The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, March 9, 1898, Page 3

THE SAN FRANCISCO C LL, VEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 1 AROUSED TO THE DANGER OF WAR DANGER POINT NOT PASSED The President Will De-= mand Peace for Cuba. It Is Here That the Governm a War Wi the Officers of ent Look for th Spain. 5l YORK, March —The yashington correspon- egraphs: Amid the war- like preparations now actively in there is a peaceful tone utterances of Federal officials in Washington. A sense of security has come over them as a result of the universal sup- port ven to the President’s recommendation for strengthen- ing our national defenses, and the extraordinary action of the House of Representatives in vot- ng without a dissenting vote un- precedented powers to the Pres- ident. Troublesome times are still ahead, they all admit, but they can use every resource of the country to prepare for trou- ble, and they believe Spain’'s knowledge of this will lead her to ate and to avoid conflict. g d may underestimate ntiment in Spain, but demonstrated by talks I had to- it i day with several high Federal officials that the e confidently expecting our elaborate milita and naval prepara- tions will tend to stave off rather than provoke war. The authorities all admit, however, that we have not yet reached the dan- point of the situation. It is coming short time the find- ithin a very s of the Court of Inquiry investi- the Maine disaster will be in f the President. There is a shadow of doubt in the yinds of the administration that the board will find that the vessel was biowas up by some external agency. -I4 was assured of this by a high officlal who, while stating that he did not know just when the report would be sub- t 2id enough was already known to leave no room for doubt that Spain would be held responsible for the Maine ter. While convinced, as Secretary Long publicly stated some days ago, that ain as a Government did not partici- in the affair, my informant was ertain that no accident caused aster, and that Spain will have eld responsible for the loss of the ship and the slaughter of her crew. Further evidence of the conviction of | the administration that the fundamen- cause of the disaster was an out- de explosion, Is to be found In the preparation of data upon which to for- mulate a demand for indemnity from | Spain, which is now in progress. There was another significant de- velopment to-day. I was told by a high offictal that tne President is now con- sidering the advisability of coupling | the Maine disaster with the general Cuban question. It was officlally de- clared some days ago that the two | matters were to be regarded as en-| tirely distinct. From what I was told to-day, however, it seems probable that when the demand for indemnity is made upon Spain it will be either coupled with or immediately followed by another representation In regard to the | general Cuban question, having for its purpose the Immediate ending of the war in Cuba. I have positive knowledge that the President is being urged by | many influential men in Congress to accompany his demand for indemnity | with notice to Spain that the war In | Cuba must stop, and that the United | jtates stands ready to use its good of- | fices to bring about this result in a | manner honorable and fair to all parties | concerned. | There are some who wish the Presi- | dent to go even farther and insist upon | Spain giving Cuba independence as one | of the conditions upon which we will | accept indemnity for the Maine disas- | It cannot be said that the Presi- | di. ter dent has definitely formulated the plan he will pursue in regard toCuban inter- % | vention, but everybody realizes, and no one more fully than the President, that now Congress proposes to give the ad- ministration $50,000,000 for strengthen- ing national defenses the administra- tion will be expected to take some defi- nite and positive stand in the direction of ending the war in Cuba. This phase of the matter was gone into at considerable length at to-day’s Cabinet meeting. I was told by a Cab- inet officer that the question of treat- ing the Maine disaster In connection with the chief point at issue between the two countries was considered. Oneof the arguments used was that Spain has not only shown herself unable to con- trol her domestic affairs in Cuba but, as demonstrated by the fearful calam- ity to the Maine, she is unable to give proper protection to vessels in the har- bor of Havana. Having discussed the Maine disaster, the general Cuban question and the prospective policy in regard to them, the Cabinet went into a long discussion of the best means of utilizing the $50,- 000,000 for