Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1898-03-26
WAR NEWS or THE WEEK.
Summarized for the Benefit of Busy
Peoples
sTNDAY

Inc nnd1ng OF the MAINE OouTL OF
Inquiry may arrive at Washington to-
day, and is expected by the Admins
tration not later than tomorrow 1t
will say that the battIeship was blown
up from the outside, but the Court
does not attach the blame to any one.
ANY deductions on that point will be
made by the Administration from the
testimony. President Mckinley will
act this week. He has determined
not to arbitrate the Maine incident
Neither will he place any more reli-
ance in autonomy for Cuba, but is de-
termined on the independence of the
island. He may, further, regard the
sending of torpedo fleets by Spain to
Cuba as casus belli and send a
squadron to intercept and capture
them. General Blanco has advised
Spain against the sending of the tor
pedo boats. Spain's Queen Regent
has applied to Austria and Germany
for help, but has been refused. The
chances are that we will get the battle
ship O'Higgins from Chile and the
cruiser San Martino from Argentine
Republic.
MONDAY.
The President stayed away from
church yesterday in order to discuss
his policy with some of his closest
advisers. He has decided to keep
Congress in session and to take
prompt steps for Intervention and the
settling of the Maine incident. He
knows that the explosion was from
the outside. The House Naval APP
preparation bill, to be reported today,
is the largest of its kind, proposing
the expenditure of $40, 900, 900, and
provides for the construction of three
battleships, six torpedo boats, SIX
torpedo boat destroyers, one gunboat
and FIVE dry docks, including one at
League Island Inside of a few weeks
there will be 80 United States war
ships at the North Atlantic station
massed for defense. All ships are
ordered home, except those near the
Philippines, Spains islands in the
Pacific. Commander Brownson and
Theodore H. Cramp visited Arm
strong's shipyard, at Newcastle-on-
Tyne, yesterday, and the commander
ordered work on the Almirante Ar.
bruella, one of our new cruisers,
pushed. The rebels have refused
General Pando's plan for autonomy
believing that the present crisis. will
lead to their independence.
TUESDAY.
President Mckinley has determined
that Spain must grant absolute auton
omy to Cuba or the United States Ar
my and the United States Navy will.
intervene and the Cuban Republic
will be recognized and the war in the
island brought to an end. 1t is re-
garded as almost certain that Spain
will not go to the extent the President
wishes her to. That means war and
the driving of Spanish control from
Cuba. If Spain asseuts to the Presi'
dents plan it means the end OF Span
ish supremacy, anyhow President
Mckinney will act probably this week
He has determined to settle the ques
ton forever. The President was il
conference with Speaker Reed anc
other Administration leaders yester
day determining his plan. The com
plete report of the Court OF Inquiry
was given to Admiral Sicard at Key
West yesterday by the Court. The
Navy is experiencing great trouble IL
getting sailors, and the war ships al
/ lSCdS uC lSlduI NetuLOL bC uSSNli do LASJ
have not full crews. The new cruiser:
purchased from Brazil have been re.
named the New Orleans and tho AL
bany. Our preparations for defense
are going hurriedly on, for it is said
that our coast defenses are not in the
proper condition for our participating
in war.
WEDNESDAY.
President Mckinley has changed
his plan from recognition of Cuba tC
such intervention as shall put stoI
to all hostilities in the island. Con
gress is hard to restrain, however, and
the complications are growing graver
Lieutenant Commander Mark ha:
started with the Maine Courts report
for Washington. where he may ar