Evening Star Newspaper, May 11, 1898, Page 1

—————— THE EVENING STAR. PUBLISHED DAILY EXC AT THE STAR BUILDINGS, 2i€1 Ferreylvanfa Avenue, Cor, 11th St, by The Evening Star Ne aper Company 8. H. EAUFFMANN, Pres't. Ofco, 49 Fottor Building ‘The Evening Star ts sertad to eits by cirriers, on their own account, at 10 cents Ber week, or 44 cents per month. Copies at the center 2 certs each. By mafl—answhere In the United States «r Canada—postage prepaid—S0 cenis Per month. Saturday Quintuph- Sheet foreign pestage added, $3.08. (Entered at the Po t Gifice at Washington, D. C.. ind-cluse ma’l matter.) 11 mail subscriptions must be paid In advance. Rates of advertising made known on applicotior. RELIEF FOR.-DEWEY Sa The Charleston to Sail at Once for Manila. ar, $1 per sear, with — -+ EXPECTING NEWS FROM SAMPSON Preparing Plans to Assault Havana by Sea. THE SPANISH FLEET —— The cruiser Charleston will start at once with ammunition and supplies for Admiral Dewey. Troops will fol- low later. ; The Navy Department is hourly expecting news from Admiral Samp- son. Plans for an attack on Havana by sea are being perfected. The invading army to be sent to Cuba will be provided with évery equipment to make good roads as it goes along. There is still some uncertainty as to the whereabouts of the Spanish fleet, many thinking that it has not returned to Cadiz. The offer of Mr. O. H. P. Belmont to equip a warship, provided he was given command of it, has been de- clined. There is a proposition to raise a colored cavalry regiment, to be com- manded by Lieutenant Flipper. The troops at Chickamauga Park broke camp today and started for Tampa, Fla., where the work of em- barkation on the transports goes on rapidly. Germany is reported to be anxious to get hold of the Philippine Islands and is preparing a note to the powers with that object in view. Spanish 4’s advanced nearly cents in London today. There is danger of a water famine at Key West, Fla., and the arrival of the big government anxiously awaited. There were reports of more serious rioting in Italy today 2 condenser is The Navy Department has decided to have the crutser Charleston start at once on its relief mission to Admir@l Dew fleet at Manila. The orders issued antici- pate the departure of the Charleston from San Francisco tcday, If it is possible to get the ammunition and stores aboard. Cer- tainly she Will leave within the next few hours, and without waiting to convoy the City of Pekin and the other ships loaded with supplies of the relief expedition. The determination is to get the Charleston off without another day's del: in order to afford succor to Admiral Dewey at the earliest moment possible. The orders to the commandant ef the navy yard at Mare Isiand are to put on board the Charleston all the ammunition she will carry so long as her speed capacity is not retarded. It is the understanding here that at least 150 tons of ammunition can be put on board. By extraordinary efforts on the part of the authorities here, all the powder, shot and shell requisite for this relief expedition Lave already been zssembled at San Fran- cisco, although it was at first thought it Would take until after the 15th to draw tkese supplies from various other points. ‘The ammunition includes 50u rounds of the big projectiles for the eight-inch guns of the jympia, about 20,000 six-inch sheils ard 10,.00 five-inch shells, as all of the ere rs of Admiral Dewey's fleet mount five-inch and six-inch guns.. There is also an ample supply of the smaller sizes of shot and shell for the machine and rapid- fire guns. The stock of powder will be in three lots, aggreguting over 170,000 pounds, Hier Officers and Men, Owing to the hurried departure of thé Charleston it is not expected that she will for any considerable number of as these can follow later on the ¥ relief ships. The cruiser h: crew of about 4 men, and this will probably b: augmented by a marine guard of a few hu: ed cruiser of 3, of steel, and with eig ed men. fae Charleston is a protect- Te t displacement, built guns in her main battery. She has twin screws and an in- dicated horse power of 6,666. The authori- tues here hardly expect her to make more than thirteen knots with her heavy stores of coal, ammunition and supplies, as this wili carry her low in the water. Her coal bunkers are rather limited, so that she wili probably have te stop at Henolulu to re- coal. In all, her trip to Manila will cover about two weeks. The City of Pekin which will- follow her, is a very fleet merchant- man, capable of Leing pushed to eighteen krots or more, so that even with the handi- cap she has of starting several days after the Charlestor, there is a prospect that she may overhaul her in the Tace across the Pacific and reach Manila first. This will depend, however, on how soon the City of Pekin can be made ready for a start. Saturday is the earliest day mentio: ed. The Charleston is commanded by Captain Henry Glass. Aside from carrying ammu- nition and supplies to Admiral Dewey, the Charleston will prove a valuable adjunct to his squadron. She will come next to the Olympia ard Baltimore in point of size and effectiveness. In ¢ mining vpon this speedy depart- ure of the Charieston, the authorities here have had in mind not only the need of giv- ing early relief to Admirai Dewey, but