Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-03-08
CUBAN LIMOGES Want WAR.
The Arrival Of Two Spanish Battle
ships Created Supreme Confidence.

They Believe Spain Has Nothing
to Fear in a Contest With the
United States - Belief Among
Spaniards That the Result of the
Maine Inquiry is a Matter of In
difference to Spain American
Divers Have Made Discoveries
That Prove That the IIaine Was
Blown Up from the Outside.
Spanish Divers Working Leisure
ly-Internal Policies of Cuba a
Matter Of Present Interest.
New York, March IA dispatch to
the Tribune from Havana says:
The arrival of the Spanish warsbip
&lmirante Oquendo, while the Spanish
population was still rejoicing over
The coming of the Vizcaya, has given
The Spaniards an exaggerated notion
81 SPANS naval proves. The ten
dency is to cause a feeling that war
with the United States would not be
serious for Spain. The idea may seem
ridiculous in the States, yet the exist
ence Of this belief among large ele-
ment OF the population of Havana
should not be ignored These Span
ish warships encourage the notion
that the result of the Maine inquiry
is a subject Of indifference to the Span
ish government.
Not many days will be needed for
Capt Sampson and his associates to
ccncltS the investigation. The
wrecling companies are making pro-
gress toward clearing a way through
the superstructre. During the alb
sonce OF the Board the Navy Depart
ment divers have been able to extend
their examination of the plates Of the
HULL They found these plates twisted
as from an outside explosion. Every
thing previously learned regarding the
forward magazine being intact. and
the existence of large quantities of
unexploded ammunition has been con-
irmed and strengthened Without
going into minutiae it may be said
the Navy Department divers have Sc
cured such technical evidence from
the condition of the hull and keel
and interior of the wreck that the
Maine explosion
WAS DUE TO FOUL PLAY.
AS to whether by torpedo or a sub
marine mine, doubts may be left. Not
much proof can be gathered by the
naval board concerning the persons
who were in the conspiracy. The
Spanish authorities are in a better
position to determine that matter.
the Spanish divers have been work
ing very slowly. They have been Civ
ing more attention to the coal bunk
ers, apparently, than to other portions
of the wreck. They have made no.
ing more than a superficial examina-
ton of the hull. 1t seems to be UNI
derstood that the Spanish admiralty
board, in its official investigation, is
AAA+N+AAAto
BILE support to the theory of accident.
This distinction from positive proof
OF an external explosion it may not
be able TO ignore. There is clearly
s2s5 confidence in official circles than
ring the period when the clara
tons Of accident were made by Gen.
I'll,
ceeds in leisurely fashion. 1t may be
a long time before conclusion is
reached. This will be no reason for
long delay by the naval board.
Under other conditions the internal
policies of Cuba will be exciting, for
recent developments have been sig
nifcant The radical autonomists,
having failed in their plan of coax
ing the insurgents, a reaction has
come The intransigentes now dom
mate the governments policy. The
divided autonomist cabinet is not Z
factor In the situation. Senior GOWNS
resignation from the cabinet has been
demanded Dy some Oh the N1OleuI III
transigentes because of his radical
utterance in favor of more conces-
sions to the insurgents, but the de-
mand is not pressed.
THE CABINET IS NOW POWERLESS
to withstand pressure. The Weylerite
and ultra Spanish classes and volun-
teers are supreme. An official assur-
anca by Gen. Blanco and Senior Sa-
gasta that the government has no in
tention of disarming them tells only
half the story. Hereafter there will
be more aggressiveness in interfering
in the affairs of the government.
They may hurry it along into action
before the Madrid cabinet is ready.
The volunteers as a class are filled
with ignorant hostility toward the
United States Their movements here
after will bear watching.
Senator Proctor, who has been Wis
ting places near Havana, is going to
S2gue and possibly to other parts of
Santa Clara province. He is in no
An