putting the country in a state of defense. It resulted in a gen- eral understanding that the amount | will be divided between the War and Navy departments in proportions which the circumstances warrant. The bulk of the amount will, of course, be expended under the naval establish- ment, it is realized that it is this branch of the service which will per- form the more conspicuous part in any war we may have with Spain. Presi- dent McKinley cautioned prudence in expenditures, but at the same time de- clared that no expense should be spared in strengthening every branch of the service which sound military judgment will warrant. It was agreed that the one question of prime impor- tance was the securing of more battle- ships and torpedo boats, and that no efforts should be spared to obtain the that could be had. Secretaries Long and Alger explained at length the plans outlined by the ex- perts of their respective departments for utilizing the money to be appro- priated, and the President felt satisfied from their statement that it would take only a short time to place the country upon a substantial war footing. It was learned to-night that there were three complaints from Spain in- stead of two, as seemed to be the case when the President issued his state- ment last Saturday afternoon. The first complaint related to General Lee, which the President promptly refused. The second referred to the warships, be: | to which the President partly assent- ed by allowing the Fern to take the place of the Montgomery. Spain's third complaint was quickly met. It related to the recent mysterious visit of Captain Crowninshield to the West Indies. It was asserted by Spain that this navy officer, who is Chief of the Bureau of Navigation, had gone to Parto Rico for the purpose of con- ferring with filibusters at the port and had met a son of the Cuban leader, General Garcia. It was charged that Captain Crowninshield had given aid and comfort to the filibusters and had materially helped them to send men and supplies to Cuba, the navy of the United States being used for that pur- pose. There was not, of course, the slightest foundation for this assertion, and the President at once communi- cated to Spain an emphatic denial. He said Captain’ Crowninshield’s visit had nothing whatever to do with fili- busters and that the young man who was supposed to be Garcia's son was the son of Captain Crowninshield. As quickly as the cable could bring an apology Spain replied that the charge had been made under a misap- prehension and that the President's statements were accepted without further question. ONLY THREE DAYS REMAIN. HE CALL’S great discount offer of Scribner’s History of the United States closes Friday, Ma rch lith. Remember, if you order before date mentioned you will save nearly 40 regular price. Five per cent from the massive volumes; 1600 illustrations; only $lon delivery ofthe full set, balance in nine monthly pay- ments of $2 each; half morocco, $1 per month more. Call and examine telephone Davis 86l this grand book, or and we will send a set to you for examination. Do not fail to examine this work, and remember that we c annot sell you a set at so low a price after March lith. THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL. AWAITING THE - BIG CRUISER Much Interest at Havana Over the Coming of the Montgomery. Spamsh Warships in the Har- bor Bunched and a Berth Made Vacant. Now the Naval Court of Inquiry Seems to Be Purposely Pro- longing the Investigation. Copyrighted, 1898, by James Gordon Bennett. HAVANA, March 8.—The arrival of the cruiser Montgomery is awaited with much Interest by Americans here. The Fern moved this afternoon from the buoy where she had been previous- ly moored, at a point near the Almirante Oquendo, and took a berth near the op- posite side of the harbor. The Spanish cruiser Alfonso XII later in the day moved down to the anchorage vacated by the Fern, thus leaving the position recently held by the Alfonso XII free for the Montgomery on her arrival Practically the effect of these orders of the Spanish admiral is to bunch the Spanish ships together in the same sec- tion of the harbor, and in immediate vicinity of the Maine wreck and Man- grove, while the Montgomery will lie about half a mile further up from the mouth of the harbor. The Fern is all ready to sail as soon as the Montgomery arrives, and the ne- cessary transfer of diving apparatus and Captain Sigsbee’s and Ensign Pow- elson’s effects can be made to the cruiser. Ensign Powelson is a regu- larly attached officer of tne Fern, but that vessel will sail on her mission of mercy, to carry relief to Matanzas and Sagua without Powelson, as the Court of Inquiry at present regards his ser- vices here as indispensable. Captain _ Sigsbee, Lieutenant-Com- mander Wainwright and other officers now quartered on the Fern, who are detailed to duty in copnection with the Maine wreck, will transfer their head- quarters to the Montgomery. The Bache will return to coast survey duty on which she was engaged before the ex- Bodies received hereafter are plosion. 