have also been somewhat apprehensive of the attitude cf the Philippine insurgents. The news reports reaching here from the Philippines, indicating that the insurgent forces might resort to massacre, are re- ceived with serious aitention by efficials, as they recognize that our present position fn controlling Manila bay imposes a cer- tain degree of responsibility in seeing that civilized metliods prevail and that the in- ¢ Fvening Star. WASHINGTON, D. ©. WEDNESDAY, MAY 11 1898-TWELVE PAGES TWO CENTS, Expecting News From Sampson. The Navy Department 1s in almost hourly expectation of advices frum Admiral S: son. What the character of these will be the officials do not intimate, but they evidently expect interesting and tm- portant developments. It is rather a mat- ter of surprise to them that the press has rot already received information from the squadron via St. Thomas and the fleet dis- patch boats which accompany Sampson's squadron. Notwithstanding the cable ad- vices to the effect that the Spanish flying squadron has rejoined the Spanish home squadron at Cadiz, the raval stratesy beard Is by no means assured on this point, and it is believed that while Admiral Samp- sen has been placed in possession of the cable reports, he has been warned not to accept them as absolutely conclusive evi- dence as yet. In this state of affairs the only prudent course of action by the de- partment would seem to be to confer upon Admiral Sampson full authority to exercise his own discretion in his movements, and it is believed that this has been done. A pessible limitation was a request that he hold himseif in readiness to furnish an armed convoy defense for troops for Cuba. It might seem strange that the Navy De- partment should be in doubt as to whether or not a squadron of large men-of-war is lying in a harbor where they would be plainly visible to the eyes of 100,000 peo- ple. It must be remembered, however, that the United States has now no repres to furnish any information touching the al movements. Reliance must be had er upon severely censored newspaper dispaiches or upon the reports of spies and neither of these are of unimpeachable ac- curacy at this juncture. For this reason the Navy Depurtment is disposed to accept all reports with extreme caution. ssault on Ha The strategy board is carefully preps its plans for an assault upon Havana by sea in connection with the regular army movement by land, the work being rather of a preparatory nature, however, und not committing the department in any way to a final adoption of this pian. It has been represented that the fleet might with safe- ty assemble, say to the extreme east of the Spanish fortifi ns at the entrance of the harbor. In that position it would be exposed to attack by only one battery at the end of the I The entire fleet could enfilade this autery and destroy it in short crder. The attack would be followed down the line of shore, taking one bat at a time and thus reducing to a minimum the exposure of the ships, while bringing a terrible con- centration of «fire upon the batteries in turn. One naval officer who was consulted upon the subject, guaranteed that the fieet could knock out all of the fortifications one after another in two hours. like knock! he. “It would look sid down a row of bricks, iral Dewey will be nominated iv the sa full rear admiral just as soon avy Department is advised of the nature of the Président to the resolution , which conveys the necessary au- His promotion will make Capt. now commandant at the ague Island navy yard, a commodore, and will p! Capt. Ba at the head of the list of captains. He im turn will b come a commodore July 3 next retirement of Admiral Kirkland, comm: ant of the Mare Island navy yard. t Admiral Walker had a long conference to- day wilh Secretary Long, and ux is a rumor afloat which ssems to have morc to than the ordinary ree of substance the eifect that the admiral is slated for a pointment to some post of great distinction in the navy. The New Assistant Secretary. Mr. Charles H. Allen, the newly appointed istant secretary of the navy, repurted at the department this morning and received the cath of office at the hands of Chief Clerk Peters, and was then introduced by Lieut. Col. Roosevelt, whom he all of the officials and employes of the Navy Department. Mr. Alien has taken ap residence at the Portland, where Si Long resides. Lieut. Col. Roos with him from the assistant secr office Edward Marshall, who has fur yea. been th: coachman of the assistant vecre- tary. Marshall is a veteran, having been a member of the 10th Cavairy, and he in- ted on going with Lieut. Col. Roosevelt to serve in che re nt of mounted rifle- men, and a leave of absence was secured for him for that purpose. Lieut®Col. Roose- velt expects to lea Washington tomorrow night for San Antonio. eral Miles has postponed, for a few his departure trom V hing- had been pr2- pared for leaving Washington last evening, Ger sat lei ton to Tampa. trunks were pack2d, berths engaged and rooms telegraphed for in advance for the general and his steff, but all of this is nec- essarily suspended. Major General Fitz- Lugh Lee, who was also under orders to proceed with dispatch to Chickamauga and report to General Brooke there, found nim- self likewise checked in his departure, and will