The age-herald., 1898-02-13
All Day Yesterday With Cipher Mes
 saqes.
Spain Has Been Making All Preparations Possible for War and Has Not a Very Good Opinion of the Uni
 ted States Navy.
Special to The Age-Herald.


 Woodford, the United States minister. at Madrid, seems to be in grave and imminent danger He may be the chief sufferer from the results of the DeLome letter. An element of the Spanish populace in their indignation, seem inclined to lynch him.
 The situation has become serious that the Spanish government has surrounded the United States legation with several companies of cavalry and infantry. But with all these precautions Woodford is in danger The troops themselves are so aroused against the United States that they might be parties to the mobbing of the American minister in retaliation for the act of this government in expeling De- Lome.
 All today the state department has been in cable correspondence with Gen. Wood- ford, and late tonight dispatch in cipher was received at the department Its con- tents have not been made public, but the rumor is current that the dispatch caused the state department to cable him to with draw from Madrid and sever diplomatic re- lations between the two countries. If this rumor be true it means war.
 Made Preparations
 Spain has made every preparation 1t is financially able to for war with the United States. The Spanish ministry realize the inevitable result-the loss of Cuba. How ever, Spain has as little respect for the fighting quality of our navy as we have for the Spanish ships of war, and the Spaniards believe they would be successful in destroying many of our coast cities
 President Mckinley has made every pos sible effort to avoid a conflict The Wall street influences are powerful. The specu- lators would sacrifice the honor of the na- tion rather than the value of a few securl- ties Mark Hanna's influence has been ex- erted against this government interfering in any manner with Cuban matters Speaker Reed has stood like fortress against any congressional action
 The DeLome letter has, however, aroused intense passion against Spain not only throughout the country but in Washington as we'll It developed the contempt of the Spanish government for, the Mckinley ad- ministration The act of the president in demanding DeLome's recall likewise has developed the latent hatred and passion of the Spaniards, and their newspapers as well as the people, are indorsing DeLome's utterances as truths regardless of the policy of it. They have utterly lost sight of his duplicity.
 Awaited With Anxiety
 Verifcation of the rumors are awaited by the whole American people With sup- pressed excitement. The relations between the two governments have for several days been strained almost to the point of break ing. Woodfords life is in danger in Madrid. Lees life is in danger in Cuba. w R. Hearst's private yacht was boarded and arrested in Havana harbor only yes terday under the pretext of searching for Karl Decker, the correspondent who rescued Miss Cisneros. It was only after the Spanish officers failed to find Decker and after demand from Gen. Lee, back ed by the force of the two American naval vessels in the harbor that the, yacht was released The Spaniards at the time did mot know the yacht has previously sent Decker ashore at another point on the coast The gallant correspondent is now with the insurgents on another mission or even more importance than ms last' III a few weeks Decker will be heard from. He is familiar with the island, speaks Spanish and does not know the meaning Of fear.
 Policy Stated Briefly
 Washington, Feb. 12.--The policy of the administration concerning the DeLome in- cident can be stated briefly and definitely and on authority not open to question, as follows: The president is awaiting the full report of United States Minister Woodford, who, in th brief report already made, stated that fuller details will be forwarded. So far as tho personal allusons of the late minister to the president are concerned the incident is undoubtedly closed. No demand has been nor will be made, according to the present intentions, for g dsavowal of them, though should it be made it will be regarded as a graceful act. But the differences in the letter which bring in question Spains good faith on questions of reciprocity and in friendly autonomy for Cuba if not dis avowed voluntarily, may become the sub- feet of further diplomatic correspondence; though as to this matter. as has been stated heretofore. the president will await Minis ter Woodford's fuller advices before any thing is decided upon. This feature of the ex-ministers letter is entirely disassociated from the personal aspect which resulted in his retirement It is confidently expected ty this government that Spain will take early opportunity to disavow the state- ments of its late representative so far as they tend to commit Spain to a policy which leaves her good faith open to serious doubt. It is felt to be most desirable that this government should have no doubt as to Spain's real purposes, and feelings on these vital questions. which have been sub