Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1898-04-05
All Eyes Are Now on Madrld-Uncle
Sans Proposals. Are Awaiting Ac-
Cuba Must Be Free.

~
Of the explosion the battleship Maine was
lying in five and one-half to six fathoms of
water.
Second-The discipline aboard the ship
was excellent. everything slowed accord
ing to orders-am munitiOn, guns, stores,
etc. The temperature of the magazines at
eight p. m. was normal except in the after
| ten-inch magazine, and that did not ex-
plode:
Third-The explosion occurred at $40
o'clock on the evening Of February Is.
There were two explosions, with a very
short interval between them; the ship lifted
on the first explosion.
Fourth-The court can form no definite
opinion of the condition of the wreck from
the divers evidence.
F'ifth-There are technical details Of the
wreckage from which the court deduces
that mine was exploded under the ship
on the port side.
Sixth-The explosion was due to no fault
of those on board.
Seventh-In the opinion of the court the
explosion of the mine caused the explosion
OF the two magazines.
Eighth-The court declares that it can
not find evidence to fix the responsibility.
Report Is Unanimous.
The reports unanimous and is signed
by all the members of the court.
It does not refer to the existence or
nonexistence of the mine in the harbor
OF Havana except in the specific find
ing that mine was exploded under the
ship, and the opinion that the explosion
of the two magazines was caused by
the explosion of a mine.
An Opposite View.
Washington, March ga full! synop-
sis of the report of the Spanish naval
commission which investigated the de-
struction of the battleship Maine is
here. It is taken from copy of the
original report which is now on it's way
here from Havana. the synopsis being
cabled in the meantime and placed in
the hands of this government. The con-
illusions reached are directly opposite
to those in the report of the court of in
quiry submitted to congress Monday.
Excitement Runs High.
Washington, March 3O.-Congress
and the cabinet divided attention Tues
day on the Spanish situation. In con-
gress the feeling which began to take
form after the presidents conservative
and pacific message on the Maine re-
port was submitted found open express
sion in resolutions proposing declara-
ton of war, recognition of the indie
pendence of Cuba, armed intervention
and other decisive and warlike steps
against Spain, and in conferences of re-
publicans having for their object the
overruling of the speaker, if necessary
to get prompt action.
All Eyes on Madrid.
Washington, March 31.-The vital
point on the Cuban situation, viz: indie
pendence. has shifted itself from Wash
ington to Madrid, where the Spanish
government is now giving grave and
earnest consideration to propositions
presented by the government of the
United States. On the answer to these
propositions probably depends the flu
ture course of the relations between
Spain and the United States. 1t is be-
ieved that it is now but question of an
exceedingly short time before the in
evitable crisis must come. The Span
ish ministry will hold cabinet council
to-day after the propositions have been
submitted to the queen regent and as a
result of that conference it is expected
by the administration that definite
answer to it's proposals will be received.
Our Propositions.
The propositions submitted by this
country contemplate a complete and i'm
mediate cessation of hostilities in Cuba.
the return of the reconcentrados to
their usual avocations and the indie
pendence of Cuba, this last feature to
be secured probably on an indemnity
basis by which the island would pay a
substantial sum for its freedom from
Spanish rule. These propositions take
wide scope and there are many details
in the alternative propositions, the pur-
pose being to present every possible
plan promising solution of the Cuban
problem so long as an end of the Cuban
war and Cuban independence were en-
bodied in the ultimate result.
Cuba Must BE Free.
It has been made perfectly clear to
Spain that nothing less than a close
of the war and the independence of the
island will suffice as an adequate set
Element. Such lesser methods. as have
been contemplated from time to time
are now put aside for these more ad-
vanced and positive positions. 1t is
now for Spain to accept or reject these
tenders. There is no disposition to urge
one rather than another, SO long as the
conclusion finally reached brings the
termination of the war and Cuban in
dependence. Never before until now
has the Spanish government even for a
moment entertained such propositions.
Now. in the stress of the present .emer-
gency, with declarations of war intro
duced in the American congress, Spain
has reluctantly consented to consider
them. This in itself has given lively
hope of satisfactory result. E s6*5
..s$ WI, IL Will Spain Yield? s1$
But it involves a grave crisis in Spain,
and 1t cannot be foretold what the final
action nc ion at Madrid will be. Until to-day