now remain in Washington or near by at his Virginia home until further orders. appears to know exactly what these mean, No one chang! Whe Strategy Board. Secretary Long is taking an active part in the work of the strategy board, and he is necessarily obliged to restrict consider- ably the free access that the public has heretofore enjoyed to his office. In order to find time to dispose of business of the most imperative nature he has been obliged to announce that her2after he will be unable to receive any person save the officials of the Navy Department after 2 o'clock in the afternoon each day. Heretofore a rule of this kind has been applied to ordinary vis- itors, but so numerows have been the calls of congressmen that the Secretary has been obliged to include them in the exclusion or- der. ‘he surgeon general of the navy has sent $160 to the navy pay officer at San Fran- cisco to purchase clam juice, lemons, beef extract and jellies, to be sent to th> sick and wounded of Admiral Dewey's fleet. The money was contributed by the Na- tional Relief Association of the National Society of Colonial Dames of America. Not Yellow Fever. ‘The surgeon general of the navy has re- ceived a report from the surgeon on board the gunboat Vicksburg stating that the suspicious cases taken from the prize Ar- gorauta have proved not to be yellow fever. ‘This is a source of gratification to the au- thorities here. When the Argonauta was taken five of her passengers gave evidence of fever which was thought to resemble the early stages of yellow fever. It turns out, however, that it was the ephemeral fever incident to West Indian latitudes, and was not the dreaded Yellow Jack. The os general's i add gat @ repetition — is frequently mistaken fer yellow fever. People in Congress Not Sure About Cape Verde Fleet. MISINFORMATION I$ EXPECTED This Government Prepared to Meet Any Contingency. ALTERNATIVE ORDERS Some of the senators and representatives who have been visiting the departments and keeping a close watch on the naval movements da not regard as absolutely cer- tain the Information that the Cape Verde fleet has arrived at Cadiz. While the pre- vailing opinion in congressignal circles has all along been that the Spanish fleet would turn up there, many of the best informed, especially those intimate in naval circte: hold that it would not be safe to place im- plicit confidence in any advices received from Cadiz. Some who have visited the department today say that while the board of strategy are assuming that the informs tion is correct, they are not going to take any chances which might result in a sur- prise to us. Dispatches May Not Be Reliable. They say that there {s no absolute cer- tainty that the dispatches announcing the arrival of the Cape Verde fieet at Cadiz Though the dispatches to the rtment, the LY, ame from two offi- cial sources, it is realized that it would be entirely possible for both Amb dor Hay and the naval attache at London, from whom the dispatches were received, to have been deceived. The mere fact that a dispatch making that announcement to the press and to the American officials at London could be got out of Cadiz, they say, gives ground for suspicion as to its accu- acy, even though not improbable. The ‘nsorship over the telegraph from Cadiz very strict, and it is regarded as not likely that any information could be got from t by wire unless the Spanish au- © were willing. that {t should go Consequently, there is a great differ- ence of opinion to the reliance to be placed on the information. It is sald that while the department is acting on this in- formation, this is done largely because the movements in contemplation would have to be mi; nyhow, in view of the failure of Admiral Sampson to find the Spanish fleet in West Incian waters, and precautions agains y surpris being as care- fully teken as if the Cape Verde fleet had rot been reported at Cadiz. The authori- who have held all along to the theory Spanish fleet would return to “ pt the report as conclusive, but others still hold to the doubt. It is said by the latter that if the fleet has reassem- bled at C anot be expected to re- main th s must either do ething with her navy very soon or 21 up the nish 1 this retre: was Geper war. The belief is that ‘the ‘ople would resent with violence on the part of the fleet, wh! ya and Porto Rico, and that its arrival at Cadiz when publicly known in Spain would be the sig- nal for overthrow of the government. Mini Misinformation and tr expected fro; ormation Expected. hery are al , and ¥ nt assuming that the Spamsh fleet had a rived at Cadiz, the department, it Is sald, will take no chances Which would not be nted anyhow, upon the advices r ived, unless supplemented by more cer- tain information. The app Spanish fleet going to or to attack San Franc Sh Id such a a foolhardy venture on the part of Spain, exposing the Spanish coast, giving up the struggle in Cuba and Porto Rico, end our hevy would probably make an immediate attack upon Spanish foris, compelling Spain to sue for peace and put an end to the war before the Spanish fleet could reach the Philippines. Spain will have to do something with her navy, however, to satisfy the dernands at home, unless the government: is prepared to give up Cuba, Porto Rico and the Philip- pines, and devote