Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1898-03-24
THE CRISIS
NEAR AT HAND.
War Likely to be Declared at once.

War Likely to be Declared at once.
There is now scarcely any doubt
that war will be declared in q short
time
The report of the Maine court of in
quiry is expected to reach Washington
today. A member of tho cabinet is
authority for the statement that q
copy of the report will be laid before
the Spanish government without de-
lay. AS soon as it can be done consis-
tently. the report will be sent to Con-
gfess with a message from the Presi
dent stating that he has laid the con-
illusions of the court before the Spanish
government.
When the President submits the re
port to Congress he will accompany it
with message.
1t is needless to say that the whole
country is breathlessly awaiting the
report of the commission, and on that
report largely will results depend.
1t is stated positively that no part of
the report and no intimation OF the
findings have reached the executive
authorities at Washinton. Attic same
time it is noticeable that the current
of official opinion is beginning to fol
low that of the unofficial opinion, ex-.
pressed 80 positively and persistently
at Havana and Key West, that the
cause of the explosion was external to
the battle ship. Officials high in the
administration stated that, while they
were wholly without exact information
as to the findings of the court of in
quiry, they found themselves sharing
in the apparently intangible convic-
Of ha
was not accidental.
Opinions expressed by the Maine
survivors who reached Washington
Saturday doubtless have contributed
largely to this view in official circles.
In this connection it is understood one
of the officers stated, not as an opin-
ion, but as his personal observation
on the night of the disaster, that there
were two distinct explosions. The
tendency Of this il to support the the
DRY of external cause, as this is based
on the idea that the first external ex-
plosion was followed by second in
ternal explosion.
Intense interest In the report is man
ifested at the White House, and at the
War, State and Navy departments.
The President Monday received a
number of congressional leaders,
among them being Speaker Reed and
Chairman Hitt,T the House Commit
tee on Foreign affairs. The confer
ence with Mr.. Reed attracted much
attention, as that gentleman seldom
leaves the congressional sphere to
make calls on the Executive branch of
the government. and it was naturally
inferred that it's purpose was to talk
over the Cuban situation and its
future before Congress. Secretary
Long also had an extended conference
with the President.
In the mean time every possible
preparation is being made for war.
An official of the Brooklyn, now
lying off Newport News. who for OBJ
| vious reasons refuses to allow his name
to be used, said Monday:
Significant instructions, the nature
of which cannot divulge. have been
received here which point almost GER
tainly to war. There is no longer any
| doubt in the minds Of naval officers as
to the nature of the report of the court
of inquiry, and the delay in it's formal
presentment is only made to allow the
administration sufficient time to for
mulate its plans for vigorous prose.
cution of the campaign which is GER
|
mand for indemnity.
! 'Outsiders cannot have any ade.
quate idea g. TIE enormous prepare.
lions now going on at the navy yards
and on warships. The actual instruc-
tions issued &c the comma nders of the
divisions of The fleet now assembling
are on a war basis"
The army and navy pre- parations fol
possible war continue without inter
ruption, although they have now
become SO regular as to lapse into
routine on a gigantic sale.
| Bids were o@ened Monday for fur
finishing cast iron projectiles for sea
coast cannon. The Petersburg, Va,
Iron Works presented the lowest fig
ures, though they may fail to get the
contract on account of other condi.
tions.
Spain continues to deny that she is
in any way responsible for the Maine
disaster.
Accoring to q special cablegram
from Madrid Monday, she would re
gard as ''monstrous and Ubiquitous
| finding" report of the U. s. naval
court of inquiry that the blame for
the destruction of the battleship
| Maine rests upon Spain If such a re-
port Is made it is stated, thu Madrid
government will appeal to the com
bined European powers on the plea
OF equity and common fairness to in
tervene in favor of Spain.
Senator Chandler, in an editorial in
bis Concord, N. H paper, Monday
said that President Mckinley was
about to take action, in the name of
the United States, to relieve the fam
inc and other suffering in Cuba, and
that he would do this without the ap-
prevail OF Spain, if that country should
fail to give it's assent.
Spain is said to be rushing work on
its uncompleted war vessels.
Several senators Monday made the
prediction that the United States
would intervene in the Cuban matter,
or, more probably, recognize Cuban
independece, during the present week.
The two new battleships Kearsarge
and Kentucky, will be launched at the
Norfolk navy yard today, and the new
ships purchashed are being mounted.
The names given them are the Albany
for New York's capital, and New Or
leans after Louisiana's.