The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1897-10-28
THE SHADOW OF WAR
LONDON PRESS SAYS THAT SPAIN
MUST FIGHT US OR BACK DOWN.

MUST FIGHT US OR BACK DOWN.
New Cabinets Defiant Attitude and
Ambassador Diapers visit 10
Rome start War Rumors-Bittet
Attacks on "the Yankees"
y London, Oct. 27.-United States Am
bassador Draper's hurried visit to
Rome, taken in connection with Spain's
reported defiant reply to the demands
OF the United States, has caused war
talk in all the European capitals.
The London papers are unanimous in
declaring Spains reported answer to
be defiant and predicting an open rup-
ture with the United States unless she
recedes from or modifies her position.
Many bitter attacks are made upon
the "insolent Yankees" by the more
violent papers Several, especially the
more conservative, unite in warning
Spain that she will be nopelessly over
United States.
The belief is growing here that the
European monarchies will not stand
idly by and see Spain whipped in a
contest which involves the ascendancy
vi BlihNiBiNos ihiS ANNiiiis
causes credit to be given to the report
spread by Italian papers that Italy has
proposed to the powers of Europe to
offer Spain her mediation to avoid war
with the United States.
The report is now widely circulate d
that the Italian Government is making
preparations to help Spain in case of
war. There can be no denying the fact
I,,N Il cit
rankles in the Italian breast.
In view of these complications and
the war spirit which is noticeably in
creasing in Spain, an authoritative
publication of the answer of the Mad
rid Government is being awaited with
the keenest interest.
Spain's Reply Not Yet Received.
Washington, Oct. Eft was stated
positively at the White House and at
the State Department that up to last
night the answer of Spain to the United
States had not reached the President
or Secretary Sherman, nor had they
received the 2000-word cable communi-
cation which it is said Minister Wood
ford sent in cipher from Madrid last
Saturday.
ltlt was dl tibNllObitt VI Sltt
tion in and about the White House as
to the issue presented by Spains an
swer. as briefly summarized in cable
reports, but from no authoritative
source could It be learned that the Ad-
ministration had outlined any line of
policy to meet the situation now pre-
sented Secretary Sherman did not
come to the White House during the
,,,, = e
State Day has gone to Ohio, so that
there is no opportunity for conference
on the Spanish Cuban situation. At
torney-General McKenna was with the
President for quarter of an hour, pre-
sumably in reference to the Union Pa
cific Railway affairs.
Action Possible To-day.
The Attorney General said, after
leaving the President, that there We're
no developments which he wished to
communicate to the public In other
quarters it was stated that a deter
mination might come at any moment
in the near future, and that in all prob
ability the meeting of the Cabinet to-
day would bring about a definite un-
derstanding and probably a final con-
clusion on the Governments course.
1t is not doubted among officials that
the basis of the Spanish reply to Mr..
Woodford's note will be the charge that
the United States has not observed the
requirements of international law in
the matter of preventing filibustering.
In this case the State Department will
have some pertinent facts to present,
which its officials believe will complete
ly ALLEVIATE from Spain any sympathy
that she may have attracted from 9TH
er European nations on that score. It
is asserted positively that in no single
case where the Spanish authorities
have brought to the attention of this
Government the fact that an illegal eX-
pedition was about to start from
American shores for Cuba has it neg
lected to use all the means permitted
by the laws to prevent the start. 1t
has been so indulgent in this respect
as to accept statements from the Span
lsh officials, not accompanied by proofs
Of the facts alleged, but mere sugges-
tions that they had reason to believe
that an expedition was forming.
In some cases the Government has
proceeded to g. sat lengths in restraint
IF American commerce on insufficient
evidence furnished by the Spanish
Government that has resulted in the
preference of large claims by American
ship owners for Illegal detention of
their ships.
Laugh ut Spain's Claims.
Washington, Oct 27.--The state De-
partment will have some Dertines1t