its energies entirely to the settlement of affairs at home, and it is thought in congressional circies that if the Cape Verde fleet has returned to Cadiz there will be assembled at that point the entire effective force of the Spanish navy for an aggrcssive move upon our fleet or against some port. It is either this or the end of the war. Whatever move Spain may make, however, we are fully prepared, and no apprehension is felt on account of uncer- tainty as to the Spanish intentions. Sampson’s Alternative Orders. Admiral Sampson is said to be acting un- der alternative orders, and without refer ence to the information from Cadiz. His failure to come up to the Cape Verde fleet wculd lead him to proceed upon.the second alternative, which, it is intimated today, is to return to Cuba, possibly after detach- ing two vessels to meet the Oregon. dt is regarded as extremely doubtful that an attack will be made on Porto Rico in the absence of the Spanish fleet in those waters until dfter our army of invasion has been landed in Cuba, and probably un- til after Havana has been reduced. If the Spanish fleet is at Cadiz, there will be am- ple time for operations in Cuba before that fleet can reach Porto Rico, and Sampson's fleet, having returned to Cuban waters attack from the combined Spanish fleet upon us in that quarter is not to be dread- ed If, after operations have begun in Cuba, it is learned definitely that a strong fleet has sailed from Cadiz, a sufficiently strong naval force can be organized to meet the Spaniards without in any way hampering our operations in Cuba, and the certainty as to where the Spanish fleet is will make it possible for Schley’s squad- ron to be used cither in the Cuban cpera- tions or to meet the Spanish at Porto Rico without there being any apprehension cn account of our seacoagt cities being left without naval defense. The naval and mil- {tary operations have been very greatiy simplified by the determination to invade Cuba at once with a large army, and the fact that our fleets have been so organized a8 to be able to operate against the Spanish fleet in whatever quarter it may appear. The patrol of our scout cruisers has shown tbat there is no Spanish fleet in any quar- ter where we have any reaSon to dread it, and nearly any alternative that can be thought of has been so well prepared for that the departments are not hampered in aggressive operations by any apprehension as to our own defenses. In fact, xt is felt that we can very nearly see the-es@ of all Possibility of effective aggressive move- ments on the part of Spain. It appears today that there ts some little resitaisn and uncertainty in high quarters, threatening a little delay in putting into complete operation the plans already de- termined upon with respect to the invasion of Cuba. General Miles? departure has asain been postponed, and at may be a day o two before he leaves for ‘Tampa, and the orders to Lee have been temporarily sus- pended. This does not signify a change of plan. : E No Interference to Be Allowed. It is said by the best fiformed men of Congress on international questions that there is ebsolutely no possibility of this government permitting itself to be inter- fered with either in the prosecution of this war or the conclusion of the terms of peace ‘by what any of the foreign powers may say. The representatives of the foreign pewers would not be warranted in expressing any opinion on the subject to this country. Such a course on their part would be promptly resented. Should they attempt to induce Spain to sue for peace they could not sug- gest any terms of peace to this country. The indication that they may advise Spain to yleld on the basis of the surrender cf Cuba and payment of indemnity, to be se- cvred by the occupation of Manila, is en- tirely gratuitous as far as it relates .o the terms of peace. This government, it is de- ciared, will not recognize any suggestior. of terms of peace coming from other gov- ernments, that being a matter which we must settle ourselves with Spain. Wiether we shall take and hold the Philtppine Isl- ands and Porto Rico or hbw we shall d pose of these islands after they have been taken is a matter for the future which this government will reserve the right to decide for itself. CADIZ FLEET SAILS TODAY Report Cabled From That Port to London Paper. Rumor Theat the Cape Verde Squadron Has Arrived at Cadiz is Discredited. LONDON, May 11.—On the stock ex- change here today the report that the Spanish Cape Verde squadron ‘had returned to Cadiz was generally discredited, though the opirion was freely expressed that, if the rumer was true, it indicated the inten- ticn of Spain to throw up the sponge and leave tne West Indies to their fate, thus opening the way to an early peace. This is urderstocd to be strongly"desired in certain quarters, and the effect of "the seeming backdown of Spain was beneficial. Tha Globe publishes. this afternoon a dispatch from Cadiz, dated Saturday last, which said the following ships, which were all ready for sed, with the exception ef the Pelayo, were at that pert: The Pelayo, Vitoria, Carlos V, Al- mirante Oquendo, Vizeayn, Maria Teresa, Cristobal Colon, Alfonso XIII, Pluton, Proserpina, Osada, Audaz, Furor, Terror, and a seyeral torpedo boats, transports and the Normannia and