The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-02-28

mean that the monitor will be on hand
until the final settlement of the Maine
question.
It is thought the secretary delayed
sending the monitor to these waters
during the stay of the Spanish cruiser
Vizcaya through courtesy to the Span
ish government
The formidable vessel, which will pro-
bably lie at the man-Of-war anchorage
off TOmpkinsville, is 249 feet long, SO
feet inches beam, IA feet 8 inches
draft. Her displacement is $3.50 tons,
speed u knots, main battery four 10
inch rifles in pairs; secondary battery
six rapid fire guns and two machine
guns; thickness of armOr belt inches;
thickness of protective deck inches;
thickness Of turret armOr liz inches.
Paris, Feb. 2S.-The Paris Temps says
of the Maine disaster:
Not only do the facts which have
leaked out so far point to a submarine
mine as the cause of the disaster, but
there is also this argument in support
of this being due to design, that the
federal government would have Un-
doubtedly spoken out at once if the
suppositiOn of accident had been con-
firmed. If such is the case, President
Mckinley will have great difficulty in
preventing a conflict
The Patrfe thinks that war is on the
point of breaking out between Spain
and the United States, but advises the
latter to think twice before engaging in
a conflict.
"Spain's army and navy" it says, lis
composed of seasoned and tried men,
whereas this quality is absent in the
forces at the disposal of the United
States. The American fleet is organic
ed only for defensive war. As for the
American army, it is still to be brought
into existence"
New York, Feb. 28.-A dispatch to the
Tribune from Havana says:
-,J Of N
Vizcaya is awaited with extreme inter
est It is possible that the arrival of
the warship will be made the occasion
for a demonstration of intransiGienteS
and volunteers. The government can
not well forbid a demonstration of
Spanish loyalty. The occasion will af-
ford an excellent opportunity to meas
ure the feeling of the Spanish classes
The authorities are disquieted over the
prospect of riOtOus proceedings before
the Vizcaya's arrival.
The naval board shifts its inquiry to
Key West temporarily. While it is
holding sessions there the work of the
divers will go forward, and something
may be done toward raising portions of
the wreck of the Maine. Members of
the board discourage laying too much
stress on what the divers are doing or
drawing positive conclusions from their
labOrs.
Nevertheless they have found the for
ward magazine intact and have been
bringing up powder which was not like
ly to have remained powder if the eX-
pIosion had been an internal one. Much
of the evidence leads to support the be-
lief of an explosion produced by a sub
marine mine.
The inquiries of the board are direct
ed along a line to bring out facts bear
ing on the point. The proof is neither
final nor positive, but it is strong
enough to make the theory of an acci-
dent a growing improbability. Until
the hull and plates can be examined
no conclusive opinion can be formed
That may be determined by the time
the board returns to Havana. Capt.
| Sampson and his associates are aware
| of the impatience with which the re-
| suit of the inquiry is awaited in the
United States, but their labors are too