Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1898-03-19

600. and that. too. without the usual induce
ment of bonus for excess Of speed. That
the vessels will be equal to all the requires
ments goes without question, while ut the
same time their moderate cost has opened
the country's eyes to the charges put upon
their predecessors.
LONDON. Eng, March 10 The acute
crisis between the United States and Spain
is the uppermost topic everywhere here.
No one seems seriousIyto believe that war
Gun be averted. The great newspapers are
making elaborate preparations for war cor
respondents. Two or three British war ves-
sells, with com plete schools OF naval officer
on board, will be- detailed to cruise In the
vicinity OF the Spanish and American fleets.
so as to be able to take every possible
observation. The leading newspapers on the
continent are, In the main, sympathetic with
the Americans. The destruction OF the
Maine, whether by accident or design, seems
to have settled that. 1t Ia believed that II
Spain goes 10 war she will be In a condition
OF utter isolation. The only country which
would give her moral support would, per-
haps, be Austria. Even there, however,
Spain can expect no material aid. The Aus
trian government IL too much occupied with
internal troubles to extend material assist
ance.
BERLIN. Germany. March ls--The Berlin
foreign office has instructed the inspired
press to deny emphatically that Germany
will aid Spain in ease OF war with the United
States, and has instructed these newspapers
to point out that the United States IL an ex-
cellent customer OF Germany, and that
Spain. since the Carolines squabbles, has re-
peatedly shown unfriendliness to Germany.
WASHINGTON, ID. G., March 13--Three
new battleships of the stanchest type aHoat
have been authorized by the House commit
tee on naval affairs and n provision for their
construction was inserted in the naval up
preparation bill. At the same time the COM
mittee agreed on II maximum price OF s40O
per ton for armor plate for our vessels, in
men. and put matters In fair shape for de-
cision on the location Of dry docks, proba-
bly, four in number, capable OF accom-
modating the largest-sized war vessel.
The new warships will be Of the finest
pattern. 1t will be two years, doubtless, be-
fore they can be placed in commission. One
Of them, the committee decided. should bear
the name OF the ill-fated Maine. The cost.
it il expected, will be about 80, OOO, 600 each,
though for the fiscal year covered In the
bill the amount Of expenditures may not
exceed 80. 000. 600 each. An important Gues-
tion was raised rs to whether the expendi-
ture for the new battleships should be de-
frayed out OF the sc, 0OO, 900 emergency bill
but this subject was passed over. With the
amounts to be pail for dry docks and for
armor plate. in the aggregate not yet deter
mined. the bill ns 1t stands carries In all
something like $50. 600. 900. which. however,
will be largely augmented by the other
items.
PENSACOLA, Fla, March ls-Fort Pick
ems, which guards the entrance to the har-
Dor on the east side, Is the scene Of great
activity just now. 1t Is considered one ofthe
strongest OF the old style forts in the coun-
try. New six and eiGht-inch rife guns will
be mounted on It. The big disappearing
guns arc now In position, and the troops at
fort Barrancas are under orders to prepare
for practice with them which is expected to
begin within the next ten days. Large guam
titles of ammunition have been received at
the fort, and more Is on the way. The PEN
saeola division Of the naval militia has just
received from the government Hotchkiss
rapid-are gun and full outfit OF cutlasses.
ammunition, etc, and they are ready to be-
gin practice.