Columbia, former- ly of the Hamburg-American line, which have been ienamed Patriota and Rapido respectively. The Globe's correspondent added that he believed the squadron would sail on Wed- n (today), and said a number of troops would leave for the Canary Islands on M while three battalions of ma- rines were quartered af San Fernando, ready for embarkation. Licut. Colwell, the naval attache of the United ates embassy, said teday that he was by no meaps convinced that the Span- ish Cape Verde squadron is really at Cadiz. Inquiries made on board ships which have recently arrived here from the Canary Isl- ands, the Island of Madeira, Teneriffe and Gibraltar show that nothing has been seen of the Spanish fleet. The British steamer Galicia, Captain Bird, which left Cadiz on April 29, reports that the only Spanish war vessels there were the auxiliary cruisers Normannia and Colum- bia, two torpedo boats and an armed yacht, possibly the Girald: The British steamer Tetuan, which ar- rived her> today from Gibraltar, after leav- ing Las Palmas on April 29, Teneriffe on April 36 and Madeira on May 2, saw no signs of the Spanish fleet. She reports, however, that great excitement prevailed at the Canary Islands when she was there. >-— A FLAGSHIP. DOLPHIN the Gulf Makes Dispatch Bonis Seek Port. Special From a Staff Correspondent. KEY WEST, Fla., May 1.—Commodore Watson has transferred his pennant from the Cincinrati to the Dolphin. Dispatch beats which left here yesterday morning for the squadron off Havana were com- pelled to return last night because of a gale on the gulf. Though the weather is yet heavy, they started out a second time this morning. Naval officers here think Admiral Sampson's ships will return to Cuban waters, and they hope for something more than blockading. ' The government hospital ship Solace has arrived. “ George Kennon of Washington, who has been here for several days past, will go to Cuba as representative of the Red Cross. whenever the way is open for vessels to erter Cuban ports. The prize court expects to take up soon the case of the Spanish steamer Panama. The probability is that the captain and twenty-four men who were enlisted by the Spanish consul at New York and given passage to Havana will be sent to Fort McPherson military prison. They have. been held as prisoners from the time the Panama was taken. PEPPER. —_+-—+ . FRANCIS HOPES FOR PEACE. Gale on Austrian Emperor -Deplores the Span- ish-American War. BUDA PESTH, May 11—Emperor Fran- cis Joseph, replying to tlie addresses of the members of the delegations who were re- cetved in audience by his {majesty today, de- clared that Austria’s rélations with all the pewers, especially with: the neighboring states, were of the-very best. ‘The emperor also referred with regret to the hostilities between the United States and Spain, and said that, while he had re- solved to maintain strict neutrality, he hoped the “distressing struggle will soon be ended.” . |AT THE WHITE HOUSE : Visitors Discuss the War Situation With the President. MR. BELMONT’S WARSHIP DECLINED What Senator Davis Says of the j Spanish Fleet. MARYLAND APPOINTMENTS —.+—___ President McKinley had a multitude of visitors today, politics and war matters mingling in the routine of the day's work with the chief executive. All of the visitors inquired as to the status of affairs at the war centers, but found that the news was not heavy or im- portant. Some of the President's visitors discussed with him the possibility of Spain sending a fleet to the Philippines to attempt to re- take Manila. The belief of a majority of these visitors was that Spain will do noth- ing of the kind. Senator Davis, who was a White House visitor, said that he did not think Spain would attempt this undertak- ing. He did not think there would be any trouble in a Spanish fleet getting through the Suez canal, but the greatest trouble to the fleet would be the matter of getting coal along the rout, The plea of the Spaniards that they would be entitled to coal in going to a Spanish port, Manila, might not be effective with neutral powers along the route, as they might consider that Manila is not now a Syanish port, having fellen into the hands of the United States. England would probably hold this view at all ports where the Spanish fleet should stop for coal. The United States Would Retaliate. The belief is also growing that if Spain attempts this a United Btates fleet will be sent at once to Spanish shores. The Span- fards would be unable to conceal the des- tination of a fleet headed for the Philip- pines. Throughout the Mediterranean and at the Suez canal the fleet would be known and the United States would secure full and definite information of its whereabouts and purposes. On ail sorts of business with the Presi- dent today were the following: Senators Shoup, Lindsa Money, Bacon, Hawley, Kyle, Cullom, Hanna, Spooner, Representatives Grosvenor, North- s, Brownlow, Quigg, Assist- Vanderlip and Controller Dawes of the treasury. Maryland Affairs, Maryland politics cut a figure at the White House today, and occupied some of the President's tithe. ‘The whete thing was over the Baltimore post office. Early in }the morning Senator Wellington, Senator- elect McComas and John K. Cowen saw the President regarding the reappointment of Postmaster