Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-04-07
STILL SQUALLY.
Continued from page ~

The ,Olivette. upon which many
Americans were to have taken refuge, |
broke down. today. and it's departure
was delayed.
The Mascotte. the only other ship
which could be utilized, could not reach
Havana in time to leave before unday.
These vessels are to take aboard every
body who could possibly be got aboard
without regard to the legal capacity.
But whoever expects to leave Cuba
alive must so before it dawns fully up
on the minds of the Spanish popull-
ton in Havana and other cities. that
war is at hand
The President was so deeply impress
ed with, this Information that he sum
moned committees from the House and
from the Senate to the White House for
advice. Senators Aldrich. Davis and
Lodge were the first to arrive. The dis
patch from Gen Lee was shown TO
them and the President said that h.
would leave it to their decision whether
the message should he sent in at once
or not. They did not hesitate, but told
him by all means to postpone it until
Gen. Lee could get American citizens
back to American soil. MeSSrS. Can
non. Dngley and Adams from the
House of Representatives gave him
similar advice.
The senators returned at once to tn"
Capitol and an executive session was or
dered and the announcement was
made Thousands of spectators in the
galleries. some of whom had been sit
ting there for over six hours, patiently
waiting for ward from the White
House, were not long in learning that
the message had been postponed, and
they went away kcenly disappointed.
Members of the House. among whom
the news quickly spread, were disap-
point ed too; and there were many NUT
terings of discomfort. They suspected
that it was another step in the policy
of delay. a scheme to continue negotia-
tions with Madrid perhaps leading TO
Il compromise which would defeat the
object they had in view Of securing i'm
mediate independence and reparatio1
for the loss of the Maine.
The mutterings grew louder whom it
was learned that Woodford had sent
another dispatch intimating that the
Queen Regent was prepared to grant
an armistice, and it was suspected that
here was another suitable suggestion
view of Lees dispatch it was felt that
no step could properly be taken in Con-
gress i'm advance of the time set by the
President
From what is now known ii appears
that the members Of the House We're UNI
necessarily alarmed. The suggestion of
armistice is not seriously considered
by the administration. 1t can be posi-
lively stated that negotiations between
no tyO
ceased. and that nothing which Spain
may now propose Will be regarded as
other than a trick for delay. Nothing but
immediate withdra wal from Cuba will be
considered and the President is firmly
OF the opinion that under no conditions
will Spain consent to that without Il fight.
The pressure which has been eXerted by
Ihe Church and by the RothschildS has
been in vain. and the President at last
feels that there is no escape from the
result which he has so long strivcn to
avert.
The DELAY in commencement of hostili-
ties brought about by the postponement
of the Prcsi lent's message and the con-
Sequent action of Congress, is welcomed
by the navy department: The few days
or perhaps week which may lapse be
fore war is declared will he utilized by
the department to carry t" completion
some important preparations which a
declaration of war would have prevented.
The delay will assure the arrival of sew
eral conSignmcnts of arms and ammuni-
ton purchased in Europe. The depart
nent was informed. today, that these con-
signmentS are now on the high seas.
The bureau of naval intelligence has
been conducting inquiries into the cohdi-
ton of the supply of coal which the Span
iardS have in cuba. 1t is learned that
the stock is large and probably sufficient
for several weeks operation of the fleets
Our own supply of coal at Key West has
been rapidly diminishing during the last
few days. but the first of series OF snip
ments will arrive this week and others
will follow in rapid succession.
The troops of the - Infantry will begin
to move. tonight and tomorrow, for
Chckamauga. These are the colored sol
diers and they will be the first to invade
cuba when war is declared Orders f"t
the advance of the regiments from tho
action is taken by Congress. There woul /
still be sufficient time for the troops To-
reach the rendezvous and the depart ment
does not desire to send them down nov
upon what might he false alarm.
The steamers purchased from the Nor
gan Line are to he fitted ont Immediately
for service Two will he taken tn the
Norfolk yard. and two to the New York
yard. A belt of l-inch steel plate Will be
placed AROUND the vital parts of thc ships
and they will be armed with rapid firing
guns. 1t is probe their first duty will ht'
to transport troops from the Florida coast
to Cuba.