The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-04-01

consisting of Captain Chadwick and
Lieutenant Commanders Cowles and
Wainwright, appointed TO decide upon
the disposition of the portions Of the
wreck of the Maine which it is not pos
sfble to salve, held meetings last night
and today. It's decisions have not been
made public.
Deep interest is felt here in the news
received today from the United States.
Ia Lucha, in an editorial, says: Tine
United Stares note TO Spain, demand
ing that a date be fixed to end the hos
Utilities, is simply a declaration of war.
1t was not issued untA after the find
ing of the United States court Of in
quiry had been received, which findings
are without scientific basis and Is open
to question ven upon the part of the
most prejudiced- Tt is well for Spain
to know ait last the real purpose of the
money loving Americans. Spain knows
what to expect and how 20 act" La
q then warns the United States
that if she expects to have all her own
way in Cuba she can only do so with
In conclusion La Lucia says:
THE United States is rich and Spain
is poor, but the end of the war MAJ
find Spain with a good portion of
American money"
SPANS ENERGETIC REPLY.
London, March 29.-The Madrid cor
respondent of The Daily Mali gives a
version of the negotiations sow7ee
United States Minister Woodford and
the Spanish cabinet last week differing
somewhat from that given yesterday
by The Standards Madrid correspond
ent. He says: THE note which Cen
eral Woodford presented on Wednesday
was of a comminatory nature. Tt de-
manded that Spain put am end to the
war in 6-Irba inn roQ1iaralv oc4pIfII1a
ing the damage lone to American in
terests and further limiting THAT the
war was a danger to the public health
of the United States, the continual
smuggling between the coasts of Cuba
and Florida being the leans of convey
ing the yellow fever.
SPANS reply was energetic. It de-
clared that the wan would have been
ended long ago,but for the material and
moral help n support the rebels were
continually receiving from the United
States. The Spanish note complains of
the policy followed by the United
States in demanding from Spain the
termination of a war which the United
States were virtually maintaining by
the presence of a squadron in the
neighborhood of Cuba and by organic
ing succOr for the recOncentraGOes in
a manner that would be offensive to
amy nation, as we'll as by keeping in
Havan a consul who is publicly the
, agent and representative of the rebels.
Public opinion rejects all idea of
yielding and apparently neither de-
SireS nor fears war with THE United
States, yet Spain knows she is confront
ed with the most serious conflict she
has had to face since the NapOleonic
wars. There is an Ominous absence OF
excitement among the people, whose
one topic is the possibility of war. Tt
is the calm before a storm, which will
break when the American ultimaltum
comes"
london, March 29.-The morning pa
pers comment this morning ON Presi-
dent McKinley's message. Most of
them commend the document.
The special dispatches from Madrid
show THAT the press there does not yet
reflect the more peaceful feeling of
New York.
Madrid, Marc 29.-Midnigrht.-United
States Minister WOOdfOrd had am i'm
portalnt conference tonight With Senior
Gullon, THE foreign minister, and conn
m~unicated to him am extract from the
report OF the American board of inquiry
into the Maine disaster. Tomorrow
General Woodford Will confer with the
| premier, Senior SagastaI and Senores
GullOn 4 MOret, the foreign and CO
lOnial ministers.