger who is on his way from
Havana will arrive with the certified
copy of the Cuban Senate's action.
The rain and cold weather of today
interferred materially with the races at
Benning, the attendance being small and
the track heavy.
President Gompers, of the American
Federation of Labor, has issued a call
for a meeting of the executive council,
at Toronto Canada, on April 20.
The Treasury today mailed to the
Guaranty Trust Co., of New York, as
the representative of the Philippine gov.
eminent, warrant for three million
dollars, which amount was appropriated
by Congress for the relief of distress in
the Philippine Islands. The money be.
comes Immediately available.
A letter has been sent to the Mayor Of
New Orleans by the Treasury offering to
purchase the old library site upon which
to erect the new public building authori-
zed by Congress. The sum of 5000, OOC
was appropriated for the purchase and il
this amount is acceptable to the city tie
contract will be closed.
p Attorney General Knox has received 6
copy of the charges preferred by the
antitrust league of Washington, ID. o.
against Justice Clabaugh of the Distric
e Il g.. ...Lo hnc ham chnsan To snccanl