The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1898-03-10
WAR ALMOST CERTAIN.
Naval Officers and Civilians Discussing
Measures to Adopt
In Case an Indemnity Payment h Refused
by spain-No One Seems to Doubt That
the Capture OF Havana Would BE
Comparatively Easy.

HAVANA, via Key West, Fla, March
7.-As the conviction becomes general
that the court of inquiry will decide
that there was mine explosion under
the Maine, discussion among American
naval officers and civilians here is prev
alent as to the warlike measure.
which, it is believed, the United States
government will adopt in case the
questi On of the payment of indemnity
ty Spain is overruled. A majority be
licve that American. troops will
be landed at some point east of Havana
and the insurgents communicated with
that the Spanish soldiery will be de.
feated or captured in detail, and that
in the meantime a feet of United
States vessels will blockade, IL not
lombard Havana. No one seems to
doubt that the reduction of this city
would be comparatively easy. Four IL.
inch guns-two west and two cast ot
the city-are the only ones that are
considered dangerous. These are not
likely to be well served, while their
emplacemcnts are not modern.
That some Spaniai ds are of the opin-
ion that an attack on Havana will be
made is believed to be shown by the
abnormal activity displayed on board
the Vizcaya. A press correspondent
has the best naval authority for the
statement that the Vizcaya is in con-
slant state of readiness for emergen-
cies and that picket boats are on the
alert day and night inside the harbor
and outside the harbor at night
1t is pointed out that the men-of-war
Vizcaya and Almirante Oquindo, which
has arrived, might be caught in
blockade and fall an easy prey to a
United States feet. The cruiser Al
fonso XII. is without boilers and
would be of no account. All this dis
cussion of the probability of war
among the Americans and Spaniards
proves nothing and only shows the
state of feeling here.
The conduct of the Spanish divers
who are investigating the wreck Of the
Maine is a mystery. Thus far they
have not been down FIVE hours in the
aggregate, and they show no disposi
tion to make thorough inquiry.
1t is impossible to learn the truth
fully regarding the purpose of the
Spanish court of inquiry but it is gen.
orally believed that the divers were
sent down for forms sake only, and that
report will be made in accordance
with instructions from Madrid. 1t may
be that the Spanish divers have dis.
covered that the whole port side of the
Maine forward is gone, and having so
reported, further examination is deem
ed unnecessary. The work Of our own
divers henceforward is bound to be
slow, owing to the ponderous weights
to be moved and the safety clamps
nuts and rivets that must be cut
Senator Proctor is likely to make
speech in the senate on his return that
will have great weight in determining
the future policy of the United States.
He is much affected by the suffering
that he found in Matanzas, and high
ly indignant at what he called the sim
humanity of the course pursued" Dur
ing visit to Artemisa, this province,
he saw thousands of reconcentrados
who refused to beg though starving.
They were evidently Of o class
accustomed to make their living and
unwilling to become paupers. He saw
thousands Of acres of the best tobacco
and banana lands in the world re-
duced to waste, with trochas and gar
risons at every village and cross-road.
his driver, pointing to the mountains
Is miles away, sa,-: There are plenty
of insurgent camps there th2' the
Spanish have never discovered
HAVANA, March THE Spanish
first class cruiser Almirante Oquendo
arrived in Havana harbor at S:45
o'clock Saturday morning from Spain.
She received a hearty welcome from |
the ferry boats and tugs on board of
which were the civil and military au-
thorities and different societies which |
had been waiting for the warship's ar
rival. The docks were crowded with |
rockets were sent up and |
flags and other decorations were dis.
played from the vessels in port, the
public buildings aud the palaces
The Almirante Oquendo made fine
appearance as she returned the salute
from Fort Cabanas, and then saluted
the fort and admiral.
Capt Joaquin Lasaga is in command
,f the Almirante 0quendo.
The smokestacks of the Maine have
been removed. The divers hoped to
recover some more bodies Saturday.
HAVANA, March THE board of in
luiry arrived here Saturday from Key
West and continued its deliberations
on the cause of the Maine explosion.
Adm. Sicard has wired The Washing
.on government that 1t is impossible as
yet to fix date for the adjournment
If the board.
Col. Henry Wounded In o Duel.
PARIS, March 7.-CoL Picquart, who
was disciplined for giving testimony
favorable to the case Of M. Zola, at the
recent trial of the author, fought
iuel with swords Saturday in the
'iding school of the Military school,
r<I - A 4