The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1898-03-08
WAR ALMOST CERTAIN.
Naval Officers and Civilians Discussing
Measures to Adopt
In Case an Indemnity Payment is Refused
by Spain-NO One Seems to Doubt That
the Capture of Havana Would BE
Comparatively Easy.

HAVANA, via Key West, Fla, March
As the conviction becomes general
that the court of inquiry will decide
that there was mine explosion under
the Maine, discussion among American
naval officers and civilians here is prev
alent as to the warlike measures
which, it is believed, the United States
government will adopt in case the
question of the payment of indemnity
bv Spain is overruled. A majority be
lieve that American troops will
be landed at some point east of Havana
and the insurgents communicated with,
that the Spanish soldiery will be de-
feated or captured in detail, and that
in the meantime feet of United
States vessels will blockade, if not
lombard Havana. No one seems to
doubt that the reduction of this city
would be comparatively easy. Four 12-
inch guns-twO west and two east of
the city-are the only ones that are
considered dangerous. These are not
likely to be we'll served, while their
emplacements are not modern.
That some Spaniards are of the opin-
ion that an attack on Havana will be
made is believed to be shown by the
abnormal activity displayed on board
the Vizcaya. A press correspondent
has the best naval authority for the
statement that the Vizcaya is in a con-
slant state of readiness for emergen-
cies and that picket boats are on the
alert day and night inside the harbor
and outside the harbor at night
II IL Il
Vizcaya and Almirante Oquindo, which
has arrived, might be caught in
blockade and fall an easy prey to a
United States fleet. The cruiser AL
fonso MI. is without boilers and
would be of no account. All this dis
cussion of the probability of war
among the Americans and Spaniards
proves nothing and only shows the
state of feeling here.
The conduct of the Spanish divers
who are Investigating the wreck of the
Maine is a mystery. Thus far they
| have not been down five hours in the
aggregate, and they show no DISPOSE
| ton to make thorough inquiry.
1t is impossible to learn the truth
| fully regarding the purpose of the
| Spanish court of inquiry, but it is gen
orally believed that the divers were
sent down for forms sake only, and that
a report will be made in accordance
with instructions from Madrid. 1t may
| be that the Spanish divers have dis
! covered that the whole port side of the
Maine forward is gone, and having SO
reported, further examination is deem
| cd Tla Of
| divers henceforward is bound to be
slow, owing to the ponderous weights
| to be moved and the safety clamps,
nuts and rivets that must be cut.
Senator Proctor is likely to make a
speech in the senate on his return that
will have great weight in determining
the future policy of the United States.
He is much affected by the suffering
that he found in Matanzas, and high
| ly indignant at what he called the ''in-
! humanity of the course pursued" Dur
! ing a visit to Artemisa, this province,
/ he saw thousands of reconcentrados
who refused to beg, though starving.
They were evidently of a class
accustomed to make their living and
unwilling to become paupers. He saw
! thousands of acres of the best tobacco
and banana lands in the world re-
duced to waste, with trochaS and gar
, risOns at every village and cross-road.
His driver, pointing to the mountains
Is miles away, says: There are plenty
of inSurgent camps there that the
Spanish have never discovered"
HAVANA, March 1.-THE Spanish
first class cruiser Almirante Oquendo
arrived in Havana harbor at S:45
o'clock Saturday morning from Spain.
She received a hearty welcome from
the ferry boats and tugs on board of
which were the civil and military au-
thorities and different societies which
had been waiting for the warship's ar
rival. The docks were crowded with
sightSeers, rockets were sent up and
flags and other decorate were dis
played from the vessels in port, the
public buildings and the palaces.
The Almirante OquendO made fine
appearance as she returned the salute
from Fort Cabanas, and then saluted
the fort and admiral
Capt. Joaquin Lasaga is in command
of the Almirante Oquendo.
The smokestacks of the Maine have
been removed The divers hoped tc
recover some more bodies Saturday.
HAVANA, March THE board of in
quiry arrived here Saturday from Key
West and continued it's deliberations
on the cause of the Maine explosion.
Adm. Sicard has wired the Washing
ton government that it is impossible as
yet to fix date for the adjournment
of the board.
Col Henry Wounded in a Duel.
PARIS, March 7.-CoL Picquart, who
was disciplined for giving testimony
favorable to the case of NJ. lola, at the
recent trial of the author, fought a
duel with swords Saturday in the