The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1898-03-31
TIE NEWS FROM MADRID
A SEVERE CENSORSHIP BEING Ex-
ERCISED BY AUTHORITIES.


Efforts to Complete the Ironclads PelayO
and Carlos with These Vessels in
Cuban Waters Spain VIII Have Six
Armored Ships Against Americas Seven
A Wave of Patriotism.
Madrid, March 30.-A severe censor
ship is being exercised to prevent the
leakage of news as to military move
ments. The utmost efforts are making
night and day to get the first-class
ironclads Pelayo and Carlos V. COM
pleted, when it is regarded as certain
that they will be dispatched with the
cruisers Maria Teresa and Cristobal
Colon to join the Vizcaya and the AL
mirante Oquendaro in Cuban waters,
thus forming a squadron of six armor-
ed vessels against Americas seven.
The Marquis Cornillas, president of the
Spanish Transatlantic steamship line
to Cuba and South America, who is an
ardent patriot, has daily conferences
Will oellol fodSetSlei, liie PieAiiSl' l. iS
marquis, Senor Casterala, Senior Do
minguez, secretary of war, and Mon
signor Cardena, bishop of Zion. the
queen regents chaplain, are the lead
ing spirits in a movement for ma
tional subscription to build more war
ships. The original idea was that every
Spaniard should contribute days
mir anil q n
niversary of the rising of the people of
Madrid against French domination, to-
ward the national defense
This wave of patriotism, with the
enrolment of the volunteer corps, is
spreading enthusiasm throughout the
country. All the seats have been sold
for to-morrow's opera performance,
realizing about $25,000 for the navy,
and similar performances are being ar
ranged in other cities. 1t is said that
$40, 900 was realized by the Havana per-
formance. The Madrid papers allege
that the South American republics
have subscribed enough to build a new
warship to be called Rio de la Plata,
while Mexico has sent huge donations.
The Spanish army will give a days
pay.
Orders have been sent to strengthen
the defenses at Manila and Porto Rico.
There is a good deal of comment upon
Americas purchase of twenty-three
heavy guns from the Armstrong;, and
it is alleged that both Spain and Japan
had previously refused them after a
trial. The impression of the press and
the public generally is that Spain will
be able to make a good showing in the
event of war, although her men-of-war
are smaller than the American men-of-
war. She would depend on her greater
strength in torpedo-boats, torpedo
catchers and torpedo-boat destroyers.
Public opinion, however, is swayed by
every passing wind and since the pre-
sentation of the Maine report to con-
gress has not produced a crisis, and as
exaggerated reports of M. Hanatoux's
speech have excited hopes of European
support, the present feeling is one Of
extreme optimism, increased by hopes
of the outcome of the Woodford- -Sagas-
ia conference. Minister Woodfords
propositions are not yet known to the
public here. The result of to-morrow's s
conference is awaited with great anx-
iety and hope.
Madrid, March $3.50 D. ma cab
met council was held this afternoon to
consider the American proposals. An
other will be held tomorrow at noon,
presided over by the queen regent, and
at o'clock there will be final confer
ence between United States Minister
Woodford, Senior Sagasta, the premier;
Senor Gullon, the foreign minister, and
Senor Moret, the minister for the colo
MES. The proposition to which Spain
will answer covers two points only, and
it's publication will be a revelation to
some of those abroad who have been
denouncing Americas aggressive atti-
tude. 1t is as follows: Spain to pro-
claim Immediately an armistice in Gu
ba to last until October, during which
interval the United States will use it's
good offices with the insurgents to
make this temporary peace permanent,
and, second, Spain to do her best to-
ward relieving suffering and starva-
ton on the island, with America to be
allowed to assist in this work"
Madrid, March 0-Midnight.-At the
cabinet council Senior Cap DePon, min
lister of the interior, explained the re-
suits of the elections and Senior Morel
read a series of important documents
relative to the reconcentrados in Cuba.
In view of these documents Senior Mo-
rel proposed and the council approved
an open credit of three million pesetas,
to be placed at the disposition of Gen
eral Blanco by cable to be used in sue
coring necessitous reconcentrados and
to facilitate work for the yelling to
return to their homes to till their
ground
The documents read by Senor Morel
tended to show that the healthy recon-
centrados who were desirous of work.
ing could find sufficient labor in the
fields, but that those who had lost their
implements or the small capital neces-
sary to sustain them for three months,
while waiting for the produce of their
husbandry, needed some kind of ad-
ministrative organization more complex
than the simple distribution of food by
commissions created. Senor Sagasta
gave an account of the conference with
United States Minister Woodford and
explained Americas proposals, their
character and significance. The coun-
Gil deliberated at great length, and af-
ter consideration of the important is
sues depending upon its decision re-