1 Yo be transported to Key West by the Plant line. The Court of Inquiry to-day con- tinued Its examination of divers, and agaln gave considerable of the morning %o a close personal inspection of the forward portion of the wreck. Chaplain Chidwick boarded the wreck and div- ing floats, in company with Naval Con- structor Hoover and George Helms, the ship’s carpenter to the Maine. Powelson was not aboard the Man- grove to-day, but was continually con- sulted on and around the wreck. In contrast with the previous appearance of great activity, the members ‘of the court to-day went about the work in a leisurely manner, which revives the im- pression formerly prevalent that to use a sporting expression, they are again sparring for wind, or rather for time, instead of following up their leads with more hard blows. There is no prospect now of the court finishing here before the end of the week, and it may remain longer. As yet I see no reason to modify the statement cabled to the Herald a week or more ago that the public can hardly expect a report on the cause of the Maine disaster before the latter part of this month. Captain Sigsbee has not communi- cated with Washington regarding his recall, but Is nevertheless anxious to wind up his work here and get away. His health s gradually failing since the Maine's destruction and now that he is no longer sustained by excite- ment he fears a collapse. His case is not serious, but he seldom appears in the city now, feeling unable to get about. He remains aboard the Fern most of the time. The Diario de la Marina declares that Lieutenant Blandin talked so freely as to make himself objectionable to Ma- drid and Washington. The same news- paper continues: It is to the interest of both Governments that the court of inquiry be explicit in its findings, and for the court to say the explosion was due to an unknown cause will be un- satisfactory. It must say whether the explosion was due to external or in- ternal causes. The same paper Inti- mates that Spain may expect the United States to demand a heavy in- demnity. Several skirmishes are officially re- ported. The scenes of the greatest activity are in . .nar del Rio, Havana, Matanzas and Santa Clara provinces. The most important engagement was on the estate of Managua, in Pinar del Rio, between the forces of the Spanish general, Hernandez Velasco, and the insurgents under Pino Guerra. The rebels were dispersed after a flerce at- tack by the San Quintin battalion and civil guards. 1he rebel loss was heavy, many wounded being carried from the field. The Spanish lost two killed and had ten wounded, including Captain Verdugo and Major Ripoles. General Ceballos and the Lealtad bat- talfon engaged Rafael Cardenas and Alfredo Lima at Majagual, in Havana province, killing four rebels. They de- feated them again at Vigia Hill. The Spanish loss was small. General Gomez is reported to be moving slowly west- ward. RICHTS OF BELLIGERENTS 10 BUY SHIps Continued from First Page. fact that Secretary Long is consult- ing at every step with the represen- tatives of the legislative branch of the Government shows the desire of the President to keep within the strict spirit of the Constitution. The War Department was not be- hind the Navy. General Flagler, Chief of Ordnance, is very busy reaching out in every direction by means of the telegraph and the mail to learn just how far the resources of the big private manufacturing concerns can be relied on to come to the aid of the War Department in arming and equipping a volunteer army, should one be found neces- sary. He will not tell what he is do- ing in this direction, holding it is not wise to make everybody acquainted with either our weak or strong points. Major-General Miles is look- ing after the personnel closely and to-day was trying hard to perfect the organizations of two regiments of ar- tillery which Congress has granted. The officers must be named to Con- gress and the commissions are only waiting on the forms. Meanwhile, beyond the statement that the two Senior Lieutenant Colonels of the ex- isting artillery regiments will be made Colonels of the two new regi- ments, the names of the officers are withheld. The new Spanish Minister, Senor Barnabe, will arrive in New York on a German line steamer to-morrow. He is expected at the Legation