Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1898-04-09
WAR NEWS OF THE WEEK.

Spain'S Formidable Torpedo Fleet
Disabled at Cape Verde Islands.
Washington, April T. Thursday Of
last week was day of anxious watt
ing for SPANS reply to President Nc
Kinley's demand for Cuban indepen-
dence. When the reply arrived, late at
night, it was not given out for pub
LEGATION, but it was plainly intimated
that it was entirely unsatisfactory. On
that day William j. Bryan was inter-
viewed at his home in Lincoln, Neb.,
and he declared unqualiiedly for inter-
vention, even at the risk of wars hor-
rors, in order to save the starving Gu
bans.
Last Friday was day of great ex-
citement. 1t was given out, though not
officially reported, that the reply of the
Spanish government to the presidents
letter was very unsatisfactory, and
that a message would be sent to con-
gress explaining the whole position on
Monday of this week. The general opin-
ion on that dag was that congress
would declare fss srmed intervention,
that Spain wouis resist and that war
would follow. A telegram from Mad
rid announced that Spain's formidable
torpedo fotilla had arrived at Porto
The fleet encountered a severe storm
en- route, and the vessels were COM
PEELED to seek shelter at Cape Verde
islands, in a badly crippled condition,
to make repairs. They are $500 miles
from Porto Rico.
On Saturday the reports had it that
the president was unalterably opposed
to the war spirit in congress. 1t was
given out that the suffering reconcen-
trados in Cuba were now, owing to
American charity, being properly fed
and that should armed Intervention be
declared 100000 of them would die of
starvation. 1t was asserted that the
coming message would endeavor to pre-
vent action by congress at present.
Last Sundays reports were rather
conflicting, and would make it appear
that the president was inclined to
avert war on the Spanish assurance
that the reconcentrados in Cuba would
be provided for. But it now looks as
If this statement was given out to Sc
cure delay, as 1t was also asserted that
the government had purchased large
quantities of ammunition abroad
which had not yet been shipped. Pow
der makers in this country, too, are
clamoring for more time. Statistics
were published to show that no more
formidable fleet of war vessels was
ever gathered together, under any flag,
than Commodore Schley's flying squad
ron at Hampton Roads. A Wayne,
Me-, dispatch announced the invention
of a terrible engine of war by Hudson
Maxim, brother of the famous gun in
ventor This latest invention is called
the Maxim aerial torpedo, and will
throw ton of dynamite a distance of
five miles.
In the senate Monday Mr.. Perkins. of
California, openly asserted that Spain
was responsible for the Maine outrage.
Mr.. Mitchell, the conservative Wiscon-
sin Republican senator, replied to a
private letter urging peace, that "the
Maine episode will not down. 1t stands
before the American people a plain
case of treaehery. Perfidy and cruelty
run In the Spanish blood. A nation that
would allow such an outrage to go un-
punished would not deserve to exist"
The navy department reported the pur-
chase in New York harbor of ten
steamers for the auxiliary navy. A
London dispatch announced that Lieu
tenant Commander Colwell, United
States naval attache, had secured
proof that Havana harbor was mined.
The talk of Tuesday was the presi-
dents message, which had been official
ly promised for Wednesday, and which
was said to demand Cuban independ-
ence. Both In Washington and Madrid
the talk was extremely warlike, al
though the foreign ministers in Wash
fngton were In frequent conference,
presumably with regardrto our relations