The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-04-01

government.
The United States minister, General
Stewart L. Woodford, is working ener-
getically and will continue to do SO for
Spain's peace until the first gun is fired.
1t is knowz the Spanish government
admits the desirability, or necessity, Of
complying with the demands of the
inclination of the ministers to put
this willingness into concrete form
that the danger lies. If a conference
were to be held with British, German
or French diplomats the matter would
be settled without question.
The point which General Woodford is
now pressing is that in the interests of
humanity, hostilites in Cuba must cease
Immediately. No date was fixed eth
er in the first or in the present note,
but the United States is now dwelling
upon the meaning of the word ''imme-
diateiy' and insisting that Spain ac-
cept it's general Interpretation. The
public generally is taking little appar-
ent interst in the situation, but there
is a general disinclination to believe
that war is likely.
SPAIN1S WAR PREPARATIONS.
El Pals says four warships have been
obtained by Spain in France and that
negotiations are pending for the pur-
chase Of several torpedo boats in Great
Britain. The Pals also says that orders
have been issued to mobilize all the
Spanish warships and the torpedo boat
Halcon is to sail Immediately from
Carthagena for CadiZ, where a second
torpedo squadron is being prepared.
Military engineers, according to The
Pals, are starting for the Canary is
lands, and the Balearic islands are
being fortified. Italy, it is said, by the
Pals. has decided to sell the armored
cruiser Giuseppe Garibaldi, Of 6,S40 tons
and well armOred, a sister ship of the
Varese, to Spain. Two regiments, still
according to the Pals, are going to the
Canary islands to stregthen the Span
ish garrison there.
The Armstrong; Spanish agent, a
Spaniard, who is in touch with the gov
ernment and commercial people in
Spain, has expressed the belief that un-
less the powers intercede there will be
war. He added: IF the United
States offered money for our clearing
out of Cuba we would not accept, but
if The proposition emanated from an
other power it is not unlikely that it
would he accepted" This view of the
case is echoed by a portion of the
Spanish press, which advises Spain to
wash her hands of Cuba.
Senor Ortiz de Zarato, a prominent
former Carlist deputy, who has just
been defeated at Vittoria, expressed
the opinion that there would be no
war, saying: I'VE have neither ships,
sailors, soldiers, plans nor money, and
the government knows it. 1t will
struggle to the last and then cave i'm
Senor Zarato, who was recently at
CadiZ, says the Spanish warships Pa
layo and Charles ", which the govern
ment announced to be ready for sea,
cannot possibly be made ready sooner
than two months.
SPANISH WARlSIIIPS SAIL.
London, March 3O.-Mail advices re-
ceived here today from Las Palmas,
Canary islands, under date of March
23rd, confirm the Washington advices
Of the sailing of the Spanish torpedo
f1Otilla. The letters received here say
that on that date three Spanish torpedo
boats, three torpedo boat deStrOyers
and the escort, the transport Ciudad de
Cadiz, received telegraphic orders to
proceed to Cuba.
Washington, March 30.-The navy de-
partment has received a dispa tch say
ing that the armOred cruisers Infanta
Maria Theresa and Christobal Colon,
and the torpedo boat destroyer De-
structor, have sailed from Carthagena,
Spain. Their destination has not been
learned as yet.
A FLOOD OF CUBAN RESOLUTIONS
"A resolution Similar to that intro
duced by Senator Foraker yesterday,
recognizing Cuba independence, was in
troduced in the house today by Repre-
sentative Broderick, of Kansas.
Representative Wheeler, of Alabama,
introduced the following joint resolu-
ton:
Resolved, That the government Of
the United States hereby declares that
the struggling patriots in the island OF
Cuba are belligerentS and are recOg-
nized as such by this government"
Representative Adamson, of Georgia
has introduced a resolution recogniZ-
ing the republic of Cuba and authoriz-
ing the president to accredit to it a
minister of this government.
Representative Mahany, of New
York, introduced a joint resolution re-
cognizing the Cuban republic as free
and independent state and welcoming
her ito the Sisterhood of republics II
the Western world
Representative Todd, of Michigan
introduced a resolution declaring &
state of war exists between the United
States and Spain.
THE PRESIDENT GIVES UP THE
ARMISTICE PROPOSAL.
Washington, March 30.-The senate
committee ON foregn relations held two
sessions today and adjourned a few
minutes before 5 o'clock without reach.
ing an agreement. Commander Brad
| ford, of the bureau of equipment, was
| before the committee for several hours
| giving expert testimony as to the refa
| tive strength of the navieS OF ths
| United States and Spain and also ad
| vocat ting the purchase of the island o.
| st. Thomas, of the Danish West Indies
| as naval station. Another develop
| rIent in the committee was an agree
| ment to not present the completion o.
| the committees work on the Cuban sit
uation for a few days in order to affort
| time TO the president ITO continue hi:
| diplomatic negotiations with the Span
| sSh authorities. This concession was
| the result OF a request made direct Z
| members Of the committee by the pres
| ii1ent and it was granted iby the entir.
| commit tee without any murmur or dis
| sent.
Previous to this action ON the par
| of the committee, the presiadent had
L fy1x ,~,f