on the following day, and the arrange- ments will be made then for present- ing his credentials to President Me- Kinley. There will be the usual ex- change of felicitations, which will be of more than passing interest. Senor Bernabe left Madrid before-the recent critical juncture was reached, and at the time of his departure the new commercial treaties were uppermost in the interest of the Madrid author- jties. The new Minister speaks Eng- lish fluently, having been in this country for several years. He is mar- ried, his wife being the daughter of one of the most influential men of Spain. The President this afternoon signed the Hawley bill providing for two additional regiments of artillery to man the coast defenses. WANTS TO ANCHOR IN THE DAYTIME. The Captain of the Montgomery Does Not Want to Give Spain the Advantage of Darkness. WEST, Fla., March 8.—“The Montgomery does not want to enter Havana harbor in the dark.” That is what Lieutenant-Commander Bechler, her executive officer, said on the deck of the Montgomery four hours before KEY she sailed. ““We are going to Havana,” he con- tinued, “and strange as it may seem, s experience, this is the happi s company in American waters ;. We feel it a great honor to be selected to take the place of the after the Mai Maine. We have the reputation throughout the entire navy for being a right tight cruiser. We shall try to maintain that reputation in Havana. enter Havana harbor in the dark. If we leave now reach Cuba shortly after m We want the sun shini when we come to our an- chorage. do mot expect any trouble, but we are not going to give Spain the advantage of us, I can assure you.” -—— SOLD DYNAMITE TO GENERAL WEYLER. It Is Certain Now That the Butcher Bought Large Quantities of the Deadly Explosive. tain G. A. Hamlin, general manager of the Dittmar Powder Company of New York, is visiting in this city. He con- firms the report that the Dittmar con- cern sold explosives to Weyler's agent in November, 1896. Captain Hamlin does not know for what purpose the explosives were used. “1 sold to Weyler's pounds of dynamite sald Mr. Hamlin. *“At the same e, 150 miles of rubber-covered in- sulated copper wire was purchased and sent to Cuba on the ship carrying the dynamite. This might have been used in the destruction of the Maine three weeks ago to-night, as it was pretty well established Weyler was using this powerful explosive to form the most terrible naval destroyers of modern times.” MANILA NEARLY SWEPT OUT OF EXISTENCE. Fire Destroys Five Million Dollars Worth of Property in the Capi- tal of the Philippines. VANCOUVE ., March 8.—Ad- vices from thi srought by the steamship Empr of India tell of the almost complete destruction of Manila, Philippine Islands, Five million agents 9000 in November, dollars’ worth of property was destroyed. INTERESTS THE COAST. Californians in Washington—Patents and Pensions. WASHINGTON, March 8.—Representa- tive de Vries to-day introduced a bill in- creasing the pension of Danlel Meagher to 350 per month. Judge Maguire intro- duced a bill pensioning George Sylvester at the rate of $i0 per month. Californians in Washington: ‘Thorpe, Los Angeles; Francisco, Willard’s. Pacific Coast patents were granted to- Henry N. A, Beeman, San day as follows: California—James F. Bean, Martinez, rallway signal light; Charles J. Clark, Oakland, hinge for swinging sashes; Robert G. Cottier, Los Angeles, harness loop; Walter I5. Denni- son, San Francisco, surface finishing for asphalt or bituminous pavements; James 1. Duncan, San Francisco, assignor to R. B. Elder, electric arc lamp; Charles Gar- land, assignor of one-half to J. M. Cam- monds, Grayson, folding stepladder; Emil Gerlach, San Francisco, devise for pre- venting re-filling of bottles; Henry H. Corter, asignor to M. E. Gorter, San Francisco, rotary nozzle; Francis M. Gra- ham, San Jose, air compressor; William B. Heywood. Berkeley, automatic_offset mechanism for sawmill carrfages; Frank- lin L. Johnson, Valley Springs, cork pull- er; Robert J. Miller Placerville, ratchet wrench; John H. Mooney, Oakland, sew- ing machine; John S. Muir, San Fran- cisco, therapeutic electrode; John J. Price, San Jose, awning attachment: John 'J. Ryan, San Jose, cigar bunching achine; John P. Simmons, San_ Fran- cisco, steam boller; Arnold J. Tackle, Oakland, gas generator; Charles Warren, rough and ready plumb level; Benjamin B. Wright, Riverside, machine for clean- ing fruit. __ Oregon—William _J. May, Tillamook, elevated road and bicycle for same. Washington—Stephen D. cCarpenter, Spokane, bicycle. Pensions were granted as follows: Cal- ifornia—Original: Rauford Wortning, San Diego, $6; John Goggin, San Francisco, $i: Michael McAnany, Soldiers’ Home, 1os Angeles, $6; Robert Carnahan (dead), Sacramento, $8: John Condon, Soldjers’ Home, Los Angeles, $10. Supplemental: John Wilson, Soldiers’ Home, Los Ange- les, $2. Original widows, etc.: Sarah N. Carnahan, Sacramento, $8. Oregon—Orig- inal: Jesse Hendricks, Peris, $6. T0 STRENGTHEN “The Montgomery does not want to | | i BIRMINGHAM, Ala., March 8.