Warfield, which has been agreed upon. The President did not indi- cate that he had in any way changed his mind, and his visitors departed, satisfied that there would be no hitch. Later in the day a large delegation of Baltimore republicans saw ‘the President and entered a vigorous protest against Mr. Warfield’s reappointment. They stated that Mr. Warfield was a gold democrat, and that there are hundreds of capable and able republicans in Baltimor The President did not say anything in reply to give the delegation hope that he would change his mind. The delegation was headed by Stephen R. Mason, chair- man of the city republican committee and register of wills. With him were the fol- lowing: T. A. Robinson, L. R. Bridge, Wm. M. Stewart, George Flynn, George Wi W. A. Bodenseck, John Carter, 8. T. Addi son, George W. Johnson, Alfred Schultz, John Keith, S. A. Sweeney, A. Tyler, Jas. McCleilan, Barreda Turner, Charles Short, Captain Wm. F. Bye, Captain James W. Glenn. : Foraker, Elkii Baptist Delegates Received. Four or five hundred del2gates to Southern Baptist convention, which has been in session at Norfoik, are in the city and were received at 3 o'clock this after- noon by the President. Th2 arrangement for their reception was made by Senator Berry of Arkansas. Many of the delegates were accompanied by their wives and mem- bers of their families. The President gave them a hearty reception. Mr. Sulzer’s Regiment. Representative Sulzer, Col. John W. Mar- shall and Maj. Peter F. Rafferty of New York saw the President today and en- deavored to hav2 him accept a regiment or- ganized by them in New York city. “There are 2,400 men enlisted in our regiment,” said Mr. Sulzer, “and every man is anxious to get to the front and to take part in th> fighting. Over 200 members of the regiment have fought in Cuba under Gomez and Garcia, and 400 or 500 others were in the civil war, “This is the first time I have visited the White House since long before ‘veland went out, and I desired to ask the Presi- dent to accept our regiment. H2 said that it could not be done without a special act of Congress, but if this could be enacted he would sign the bill and put us into the ser- vice. I will try and have the Dillspassed. Our r2giment would join the Cuban army if we could secure guns and ammunition.” Mr. Sulzer’s regiment has a large number of “Bowery” boys in the ranks. John Jacob Astor, the New York miliion- aire, who also wants to fight, was at the White House with Senator Wetmore again trying to g2t an assignment to early duty. Senator Platt was another New York visitor. : Mr. Belmont’s Offer Declined. O. H. P. Belmont and Charles W. Moore of New York, who offered the government a swift dynamite gunboat, saw the Presi- dent today to announce that the Navy De- partment ‘had declined to accept their offer. The President was sorry that the offer could not be accepted, but expressed his thanks. The offer of Mr. Belmont was to immediately build and equip a vessel worth $100,000, which he would lend the govern- ment until the close of the war, if allowed to command the vessel himself. The propo- sition was to equip the vessel with a newly patented dynamite apparatus. No reason was given by the Navy Department for not actepting the offer, Wants Capt. Young Promoted. Senator Cannon, by request of a number of Utah ccnstituents, saw the President tcday and asked the appointment of Capt. Willard Young as a colonel of engineers in the volurteer army. Capt. Young ‘Served | im the engineer corps of the regular army the | tor sixteen years, end resigned in 1891 to live in Uteh, ip About Peace. The gcrsip that Spain may sue for peace soon fs pleasing to cabinet officials and other members of the administratio: They would naturally like to see an end to the war as speedily af possible, provided -he United States attains the ends at which it has been atming for so long. The bit- terness and victousness exhibited by .he Spaniards in speaking of this country has ro parallel tn official circles here. No vain- Slorious boasts and no abuse are indulged in by Uncle Sam's managers in referring to Spain. The war ts being carricd on in the business-like style of the Yankee. The many newspaper men who have han- dled the news at.the White House have never heard a cabinet officer use an abusive word in speaking of the Spaniards or make threats of bloody revenge and reprisal. There 1s no more excitement around the White Hous? than there is in the most peaceful hamlet in the world. All this is now pointed out by adminis- tration officials as indicative of a disposi- tion not to be cevere on Spain in a settle- ment should she ask for peace now. The demands of this covntry would not be stringent or unfair. But should Spain per- sist in keeping up the struggle she may be made to pay well for her folly. As the situation now stends, the administration feels that it is chastising an unruly chiid and will not be severe in punishment if there ts not continued Infraction. A cabinet officer, who referred to this feeling in talking to a representative of The Star, said that if Spain would now ac- cept the inevitable he would be in favor of lenient treatment for the dons, but if they forced a continuance of the campaign and kept conditions disturbed he would not favor so much leniency. They will be made