Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1898-03-26
THEHAINE REPORT
VIII Not Be Given to the Pub
lie Until Next Week.
EN- ROUTE TO WASHINGTON.
Lieutenant Commander Mark Con-
veys the Famous Document.
BUSY SUNDAY AT THE CAPITAL

oOtiCA olOWiHss III O1AOAaA OlICA6c
That the Great Disaster Was Exter-
nal-Warlike Preparations Continue
and Preparations For the Defense
of the National Capital Are Com
pleted- warships Purchased From
Brazil Have Been Named New Orr
leans and Albany-Rear Admiral Sc
card May Retire and Be Succeeded
by Commodore Schley.
Washington, March 24.-Aside from
disaster to the president last Saturday
there was nothing new in the situation
beyond a report from Havana that
General Pando, of the Spanish army
In Cuba, was endeavoring to secure
conference with the insurgent leaders
looking to a cessation of hostilties by
allowing to the island the same method
of self government allowed to Canada
by Great Britain, retaining only Span
ish suzerainty. This liberal offer was
proposed by the autonomists, but as
nothing has come of it it is probable
that the Spanish government refused
to indorse the plan. 1t is considered
certain that, had the scheme been pre-
Bented to the insurgents, it would have
been vigorously rejected.
On Sunday President Mckinley did
not attend church, as is his custom,
but spent several hours in consulta
ton with cabinet ministers and others
Among those Summoned was Charles
r. Flint, who has been acting for the
government in the purchase of ships.
Mr.. Flint declared that neither Chile
nor the Argentine Republic have any
desire to sell any war vessels, but
would gladly part with them if they
are needed by this government. This
was in reference to reports about the
Chilean wsrehip O'Higgins and the
Argentine ship MARITIME.
Owing to the continued i'll health of
Rear Admiral Sicard, commanding the
North Atlantic squadron, arrangements
are making for his detachment from
that duty as soon as it becomes ap-
parent that such a step is necessary
Several weeks ago Admiral Sicard ask
ed for a short leave of absence in con-
sequence of a severe attack of ma
larial fever. His request was granted,
and he spent a short time on shore
He is again i'll, and in obedience to in
structions from Washington a board Of
medical survey examined into his
physical condition on board the flag
ship New York, at Key West, on Tues
day 1t is impossible to learn the decision
at which the board has arrived, but it
is believed that it recommends the re-
retirement. Commodore w. S. Schley,
chairman of the lighthouse board is
regarded as most likely to succeed the
admiral should he be relieved. He is
an officer of ability, tact and courage,
and was in command of the cruiser
Baltimore, in the harbor of Valparaiso,
during the Chilean revolution. If he
does not succeed Admiral Sicard 1t is
generally understood in naval circles
that he will be assigned to the COM
mand of one of the divisional fleets
about to be organized on the home sta
ton. Other officers mentioned as pos
sible successors to Admiral Sicard are
Admiral Bunce, commandant of the
New York navy yard, and Captain
Sampson, president of the Maine court
of inquiry.
Secretary Long issued an order on
Monday that the Amazonas, the cruiser
recently purchased at the New Castle
on-Tyne from the Brazilian govern
ment, hereafter would bear the name
Of New Orleans, in honor of the prin-
cipal city of Louisiana. Secretary Long
has also rechristened the cruiser Alb
reuall and hereafter she will be known
as the Albany, in honor of the capital
of the Empire state.
The semi-official statement given out
at Madrid advancing the government
view that a demand for indemnity
based on Spanish responsibility for the
Maine explosion would be Indignantly
repealed by Spain attracted much in
terest in official circles. There has been
little doubt for some time that Spain
was preparing for the contingency of
an adverse report by the American
court of inquiry, and to that end was
preparing to anticipate and offset it
by making clear the government pol
icy of standing by the report of the
Spanish commission.
Along with the semi-official state
ment from Madrid that demand for
Indemnity will be Indignantly repealed,
is the further statement from reliable
sources that Spain has made it clear to
the authorities here that intervention
may lead to war.
The senate held but a brief session on
Monday. After adjournment the Cuban
question was freely discussed, and the
belief was expressed that the admins.
tration would take decided action with
in the next ten DAYS Soma say that
Intervention will follow the report Of
the board of inquiry, while others be-
lieve recognition of Cuban indepen-
dence more probable
The enlistment branch of the navy
department on Monday issued a large
poster advertising for men for the
United States navy. Enlistments win
be made at the navy yards at Boston,
Brooklyn, League Island, Washington,
Norfolk and Mare Island, GO South
street, New York city; United States
steamship Michigan, at Erie, Pa Gus
tom House, New Orleans, and the Gus
tom House, Gloucester, Mass. The fol-
lowing classes of men are wanted:
Seamen, Is to 35 years of age, at $24
per month; ordinary seamen, IS to go
$40 per month; chief machinists, IS to
So, $40 per month; machinists, first
class, Is to S5, $55 per month; machin-
lists, second class, IS to 35, $40 per
month. The requirements for enlist
ment provide that all candidates must
pass physical examination, and sea-
men, ordinary seamen and machinists
must pass a technical examination as
we'll
AT the cabinet meeting on Tuesday
the Spanish situation was discussed at
length, and after the members had
separated Secretary Long declared
that the report of the Maine board of
inquiry would not be given out for
publication until next Monday or Tues
day, as the president desired to give the
report careful study. Other cabinet Of
ncers stated that the general plan in
cluded the sending of a presidential
message along with the report, stating
that Spain had been called upon to
make suitable response to the case as
presented by the court of inquiry.
While the cabinet associates of the
president maintained the usual re-
serve as to the exact character of the
deliberations, yet it was conceded that
the discussion proceeded on the theory
That the coming report would show
that the Maine explosion was not the
result of an accident but was due to
external cause.
There is no doubt that substantial
unanimity exists on the part of the
president and all his cabinet, both as
to the Maine question and the general
subject of Cuba. The possibility of a
recourse to Intervention in case Spain
declined to make suitable response to
the representations we will make after
receiving the Maine report has been
fully discussed There is a very ex5i.