The record-union., 1898-02-06
WAR CLOUD THICKERS.
SPAIN EVIDENTLY PREPARING
FOR TROUBLE.
The Aiming OF Mercantile
Steamship Creates Surprise
at Washington.

NEW YORK, Feb. 5-A declaration
from Spain would scarcely have sur
prised Washington more than did the
news that the Havana steamship Cieu-
dad de Cadiz is to be transformed at
Barcelona into a cruiser 10 escort the
Spanish torpedo fiotilla to Cuban wa
ters, says the Washington correspond
went of the World" There had been
no previous intfmation that the Madrid
Government intended TO utilize the
merchant marine in preparing. for war.
In Congressional circles the drafting
of the Cieudad de Cadiz is regarded "a
an Indication that matters are pro-
crossing toward an open rupture be-
tween the United States and Spain. 4
great majority of the Senators and
Representatives prefer to believe as
they hope; they want a speedy settle
ment of the Spanish-Cuban question
and care little how ii is accomplished.
Senior de LONE, the Spanish Minister.
says he knows nothing about 1t. He
has received no communication on the
subject.
Navy Department officials say tine
Madrid authorities have the right to
avail themselves of all vessels in pas
senger CT freight traffic whenever the
Government needs them. The great
American liners can be armed at any
time and transformed into cruisers.
Only recently active steps were taken
TO obtain the arms and equipment nee
eSsary to make these vessels available
Immediately
The Washington navy yard is now
running night and day making gums
with which 10 arm the auxiliary navy,
should hostilities occur. These arnla-
ments are intended for the st. Paul, St
Louis, New York and Paris, and the
subsidized liners which were so con-
structed that they could be speedily
changed into commerce destroyers.
SAGASTA CABINET DISGUSTED.
HAVANA, Feb. 5.-Captain- General
Blancc and General Pando have arrived
at Puerto Principe. General Blanco is
expected to reach Havana in three
days.
Dispatches from Madrid late to-day,
which are not allowed to be published
say that the Sagasta Cabinet has be-
come disguised with the autonomist
Cuban Ministry for not following al mil
itary policy, and not attempting to at
tract the insurgents, but simply at
tending to their own interests, ignoring
entirely the insurgents in the field. 1t
is desired that Seniors Giborga. Bruzon,
Ablard, Gown and Font should form a
radical party intrusted with the task
OF arranging terms with the insurgents,
the Government Offering to diSarm the
volunteers and form a militia with the
Cubans, and also offering to pay one
half OF Cuba's debt, amounting actu-
ally to $4,000 900, of which amount
S3OU,Uu0,00O was incurred during the
last wal; $40, O00, 600 during the pres
ent insurTection and the remaining 500
100000 Of which is actual indebtedness
of the Government
Great public anxiety exists. but is
prevented by the censor from being
shown in the newspapers. This anxiety
is due to the evolutions of the Ameri-
can fleet and the presence of war YES
sells at Lisbon and in the vicinity of the
Azores, in the route of Spanish steam
ers 10 Cuba, while other war ships will
leave for st. Thomas, near Porto Rico
Matanzas and other Cuban ports These
movements are taken as clearly indi-
eating to Spain that the American Gov
eminent is preparing for an emergency
and is eagerly watching the movements
of the Spanish fleet from strategic
points.
MADRID, Feb. 5.-"El Heraldo'' says
that General Stewart l.. Woodford, the
United States Minister, to-day pre-
scented an official note to the Spanish
Government, to which Premier Sagasta
responded in vigorous terms.