to pay every dollar that the war costs this count In addition, they may lose valu- able territory besides Cuba. The loss of several hundred American lives in and around Cuba in the invasion soon to begin will not leave the administra- tion in a mood to be so gentle with Spain. —°-—____ EMERGENCY APPOINTMENTS, No More Will Be Made in the War Department. During the past two weeks the reception room of Assistant Secretary of War Mei- klejohn has been threnged daily with visi- tors. Many of these callers were applicants for appointment under the emergency cre- sted by the war with Spain, or people whose influence had been invoked in behalf of such applicants. Upon inquiry at the War Department today a Star reporter was informed that no more appointments of this character would be made, as the needs of the department have been amply met by the few stenographers and typewriters who have recently been appointed. The clerical force of the War Department was reduced during the last administration to the mini- mum, on a peace basis; and when the War Department was confronted by the labor incideat to the mustering and egulping of the volunteer army and the increased regu- iar army, it became at once apparent that additional clerical assistance was immedi- ately necessary, mainly that of stenograph- ers and typewriters, to handle the vastiy increased volume of correspondence. As the necessity for such services would only be of a temporary character, probab! exceeding two or three months, possibly not continuing as long as that even, some difficulty was experienced in promptly se- curing the necessary force through the civil service commission. A number of steno- &raphers and typewriters who were ap- pointed from the civil service list of eigi- bles declined to leave their homes and busi- ness in civil life in distant localities to come to Washington for temporary engage- ments. Under these conditions the depart- ment was compelled to make a limited number of temporary appointments i r the provision of the civil servic rules which allows temporary . ppointments of three months to be made Where the public interests require immedi- ate action. The War Department has ready secured all the additional force that will be needed, and no more appointments will be made ex- cept from the regular list of eligibles fur- nished by the civil service commission. —————_.»-.___ CIVIL SERVICE SUSPENSION. law The War Department Withdraws Its Recent Recommendation, Assistant Secretary of War Meiklejohn sent to the House today a request for the ithdrawal of the recent recommen for the temporary suspension during the ar of the civil service act as relating io civilian employes in the War Department, which, he says, was forwarded by inad- vertence. He explains that satisfactory arrangements as to the appointment necessary civilian employes under the War Department had been already made where- by the extra emergency existing during the pendency of war would be met. The ce- partment, -however, desires that the striction of the compensation of cv: in the subsistence department to not ceeding $100,000 for the fiscal year 18% suspended. ion — AR REVENUE BILL, v Recommendations Made by the Senate Finance Committee. The Senate committee on finance decided at its meeting today to increase the tax on manufactured tobacco in the war reyenus bil from 12 cents, the House rate, to 1 cents per pound, and to exempt the st in hard from the operation of the act. The finance committee also decided to recorm- mend a reduction of the tax on cigars from $4 to $3.50 per thousand, and on cigarettes from $2 to $1.50. The provision for taxing building and loan associations was under consideration at the forenoon session of the committee, but no decision was reach- ed. A modification of this feature of the bill, however, is quite probable. The afternoon session was devoted to the democratic amendments. ————————— THE WINDWARD IN PORT. Took Lieut. Peary’s Vessel Fifty- Three Days to Cross. NEW YORK, May 1l1.—The steamer Windward, from London March 19, was sighted off the highlands at 8:07 this morn- irg and passed in Sandy Hook at 9:30 in tow. The Windward is the vessel that carried the Jackson-Harmsworth expedition on its voyage to the polar region. The steamer was recently presented by Mr. Harms- worth to Lieut. Peary. The passage from London has been so Slow that there has been some anxiety felt for her safety. Her old-fashioned appearance may have had something to do with the entire ab- sence of any report of her in her long: voy- age of fifty-three days, for it seems that the first news of her was given yesterday at Delaware breakwater by the Norwegian fruit steamer Banan, from Jamaica, which reported having sighted a vessel supposed to be the Windward yesterday forenoon and. i Advertising is not an expense, It is a business investment. If you want to invest your money profitably you will therefore put your advertisements in such a paper as The Evening Star, that is read regularly and thoroughly by everybody worth reaching he Star is the recognized household and family journal of the National Capital, and has no rival as an advertising med- ium. eee TO STRIKE TOGETHER ee Sampson and Remey to Take Cuba and Porto Rico. —— MOVE MAY BE MADE FRIDAY Great Scarcity of Fresh Water at Key West. COSTS 10 CENTS A GALLON a KEY WEST, Fia., May 11.