—Cap- | | THE DEFENSES Ordnance and Engineer Officers Discuss Plans to Fortify Coasts. Assurances . That Plenty of Rapid-Fire Guns Can Be Quickly Secured. Improvised Mines and Torpedo: May Also Be Turned Out by the War Department. Spectal Dispatch to The Call. NEW YORK, March 8.—A Washing- ton special to the Herald says: Offi- cials of the Ordnance and Engineer Departments of the War Department were in conference to-day to discuss plans for increasing the strength of coast defenses with the portion of the emergency appropriation of $50,000,000, which it is expected will be allotted to the army. Brigadier-General Wilson, engineers, is absent on an inspection tour of southern fortifications, and Brigadier-General Flagler, chief of ordnance, was absent from the depart- ment to-day on account of illness. Their chief assistants, however, got to- gether and formulated general plans, which will be submitted to their chiefs and to the Secretary of War. Charles Shales of the Ordnance Department met several representatives of ord- nance manufacturing and supply firms and received from them assurances that they have ample facilities at their command to furnish the department at short notice with large supplies of ammunition and guns of various cali- bers. It is expected that a large order will be placed immediately for rapid fire guns of 5-inch and 6-inch and smaller caliber. The American Ordnance Company has on hand in this country, it is un- derstood, a considerable supply of these guns, and through their agents in France and England they are able to put at the disposal of the Govern- ment immediately not less than 150 rapid-fire guns, and this number could be greatly increased very soon. The other ordnance companies are able to each furnish immediately or to manu- chief of LORORCRCRCROR RN RO R R i Jec stry fro; Phi ish I afts coast by withdrawing available ships and relying upon Japan to take the from Japan, it is asserted, the United States will agree to give some special | concession to that country in Hawail and allow Japan to obtain possession JAPAN MAY HELP AMERICA Alliance With the Mikado Is Among the Pos- sibilities. In That Event Spain Would Be Entirely Outclassed in a War Upon the Seas. NEW * YORK, March 8.—The @ |such a compact will be entered into. Washington correspondent of @ |The entire Oriental question, ‘with pos- the Herald says: I was told to- © |sible complications with FEuropean day that propositions are being @ | powers, might be involved in such considered looking to a possible @ | proceeding, and it would be a viola- alliance between the United @ |tion of our traditional policy to avoid States and Japan in the event @ |entangling alliances. of war with Spain. I was also @ In the event of our failure to pur- told that negotiaticns had gone @ |chase additional vessels from foreign to the extent of the preparation @ |countries the ald that would thus be of an informal memorandum @ |given to the United States by such an initiated by the Japanese Min- @ |alliance with Japan would be of the ister and Assistant Secretary of @ |greatest value. State Day. It has not been pos- @ ‘We would not only be sure of getting sible, however, to confirm this @ |the Japanese vessels now building in report. @ | this country but we could bring to this country several warships, includin; t was explained to me that the ob- | first-class battle-ship Opregrm. the grts‘:? t of the proposed alliance 1S 10| class protected cruiser Olympia and the engthen our naval forces on this|second-class cruiser Baltimore, and as soon as they could be placed in com- mission the second-class protected cruisers Philadelphia and Charleston. With this acquisition of first-class ves- sels to the North Atlantic squadron any fleet that Spain could send here would be entirely outclassed. Make Lee a Brigadier. WASHINGTON, March 8.