Evening journal., 1896-11-12

H"H.A.AA Runtea formidable Nlcct 70 lse
Inoreased-Bittor Feeling Against This
Country In spain-weyIer Checked by
MaeeO-A Spanish Defeat Reported.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 12.-Relations be-
tween Spain and this government have
taken "a turn within the last two or three
months which has compelled the admins
tratiOn to hold itself sharply on guard
against any possible emergencies. DiYlo-
matte exchanges continue, of course, as
usual, but Of late the attitude assumed by
Spain in all negotiations has been far from
conciliatOry or satisfactory. Complaints
made by this government Of injustice done
to American citizens or American COM
merce have been as a rule ignored or pig
conholcd, and in the rare cases where an
swers have been given they have proved
far from adequate or conclusive. So cool
indeed has the tone of the Spanish foreign
Office been and so patent is its indifference
To representations and remOnstrances from
Washington that the administration has
been forced more and more to prepare
itself for the gravest contingencies
For some time past annoying exactious
on American commerce have been reported
from Havana, for which redress has been
sought in vain from the Spanish govern
ment Determinations against American
captains and shippers have increased, and
little or no pretense has been made Of re-
pairing the injuries already done or of put
ting an end to the unjust practices Of the
Spanish customs and revenue officials i'm
Cuba. Many sources of irritation conse-
quently exist, from any one of which may
spring alarming complications.
More ships For Admiral Bunce.
The surest indication that the govern
ment feels apprehensive about the situa-
ton is to be found in the significant in
crease of the North Atlantic fleet Never
before has so powerful a squadron been as
sembled under an American admiral as
that now gathered at New York and Nor
folk. Admiral Bunces command consists
of ~ modern vessels of war-namely, the
Indiana, the Massachusetts,, the New York,
the Columbia, the Maine, the Texas, the
Newark, the Terror, the Raleigh. the
Katahdin, the Montgomery and the trans
port Fern. The list includes two powerful
battleships, two other battleships carry
ing a somewhat lighter battery; an arm
orcd cruiser, a monitor, four protected
cruisers and a ram.
Already formidable this fleet is TO be
materially augmented in effectiveness I'M
the navy. Mr.. Herbert has sent out imper-
ative instructions to hasten the compile
tion of the armored cruiser Brooklyn, now
nearly ready for service. The vessel is ex-
pected to be in commission before the close
of this month. She is the improved 81
of the big New York and wor1i Oi a"
than match for any cruiser iainly M
ish navy. Secretary Herbert hasrt
out strict orders to hurry up the big neavi-
ly armored monitor Puritan, now at the
New York navy yard Many naval officers
regard this vessel as the best fighter in the
navy
fff-r A Splendid Fleet
The addition of these two vessels will
increase the command of Admiral Bunce
to IA ships 8 more armored and protected
warships than Admiral Meade command
ed when the home squadron was consider
cd a splendid feet. Five of these ships
have been added to the squadron i'm the
course of the last few months. Two more
viii join it inside of 20 days. If reports
are Trustworthy, and they seem TO be- the
monitor Miantonomoh, now out of service
at the New York station, is to be commits
stoned at once also the Vesuvius. The
Castine has just been brought home from
the south Atlantic station and is at Nor
folk The Marblehad is on the way home
from Europe These two ships will join
Admiral Bunce's feet before the month
expires. Thus he will have a command
three times the size and power of that
which Admiral Meade had in charge when
the Cuban troubles first became serious
and about five times more numerous than
the country has today on any foreign sta
tion.
A straw In relation to the matter is the
recent action Of the navy department con
cerning repairs on the Newark That YES
sci needs many improvements, and a board
of inquiry recommended a few DAYS AGO
that she be put out Of service and extensive
ly overhauled. This recommendation MIR
Herbert disapproved. He directed that the
ship be got ready for service immediately
There is no doubt that the naval authori-
ties have shown extraordinary activity in
the last few months. They are continuing
their zeal, and there must be some unusu-
al cause for this. On no previous occasion
have the efforts of the officials been so ear
nest as now TO concentrate a powerful fleet
in home waters.
Anti-American Sentiment In Spain.
There is no doubt that hostile declara-
tion against this country would be popular
in Spain. Embarrassed by the revolution
IN OuDdi worried over tnc Outlook IN the
Philippines, fearful as to the course Of Don
Carlos and his sympathizers the distress
of the present government is extreme So
great has become the trouble of the minis
try that Premier Canovas seems to regard
1t as both polite and patriotic to take some
extraordinary action which win center
FEELING in Spain on 2 subject that is dis
tinctly n@.ierution, hn pctar such as war
willis apparently from the exci.o- "a
to pmding the occurrence Disap- qSoi 1tst.
Alfc at the mans refusal TO marry .-s oni'
Deved to have been the motive for s' 5ee
tor nave
acrOs - NUN
On account of his patlai,' -, nh.
Cuban war, particularly his rebnl1e to his
followers, who obstructed the passage by
the Cortes Of measures to raise funds to
carry on the war, Don Carlos popularity
with his cOuntrvf1,on hoc rrrnatI y i,,r,o,-od