The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1898-03-11

now in progress on a large scale to put
the country in state of defense, of the
outburst of patriotic speeches in con-
| gress, there was certain feeling APP
parent in the best informed circles that
the situation as to our relations with
Spain was yesterday much more ia
vorable than IL was Monday. Perhaps
the semi-oflicial advces received
through the Associated press from
Madrid, indicating a peaceful purpose
on the part of the Spanish govern
ment, contributed in large measure
to that feeling, or it may have been
that the growing knowledge of the
vast extent of our own resources tend
ed to the belief that they would i'm
press others with the futility of at
lacking the United States. However
that may be, the feeling prevailed, and
at the white house, too, after the cabi-
net meeting wherein all of the facts
that were known to the president as
TO the existing state of affairs were
laid unreservedly before the cabinet
members and discussed.
While Capt. Brownson is going
abroad for the government to learn
] WIN SHIPS VI war are lOI SAFE anu
their condition, he will not necessarily
make any purchases. 1T is known pos
itively that negotiations are in prog
ress toward having the United States
acquire the two crack cruisers now be-
ing built for Japan, one at the Cramp
ship yards at Philadelphia and the
other at the Union iron works of San
Francisco.
A good deal is being accomplished
in the way of preparation of both the
navy and war departments. The con-
ference at the navy department yester-
day looked into the procurement of IA
suitable store of ammunition, coal
and supplies, touched upon the ques-
ton of dry docks and generally con-
sidercd a number of other matters con
nected with the operation of war
ship. The war department was not
behind the navy. Gen. Flagler chief
of ordnance, is very busy reaching out
in every direction by means of the
telegraph and the mail to learn just
how far the resources of the big pri-
vate manufacturing concerns can be
relied on to come to the aid of the war
department in arming and equipping
"A volunteer army should one be found
necessary. Maj. Gen. Miles is looking
after the personnel closely, and yester
day was trying hard to perfect the or
CARNATIONS of the two new regiments
of artillery which congress has
granted.
Three weeks ago last night the
Maine was blown up As it was last
week at this time, SO it is now; nothing
is known officially as to the cause of
the disaster. The court is hard at
work; that is all that is known at the
navy department. 1t is not even known
when it may be expected to finish its
work But the more thoughtful Off
cials have not lost sight of the fact
that when the report of the court of
inquiry comes to the navy department
the government may be face to face
with another vital issue
SECRET ADVICEs.
CHICAGO, March 9.-The Chronicle
yesterday printed the following from
its Washington correspondent:
Although few persons will admit II, the feel
ing in the inner circles of the administration is
that the country is on tho verge OF war. Hos
tilties may begin next week or they may be
postponed rs late as the middle OF April but
conditions are such that an outbreak cannot
be long postponed. There is good authority
for the statement that congress will declare
war against Spain soon after the report Of
the board Of inquiry into the Maine disaster
has been made public. President Mckinley has
had in his possession since last night tran
script Of the evidence taken up to last Friday
l before the board of inquiry. which Is seeking
To discover the cause Of the disaster to the bat
tleShip Maine in Havana harbor. That testi-
mony Is OF the most startling character II
shows that the Maine was not only blown up by
design, but that her destruction was the
result Of u carefully laid Spanish conspiracy,
In which number Of Spanish gueuillas and
volunteers aud AZ least one Spanish officer were
implicated / am assured that when the full
report OF the board Of inquiry is made public, it
will disclose facts which will shock the civilized
world. The evidence now IN the possession OF
President Mckinley has caused him to reverse
completely his Cuban policy 1t is now his be-
lief that the final report OF the board will be
Of such character as to compel this govern
mcnt to declare and maintain a war Of agrees
Sion against Spain.
LEE WILL NOT RESIGN.
HAVANA, March 0.-Some persons,
I'm order to increase the excitement,
are urging Gen. Fitzhugh Lee to re-
sign, but the consul general of the
United States said to a correspondent
yesterday: 81 will stick by the ship
of state until the clouds roll by" The
court of inquiry did very little yester-
day. Consul General Lee was very
briefly examined and also one diver.
Considerable time was spent on the
wreck. The Spanish divers put in a
good days work, examining chiefly
the forward part of the wreck, on the
starboard side. Capt. Peral, of the
Spanish court of inquiry, was at the
wreck in boat for some time during
the afternoon. Capt Sigsbee has ad-
vised Adm. Manterola, as did also Con-
sui Gen. Lee, of the expected coming
of the cruiser Montgomery, and buoy
has been assigned to her where the
Fern was moored. The buoy is near
the wreck for the convenience of Capt.
Sigsbee and Lie ltenant Commander