The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-31
Feeling Prevails That War With Us
VIII Be AVerted.
LEE AS BRAVE AS A LION.
General Only Laughs al Threats
Against His Life.

Havana, via Key West, March SO.-Sun-
day and Monday were days of decided anx-
iety in the political and business circles
of Havana, but yesterday and to-day there
has been a much more quiet feeling
Without being able to give any good rea-
son for their belief many prominent men
seem satisfied that peace is assured The
word "armistice" is repeated from lip to
lip as If there were some magic within II
to solve the whole problem of cuban strife
Those, however who know Gen. Maxine
Gomez Gen. Calixto Garcia, Senior Bor-
tolomeo Masso and the other insurgent
leaders best say that all reckon without
their host who believe these men will agree
to an armistlce even if asked 10 do so by
the United States, unless it is plainly un-
derstood that the truce Is to be followed
by a recognition of Cuba libre.
1t is argued that Gen. Gomez, after
holding out all through the dry season,
will decline to agree to a truce during the
rainy months, in which the insurgents
would have the advantage.
on all sides it is regarded as almost
certain that if war does come II will not
come until all possible plans of surmount-
ing the difficulties fail. A Spanlard OF
high influence, while talking recently with
Consul General Lee, said: '"The sagasta
ministry will not be compelled to fight to
insure self-protection. Sagasta could
quiet Spain by proclaiming. We have
made Cuba an ash pile, desert. II is no
longer worth any outlay of blood or treas
ure It is only fit for negroes and mixed
bloods. Let 1t CO."
But very few take such a view OF the
situation, although ignorant Spaniards
might be deceived by such a declaration
Meanwhile it seems as If the Spanish mill
tary and naval powers are either con-
WINGED that there is no danger of active
hostilties, or are utterly careless of the
grave consequences that the future may
hold
There are no visible preparations to pro
vision Havana in case of a blockade, nor Is
there any notable increase in the coal
supply for naval uses.
In the opinion of Americans here one
OF the gravest dangers lies In the fact
not in any way advised as to the chances
of war or seige. They believe Havana i'm
pregnable, and the feet of Spain all-con-
quering. II rudely awakened to other
views, they might become dangerous and
foster internal disorders.
Consul General Lee continues as cheer
full as sunlight, despite the fact that he
was warned last Sunday and Monday OF
FIVE distinct plots against his life OF
course, he does not give credence to srth
stories and he Is carefully guarded by
the government, but continued warnings OF
this kind are not a pleasant mental diet.
The last story was that he would be pois-
oned by a brbed employe Of his hotel. To
this Gen. Lee replied by asking the news
paper correspondents who sit near him at
meal time, In case he is suddenly taken i'll,
first to shoot his waiter and then run for
a stomach pump.
Since the reports OF the two courts OF
inquiry, the American and the Spanish,
have been sent in, the newspapers, clubs
and cafes have been alive with all sorts Of
old and new theories.
The exploded scandal about the drunken
dinner on the City of Washington and the
other about carelesHness and bad disci-
pline on board the Maine are revived day
by day. II is interesting to recall the fact
that in the course of an interview which
the correspondent of the Associated Press
had with Capt. Peral.-w presided over
the Spanish naval court OF inquiry the Of
fioer earnestly denied all such stories, pay
ing Capt. Sigsbee, his officers and men, a
high compliment upon the efficiency of the
discipline on board the Maine.
Among the Spaniards of the lower
classes it Is rumored that there is a plot
on foot TO blow up the Maine wreck with
dynamite, and to blow up the Vizcaya or
the Amirante Oquendo. Recently the story
gained circulation that three Americans
had been arrested during the night for
trying TO blow up the wreck and had oecn
sent to Cabanas fortress. The only foua-
dation for this was that the Associated
Press correspondent, with a companion,
visited the Fern after dark, for the pur-
pose of reading bulletin to the officers.
and had his boat challenged repeatedly,
as is usual, by the marine sentinels.
IL is now known here that Capt. Chad
wick was the last Of the members of the
court Of inquiry 10 make up his mind that
the evidence pointed incontestably to an
external explosion. Capt Sampson,
Lieutenant Commander Potter and Judge
Advocate Mark were earlier convinced.
AS soon as Capt Chadwick was satisfied
by study of the wreck, the plans Of
us submarine condition and the testimony
a IRA. 4.