The Mena star., 1898-03-30
THE SPANISH SITUATION.
This Was the Absorbing Subject of Consideration at the State, War
 and Navy Departments.
GEN. ALGER GIVES OUT A STATEMENT.
Members Are in Accord with Presf- dent McKinley's Course-Gen. Miles Orders a COlored Regiment to the Dry Tortugas.

WASHINGTON, March 29.-The Span ish situation was the absorbing and practically the only subject of consid- eration at the state, war and navy de- partments to-day and, although the main interest of the day was centered in the cabinet meeting and the general course of congress, yet the active ne- gotiations now proceeding with Spain made the state department hardly less center of attention, while the prepa- rations of the war and navy branches went on with unabatsd vigor. The Spanish minister, Senor Polo, reached the state department shortly before noon and was with Judge Day over half an hour. The meeting was by appointment, one of Judge Days clerks having been sent to the min ister to ask him to come to the department at the earliest moment. Pending his arrival Judge Day went to the navy department and had a talk with Assistant Secretary Roose- welt and soon thereafter Mir. Roosevelt returned the visit and had talk with Judge Day in the latter's office. The reports of riots at Havana led to the belief that a movement was on foot to have ships sent to the Cuban capital as measure of protection to American interests. It is not likely, however, that this will be done for the present.
 Gen. Aiger Gives Out a Statement.
 WASHINGTON, March 29. At the close of the cabinet meeting to-day Secre- tary Alger gave out the following statement: ''So far from there being any difference of opinion among the members of the cabinet they are all in in hearty accord with the president. When he read to them yesterday his message on the Maine there was not dissenting voice nor suggestion of change. It commanded the approval of every member. How could the president have said more? He gave congress the report at once and stated that he had forwarded it to Spain and is awaiting her reply. He must take one step at time. It may be said fur ther that there need be no fear that he will not take the next. He has not lost moment in presenting not only the Maine incident, but the whole sit- uation to Spain. The country can we'll afford to await the result of the negotiations which will be promptly made known, whatever the result"
 Colored Troops Ordered to Dry Tortugas.
 WASHINGTON, March 29.-By direc- tion of Gen. Miles, commanding the army. orders were issued to-day for the transfer of the Twenty-fifth regi- ment of infantry to the Dry Tortugas The fact that this regiment is made up of colored troops is regarded as quite significant in showing the purpose of the war department to concentrate colored troops in the vicinity of Cuba, inasmuch as it is recognized that the negro is better able to withstand the Cuban climate than the white man. There are three other colored regi- ments in the army. Their aggregate colored strength is ?, ,1Ss. The col ored troops upon their arrival, it is pre- stunned, will be instructed in ar rtillery practice and thus will be enabled in case of necessity to assist the ar tillery company in its work.