Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1898-03-03
WAR MOVES.
Assistant Secretary Roosevelt Given
Orders to Prepare for a Conflict
WAITING FOR THE REPORT.
III the Facts Prove a Crime an Immediata
Demand on Spain VIII Be Made for
Indemnity-New York Well
Guarded.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 27-Emergency
preparations OF the most important
character yet attempted by the navy
| department were formally decided
upon and the necessary orders for car
rying them out have been issued by
Assistant Secretary Roosevelt These
preparations include:
FirstlOrders to vessels in the different parts
of the world looking to their better strategic
disposition.
Second-The shipping of guns and mounts
for auxiliary cruisers from the Washington
foundry to the New York navy yard, where in
a few hours they can be placed on board YES
sells of the International Navigation company.
Columbia Steamship company. Red DE- Steam
ship company and the New York s. Cuba Mail
/ Steamship company.
Third-The collection Of stores and the COM
pletion of repairs to the cruisers Minneapolis
and Columbia the Monitor Miantonomah and
the ram Kahtadn
! Fourth-The shipment to the works of the
| Herreshoffs of torpedo tubes and appliances
and torpedoes for torpedo boats Talbot and
Gwin, which will shortly undergo their steam
trials.
| The authorities have relinquished
all idea of keeping secret the prepare
tions which are being made and, while
declining to go into details as to the
orders which are being given, it is
generally known what steps are being
taken to put the country in a condition
to meet any emergency that may arise.
1t was not denied that orders had been
issued to vessels which will entail their
movement to different points. but
which vessels are affected and where
they will 60 are Questions which the
| department officials decline to answer.
The Asiatic squadron is assembling
at Hong Kong, 600 miles from the
Philippines.
VIII Demand a Large Indemnity.
| WASHINGTON, Feb. 27.-Once he is
thoroughly convinced that an imple-
ment of war under the control of the
Spanish government caused the disas-
ter it can be definitely stated that the
president will make demand upon
Spain which will satisfy the American
people and, even with positive evil
! ience as to the exact character of the
outside explosion, it is fully the pur-
pose of the administration to hold
Spain responsible. The nature of the
| demand to be made upon Spain was
one of the questions discussed at Fri
days cabinet meeting. Accepting the
extreme theory that the vessel was
blown up by a mine under the control
| of the Spanish government, the con-
c1usion has been reached that a most
vigorous demand for complete repara-
ton in the form of indemnity, apology
and the execution of the guilty per-
sons if they can be found will be made.
The indemnity demand will be large.
| The price of the vessel would be con-
Sidered a comparatively minor matter,
as compared with the demand for the
Naturalization of this government for
| the slaughter of its officers and sea-
men. The least figure now talked
is S25, 900, 900. The possibility of Spain
complying with the demands of the
| United States also was a subject of dis
cussion. This, the authorities all con-.
slider, is the real danger point in the
| controversy.
Waiting on the Board.
| WASHINGTON, Feb. 27.-Unless dis
turbances occur in Havana or Madrid,
no developments are expected in the
Spanish situation until the admins
tration has received the report of the
board of inquiry and feels justified in
taking the public into its confidence.
IF it could be announced that the ex-
plosion was an accident, that an
lnouncement would be made in order
to quiet public excitement. Since,
| however the announcement appar-
emily will be of a different char
| acter when it comes. it is agreed
| by every one of responsibility that
proper deli beration should be shown
and no hasty steps taken. AS a result
of the cabinet meeting the opinion
holds in the mind of every cabinet
officer that the president will imme-
diately. in the event that the Maine
disaster was caused from the outside,
make a demand upon Spain for the
payment of indemnity. This demand,
is can be positively stated. must be
acted upon by Spain without equivo-
cation or delay. If Spain asks short
time for consideration it may be given,
but the president is determined, if the
facts prove crime, that Spain shall
not have an opportunity to play with
this country in any way
The Accident Theory Revived.
| WASHINGTON, Feb. 27.-The atten-
ton of naval officers has been strongly
attracted to the statement made by
representatives of the Spanish govern
ment to the effect that there were no
mines or torpedoes of any kind in Ha-
vana harbor 1t can be said that this
statement exactly agrees with the in
quiries that have been under way for
many months DV agents Oh our govern
ment, for so far it is said they have
been unable to find the slight
est evidence of the existence of
any plan of defense in the harbor
by means of mines or torpedoes,
much less to locate them as has
been reported in some quarters Of
course the effect of this statement, If
it is to be accepted as conclusive on
that point is almost certain to mega
tive the superstition that the disaster
resulted FROM other than accidental
causes, as the almost unanimous testi-