Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-03-26
Straps and fatts.

- The New York Journal believes
that the Spanish court of inquiry will
hold its report in reserve uutil after
the American report is published.
The idea of this, according to the
Journal, is that the Spanish report
may be quickly revised so as to meet
and contradict the proceedings of the
American report.
- The wrecking company that has
the contract for saving all that can be
saved of the Maine, is doing good
work. Of the six 6.inch guns on the
Maine, four have heen recovered, and
the others will soon be safely landed.
One of the 10-inch guns is nearly
ready to lift out, and it is likely that
all the armament that is of value will
be saved. The understanding is that
after the wreckers get through, the
hull will be blown out of the channel
with dynamite.
Kew West dispatch of Tuesday
says that the decision reached by the
court of inquiry is still a matter of
surmise. Perhaps some significance
may be attached and conclusions
drawn from a remark made by Admi-
raj Sicard, when he said to cores
pondent: "The case of the Maine is
most peculiar; perhaps the most pecu-
liar which has ever occurred in the
history of the world" From the gen.
eral tone of his remarks, it might be
inferred that the court findings do not
definitely solve the mystery of the ex-
plosion. This is further borne out by
the admiral's statement that even after
the report had been sent to Washing
ton, the department may require fur
ther investigation.
- The report that Spain will send
out privateers in case of war with the
United States will not frighten this
country. During the war of secession
three Confederate privateers damaged
American commerce to the extent OF
over $15,OOO,000; but the United
States had more of the ocean carrying
trade then than it has now. Most OF
our present ocean-going vessels would
be armed in case of war, and be more
than a match for Spain's privateers.
Moreover, on very slight provocation
we might 60 into the business of pri-
watering ourselves. We could do
good deal more in this line than Spain
could. The chances are, however,
that there would not be much priva-
teering on either side.
The military affairs committee of
the house, on Tuesday, completed
consideration of the army reorganiza-
ton bill, and ordered a favorable
report upon it. AS agreed upon only
a few changes were made. An addi-
tional section was added as a precau-
ton, providing that nothing in the
act should be construed as an author
ization to increase the enlisted force OF
the army in time of peace. Another
amendment provides that "at the end
of any war in which the United States
NAV become involved, the army shall
be reduced to a peace basis by the
transfer or absorption through promo
tion of the supernumerary officers, and
the honorable discharge or transfer OF
supernumerary enlisted men," Chair
man Hull, of the military affairs COM
mittee, will secure action on the bill
at the earliest possible moment. 1t
NAV require a special rule TO get the
bill before the house.
- Many people probable would be at
a loss to understand why the report of
the court of inquiry should be guard
id so carefully between Key West
and Washington but there are many
reasons. There was no special fear of
the Spaniards; but some of the big
newspapers would have beeen willing
to pay thousands of dollars for that
report, and this is not all. A Chicago
stock operator, few days ago, an
nounced that he would be willing to
pay $4,000 cash for an absolutely cor
rect summary Of the substance Of the
report "a hours in advance of the pub
lie. He thought he could make more
than S1.0O0,000 out of it. Judg"
Advocate Mark took the report TO
Washington. He was armed himself,
and was accompanied by two officers
and an orderly also armed. The box
containing the report was guarded as
carefully as if it held instead the life
of a president.
- Whether it proceeds from igno.
rance or merely desire to deceive,
there is no question Of the fact that
the Spanish papers are giving their
readers great deal of very silly bun
combe. A special of Tuesday from
Havana to the New York Herald
says: ain an editorial FL Concrete
seemed to hold the belief that the only
thing which keeps the United States
from war Just now is the fear of inter-
nal disorder. The editorial concludes
thus: president Mckinley knows that
should he be forced TO war he would
be confronted by serious domestic
problems. 1t is known the world over
that the western and southern states
are waiting the first opportunity to
dissolve the Union and separate them
selves from the east. If Mckinley