—It ts sald hore that If the report that the Spanish flect has returned to Spain proves to be correct an active movement against Cuba may occur within forty-eight hours. It is possible that Rear Admiral Sampson at Porto Rico and Commodore Remey h2re may strike simul- taneously, If it were decided to land troops at Bahia Honda, Matanzas or any other point, the vessels here, together with the ships on the blockading station, would have no difficulty in covering a landing with the aid of the heavy armored fighting ships. The mon- ftors, with their heavy could stand close in and with tmpunity proceed to the demolition of the fortifications, while the gunboats and lighter vessels poured in thetr shots from off shore. Navy Could Reduce Defenses. Naval offic2rs here believe the defenses at any point except Havana could be reduced by the ships now here and on the Cuban station in half an hour. There is no definite information as to when the troops at Tampa will be em- barked. The wat2r problem is getting serious at this place. Naval officers recognize tt and they are looking anxiously for the smoke from the stack of the big government con- denser, which is promised to supply 40,000 gailons daily, per contract. The plant should hav2 started April 25, but is not yet in cperation. The officers in charge of this station are skeptical of the condenser’s abil- ily to produce 20,000 gallons. Key West's water resources are most primitive and limited. The shallow wells In town are all more or less brackieh and un- der suspicion of surface drainage. Two companies at various times have driven ar- tesian wells 1,800 and 2,300 feet deep, but they have never secured fresh’ water. The town lives by cist2rns and rain barrels, and the latter are only a shade lees insanitary than the wells. These cisterns, filled during the rainy season, usually run very low by the clore of the dry season, which is dua row. Water Supply is Short. This year, in addition to the rains coming very late, the town has had its population doubled by the presence of troops, ships and war vessels and th? army of newsfiper correspondents and their tugs, which ves sels take water by the thousand gallons, not only for their crews, but for their boil- ers. The war vessels and some of the hospital and other craft have condensers, but the draft on the town's supply 4s still abnor- mal. The torpedo boats are without con- densing apparatus, and they have been scouting for fresh water as keenly as buc- caneers after Spanish galleons. Every dis- covery of a fresh cistern is hailed like a strike in the Klondike, and every gallon of water has three purchasers, all with money and anxious to outbid each other. Water 10 Cents a Gatio: In these circumstances it is not astonish- ing that water has advanced from 114 cents to 10 cents a gallon within the pz months. All who can afford it (the say, the newspaper correspon officers), drink bottled r, but a dearth of this supply is approaching. Most of the unpretentious brands of bottled water 4 $1 a galion, and “live” water is fifte cents a pint by the hundred bottles. To make matters worse, the drug stores let their supply of water run out before te‘egraphing for more, and there is a cor- ner on water between the grocery hotel and Cuban Club. The government reservoir at the na station, from which the engine r stpplied, contains less than 2,400 gallon of water, and it is reported among th patch boats that there is less than galions of rain water availabi and this of a very poor quality Information has reached heve of the land- ing within fifty miles of Havana of th» ex- pedition under command of Captain Dors:, 4th Cavalry, which left Tampa yeste on board the transport Gussie. ee SPANISH WARSHIP BLOWS UP. Low in own, British Steamer Now at Saw the Exploxion, LONDON, May 11—A dispatch Globe from Gibraltar says a British er which Las just arrived there ficially that she pasted yesterday ey a Spanish torpedo beat destroyer, ¥ wes guerdirg Algeciras bay and siraits. Gibra’ to Shortly efter the steamer pa ber all the lights of t a eyer were sudden extingaitbed, a terri: explosion followed immediaicly and the destroy peared, The disaster, the dispatch adds, was ap- parently caused by the explosion of the 1 bcilers of the torpeds boat destroyer. It is feared that all on board af her have per- ished. May Have Been the Destructor. LONDON, May 11.—The Spanish torpedo boat destroyer reported blown up near Gibraltar is probabi The Destructor is classed as a torpedo gunboat. She was built of stecl at Clyde Bank in 1887, and was 192 feet 6 inches long. She was gf 458 tons Cisplacement, had 25 feet beam and drew 7 foet of water. Whe Destructor was driven by two pro- pellers, had 3,800 horse power and wa Her armament consisted of o: inch gun, four 6-pounder quick-firers and four Maxim guns. She had three torpedo tubes, carried over 100 tons of coal and had a crew of fifty-five men. ie Belmont’s Horse a Winner. LONDON, May 11.—At the second day's racing of thé Newmark2t second spring meeting todey August Belmont’s three- year-old chestnut colt, Bridegrcom II., won the Newmarket plate of 103 sovereigus. Six geons, cight nurs>s, the finest surgical ap- pliances and accommodations for one hun- dred wounded, has arrived here from Hampton Roads.