Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-27

reached by the American commissioners,
who. he added, were merely caJoling the
Cubans The shipping of American troops
to Cuba. according to the governor could
only mean intervention.
Preparing for Tomorrow.
The liberals have refused to meet the
moderates' committee on the ground that
there is a clause in the moderates letter
accepting the proposition of a meeting be-
tween committees representing the two par
ties which provides that in case no agree
ment shall be reached the negotiations shall
be considered ended.
Senator Zayas has just notified Secretary
Taft of the liberals decision He said that
with such a clause 1t were useless 10 nego-
tiate.
The difficulty now is that each side thor
oughly mistrusts the other. Mr.. Taft is
now preparing for tomorrOws contlngen-
cies. Fleet and men are ready.
Prairie in Commission.
Special Dispatch TO The Star.
BOSTON, September 21.-The big auxil-
larry cruiser Prairie, which had been prac-
tically rebuilt at the navy yard, has been
placed in commission, and tomorrow she
will sail for Cuba to join the United States
fleet.
In addition to her regular crew of 200
sailors, the Prairie will carry battalion
of marines, eighty being from the local
yard and the receiving ship Wabash, forty
from the Portsmouth navy yard and sixty
from the naval station al Newport.
The marines from Portsmouth and New
port will arrive at the navy yard tomorrow
morning, and will Immediately go aboard
the ship if everything is in readiness, and
the big ship may be able to sail Friday
afternoon Saturday morning at the
latest.
First Lieut. James n Tracy of the yard
barracks and First Lieut. Harvey Egan of
the Wabash have been ordered to the bat
talon going on the Prairie as company
officers
Stores are being hustled aboard the bat
tleship Rhode Island, which is also coalinS
with all speed, the work continuing by
searchlight last night. But it is not ex-
pected at the navy yard that the ship will
sail before Sunday. 1t is believed that 1t
was because of this report that the Ken
lucky and Indiana were detached from the
fleet at ProvncetoWn Tuesday and rushed
toward Cuba.
The Georgia Ready.
The battleshp Georgia, which has just
been delivered at the yard from her build
ers, is being made ready for sea with
all speed. She has practically no more
work in any part to make her absolutely
complete and satisfactory. But it takes
more than a day to equip, completely outfit
and try a brand-new ship. it will be at
least couple of weeks before she could
be ordered away on any important work.
Negotiations are in progress for the char
ter by the government of several big
schooners to carry coal to Guantanamo.
Cuba. in anticipation of trouble ON the
island.
Several Boston owners are in CORE
spondence with the government, and
number of big five-masted schooners owned
or partially owned in this city will probably
be engaged within a day or two to carry
coal from Chesapeake bay ports. The rate
is very attractive, especially In view OF the
fact that the coal freights to Boston and
other eastern ports are extremely low at
the present time.
Schooners to Garry Coal.
BOSTON September 27.-Negotiations are
in progress for the charter by the govern
ment of several big schooners to carry coal
to Guantanamo. Cuba. in anticipation of
possible trouble on the island. Several Bos-
ton owners are in correspondence with the
government and q number of big five
masted schooners, owned or partially owned
in this city, probably will be engaged within
a day or two to carry coal from Chesapeake
bav ports The rate is very attractive es-
pecially in view of the fact that coal
freights to Boston and other eastern ports
are extremely low at the present time
Busy in Boston.
Special Dispatch to The Star.
BOSTON. September 21.-The Boston
navy yard is bristling with action and alive
with excitement today, for the United
States batteship Rhode Island and the aux
iliary cruiser Prairie are to leave for Ha-
vana- Friday morning, the new giant battle
ship Georgia is being prepared with all
possible speed to follow, and detachment
of eighty-five marines will go from the
marine barracks with the Prairie, which
will take on attachments from Portsmouth,
n H., and Newport r. l.
Such are the preparations ordered from
Washington in view of the announcement
from Secretary Taft that a peaceful set
Element of the Cuban troubles seems i'm
possible.
yard barracks was ordered to hold itself
in readiness two days ago. and the orders
came that it was to proceed to Norfolk,
Va. but these have been changed.
The Rhode Island continued coaling last
night by searchlight. Acting under instruc-
lions from Washington, work on the Prairie
has been rushed. She Is nearly coaled and
a large amount of supplies have been taken
on board. The Georgia went into commits
sion only last Saturday, that her first
entrance into the United States navy sees
her setting forth into possible hostilities
Rear Admiral Snow, commandant of the
Boston navy yard, said today that he had
received no definite orders as to where the
Rhode Island and the Prairie were to pro-
coed. They were to sail on Friday morn
ing, he said, and a force of eighty-five ma
rines had been ordered to go on board the
Prairie but their ultimate destination he
was ignorant of.
The Rhode Islands Crew.,
THE Rhode Islands crew will be here
tomorrow said Admiral Snow, land she
is now coaling in preparation for sailing.
We understand that the Georgia will fol-
low as soon as she can be got ready. The
marines were to have left last night but
these orders were countermanded, and
they Will go with the PRAIRIE
All the shops at the yards are taxed to
men employed there who were out on fur
Tough have been recalled and all .eaVes of
absence to sailors and marines have been
stopped
The men at the navy yard and the sailors
on the warshipS are keyed to the highest
pitch of excitement, looking forward to go
ing to Cuba and to the possibility of active
service.
With the departure of this second de-
tachment of marines the force at the navy
yard will be seriously depleted that there
will not be enough remaining to perform
the routine guard and other duties about
the yard. A detachment of So went to Nor
folk, Va about fortnight ago, and this
second detachment brings the number from
Boston up to 10 men. Owing to the small
force now left for duty at the barracks it
has been found necessary to give up guard
mounting at the Chelsea gate, which will