Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1898-04-07
WAR NEWS OF THE WEEK.

Spain's Formidable Torpedo Fleet
Disabled at Cape Verde Islands.
Washington, April Z. Thursday of
last week was a day of anxious wait
ing for Spain's reply to President Nc
Kinley's demand for Cuban indepen-
dence. When the reply arrived, late at
night it was not given out for pub
LEGATION, but it was plainly intimated
that it was entirely unsatisfactory. On
that day William J. Bryan was inter-
viewed at his home in Lincoln, Neb.,
and he declared unqualifiedly for inter
vention, even at the risk of wars hor-
rors, in order to save the starving Gu
bans.
Last Friday was a day of great ex-
element. It was given out, though not
officially reported, that the reply of the
Spanish government to the presidents
letter was very unsatisfactory, and
that a message would be sent to con-
gress explaining the whole position on
Monday of this week. The general opin-
ion on that day was that congress
would declare for armed intervention,
that Spain would resist and that war
would follow. A telegram from Mad
rid announced that Spain's formidable
torpedo f1otilla had arrived at Porto
Rico, but this proved to be untrue
The fleet encountered a severe storm
en- route. and the vessels were COM
PEELED to seek shelter at Cape Verde
islands, in a badly crippled condition,
to make repairs. They are $500 miles
from Porto Rico.
On Saturday the reports had 1t that
the president was unalterably opposed
to the war spirit in congress. 1t was
given out that the suffering reconcen-
trados in Cuba were now, owing to
American charity, being properly fed,
and that should armed intervention be
declared 100000 of them would die of
starvation. 1t was asserted that the
coming message would endeavor to pre-
vent action by congress at present.
Last Sundays reports were rather
conflicting, and would make it appear
that the president was inclined to.
avert war on the Spanish assurance
that the reconcentrados in Cuba would
be provided for. But it now looks as
IL this statement was given out to Sc
cure delay, as it was also asserted that
the government had purchased large
quantities of ammunition abroad,
which had not yet been shipped. Pow
der makers in this country, too, are
clamoring for more time. Statistics
were published to show that no more
formidable fleet of war vessels was
ever gathered together, under any flag,
than Commodore Schley's flying squad
ron at Hampton Roads. Wayne,
Me-, dispatch announced the invention
of a terrible engine of war by Hudson
Maxim, brother Of the famous gun in
ventor. This latest invention is called
the Maxim aerial torpedo, and win
throw a ton of dynamite distance of
five miles.
In the senate Monday Mr.. Perkins, of
California, openly asserted that Spain
was responsible for the Maine outrage.
Mr.. Mitchell, the conservative Wiscon-
sin Republican senator, replied to a
private letter urging peace, that ethe
Maine episode will not down. 1t stands
before the American people plain
case of treachery. Perfidy and cruelty
run in the Spanish blood A nation that
would allow such an outrage to go un-
punished would not deserve to exist. :"
The navy department reported the pur-
chase in New York harbor of ten
steamers for the auxiliary navy, A
London dispatch announced that Lieu
tenant Commander Colwen, United
States naval attache. had secured
proof that Havana harbor was mined.
The talk Of Tuesday was the nresi-