The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1898-03-22
WHAT SPAIN THINKS.
Our War Vessels Ought to Leave
Cuban Waters More Promises OF
utOnOm

NA"hS L Oh |
Autonomy.
to The Atlanta Journal.
WASHINGTON, March l6.-.Spain
has protested against our naval dis
play in Cuban waters and has asked
what our preparations mean. The
protest vas the outcome OF the first
official visit of Senior Polay Bernarbe
to the State department since his re-
ceptiJn there.
Assistant Secretary Of State Day de-
clined to give a definite response to
the Spauiard regarding the continued
preparation OF war vessels in Cuban
waters, but in reply to the question as
to why we were buying war ships in
foreign waters he said, as far as | can
learn
I'VE are purchasing war vessels
in foreign waters to take The place of
the battleship that was lost in foreign
waters"
No one believes here for a moment
that SPANS demand hat we Withdraw
our ships from Havana will be met.
1t has become evident here that the
prediction made in those dispatches by
Quesada hat Spain would try TO deIay
matters further by more promises OF
autonomy, were well founded. There
Is now hardly any doubt hat the new
minister's special mission to this coun-
try Is to secure our cooperation in d
new autonomy scheme for Cuba. The
Spanish minister's request for the
United States to withdraw our ships
from havana Is based on this pan.
The United States is informed that
The presence OF battleships in Cuban
ports is a hlnderance to Spain in carry
ing out her program of perfectinp
autonomy. The official replies OF this
country to these requests have not vet
been made, but 1T is not thought that
they Will be such as to propitiate Spain
or further j@~opardizo the interests of
the Cuban Insurgents.
In pursuance Of the expressed de-
termination OF the President yesterday
to continue preparations for war.
secretary Long has practically closed
the deal FOR another vessel. The vessel
in xuestion is the Mayilower, a steam
yacht built by Ogden Gillette. Its
deck Is protected and it is one of the
three fast yachts in the world. II will
be htted out as a torpedo dispatch boat,
inns Will make three vessels pur.
chased outright by the government in
one week. In addition 10 this Score
tary Long has the option on the dy-
nanlte throwing gunboAt Nichthcrov
which can be closed as soon rs hosti.
Titles seem inevitable. The presiden,
has endorsed the purchase of the NAV.
mower ana Secretary Long has order.
ed the boat to proceed to New York
at once.
The President is quoted by a Senator
as saying:
would rather see my administra.
tlon an ignomeniOus failure than tina,
IL should be responsible for an unhol,
war"
This shows that the President, while
preparing vigorously for warfare, is
praying To avoid one, If possible.
Inis same Senator said
II President will maintain tho
nonor OF the country and insist upor
iuli PREPARATION for the Maine disaster
incidental to recognizing the indepen
dehce OF CUBA. | do not think he will
be swerved from this, the main issue
put L DO expect to see him secur,
CUBAN independence without a war
HOW, don't know, nor do | think be
does at this time
when the naval appropriation bill
Is hnally reported to the House il viii
more closely resemble the naval bulge
o. Great Britain than ever before on
the score 'of economy. The a]ppropria
lions Tor increase Of the navy have
oeep Kept down in recent years, bu,
thls Time attempts to hold pack tn,
committee will prove futile. AS the
Dill stands today it provides for three
new battleships, six torpedo boats and
SIX torpedo boat d~estroyers. The
aggregate cost Of this great addition
10 the sea power of the United States
Will De AT least fifteen million dollars