—The Pres- ident has decided in case of war he will make Fitzhugh Lee a brigadier gen- m Pacific and Asiatic stations, flippine Islands and look after Span- ships In the Pacific. n consideration for this assistance er the annexation of the islands e an and ir mecess foi e BLUIDDIS Islands. | eral. This conclusion was reached sary supplies could be drawn from| Japan 18 undoubtedly desirous of | when the possible necessity of securing Creusots in France, the Krupps of Ger- | getting possession of the Philippines, | troops by the call for volunteers was many and the Armstrongs of England. | but the question of joining hands first seriously considered. The decision of the President regard- While some rapid fire guns are likely to be added to the armament of points already partially fortified more are like to be placed at other points which are now aitogether undefended. Such points as in the opinion of the engineer department require such pro- tection as could be provided by rapid fire guns are Port Royal, S. C., where the navy department has an altogether unprotected drydock, Jacksonville, Key West and Tampa, Fla., and several ploces on the southern coast in par- ticular. While it has been proposed to im- prove Dry Tortugas by mounting eight and ten inch converted rifles on the | barbette parapet of Fort Jefferson, it is suggested by the engineering de- | partment that the same number of rapid-fire guns could be mounted there as quickly, and would be much more effective. By beginning work immediately there are supplies enough at hand to enable the engineers to prepare emplacements and mount several rapid-fire guns at any one point that may be deemed necessary | in about a week. Steps will soon be | taken by the engineer department Jooking to fortifying all the more im- | portant harbors with torpedoes. The | department can place these immedi- | ately, and more can be procured through agents of ordnance supply n this country or Europe. | large quantities of impro- vised torpedoes can be manufactured by engineer officers by the employ- | ment of casks and barrels in which | may be placed about 250 pounds of powder, and which may be equipped with double-test tubes, one filled with culphuric acid and the other with po- tassium chlorate and other combina- tions which will produce an explosion upon the breaking of the test tubes by a passing keel. The work of the engineering .department at all fortifica- tions Is being hastened, and guns and carriages under construction are be- ing hurried to completicn as rapidly as possible. A duplication of the large shell and powder contracts of last week has been provisionally made, and this may be still further enlarged. Officials of the Quartermaster’s De- partment will enter upon the construc- tion of quarters and barracks for the additional regiments of artillery. Ex- aminations of artillery officers who are promoted by the provisions of the ar- tillery bill have already commenced. | Captain G. W. Crabb, Fifth Artillery, has been physically disqualified for promotion, and unless the surgeon- general shall decide that his disability is curable he will be retired. This course must be pursued in the case of all candidates who fail to pass their examination: MODERN AMMUNITION TWKEN FROM CHELSEA. Supplies Destined for Key West Sent From the Navy-Yard on a Government Tug. BOSTON, March 8.—All the modern ammunition in the United States mag- azines in Chelsea was taken from that receptacle to-day and put aboard the Government tug Nina. That vessel will take the ammunition to the Brooklyn navy-vard, whence the ammunition will pe transferred to Key West. It is not | known at the magazine what ship is finally to receive the ammunition sup- ply, but it is reported that it will go aboard the warship Cincinnati. In all about twenty-six tons of ammunition were taken from the magazine. Al that now remains there is some old- fashioned saluting powder. The projec- tiles consisted of the five-inch percus- sion and electric firing armor-piercing shells. That the Navy Department was anxious to conceal the mission of the Nina is obvious from the fact that the tug could have been loadea more quick- ly and readily from the navy-yard pro- per, instead of concealing the vessel in Mystic Creek, nearly two miles dis- tant. The men of the tug Nina were busy during the aftérnoon and night. They were working under the personal supervision of Lieutenant Dougherty, and as extreme precaution was neces- sary in packing the explosive materials away properly where they would not explode and destroy the vessel while en route to New York, the work con- sumed considerable time. companies 1 If necessary 4 _. with the United States for that pose is such a serious one that future developments will have to be awaited before it can be definitely stated that pur- | e General Lee has the hearty ap- proval of the members of the Cabinet and others to whom the subject has been mentioned. ADVERTISEMENTS. And with it we | show the finest line of $10 SUITS Ever offered in San Francisco. We have just added one-half to the capacitoof our lower floor by moving our workshop upstairs. 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