The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-04-02
PRESIDENT. ENJOYS QUIET.
Doubt Expressed .as to The Arrival of
Flotilla at Porto Rico.

Washington, ID. JC., April - o-ulShU
for the first time IN ten days the Presi-
dent enjoyed a comparatively quiet even
ing ut the White House. He had few
callers who were received and remained
only II brief time.
Assistant Secretary of State Day
called. bringing with him the cipher
book of the State department, hut as
no dispatches had been received, he too,
left i'm few minutes.
| The President manifested much
interest in the information con-
veved in the Associated Press dis
patch from Madrid that the Spanish tor
nedo fotilla had arrived at Porto Rico.
About the White House good deal or
/ surprise was expressed that the flotila
had made so swift a passage from the
Canaries and there =was a disposition
among some not to credit the inrOrma-
ton. the opinion being that it had been
given out by the Madrid officials to
lDrevent the Flying Squadron from sail
ing.
he President was very much fatsgued
and retired at an unusually carly hour
for him.
NAVAL OFFICERS RETICENT.
Washington, d. c.. April 1.-Captain
Humphreys. one of the wreckers at
work on the Maine reported from Ha-
vana to-day and was taken by Secretary
! Long to the Cabinet meeting. There is
still hope that after the magazines are
emptied from the wreck, dynamite may
be used to free the forward part, after
which the stern of the Maine could be
raised AS Il matter of sentiment strong
hopes are expressed that substantial
portion of the Maine cam be raised
The. naval officials continue reticent
| regarding the acquisition of new vessels
for the auxiliary fleet and the negotia-
! tons for the purchase of ships of war
abroad, but there were indications to-
day that in spite of the announced belief
of the department that nO more ships
were TO be looked for in that quarter
all hope has not been abandoned. No
confirmation of the cable dispatch from
/ Denmark that negotiations were under
way for the purchase of two Danish
: cruisers could be obtained, but at the
same time it was not denied.
WAR SHIPS MAKING. READY.
Key West. Fla, April 1.-The work
of stripping the United States war ships
Of their woodwork, in order to make
+, them ready for war service. was cOntin
ued this morning.
The patrol of the fleet will be contin-
! ued at night until further orders.
! The news that the Vizcaya an the AL
mirante Oquendo had sailed fl I'm Ha-
vana was conveyed to Captain Sampson
/, by the correspondent of the Associated
! Press. Captain Sampson appeared much
Interested and was anxious for further
| details. The general feeling in the fleet
is that the Spanish war ships have gone
10 meet the Spanish torpedo flotilla.
A strict patrol is maintained in the
-harbor tonight by the Cincinnati and
two torpedo boats. The Italian train
! ing ship Amerigo Vespueci sailed to-
/ day for Washington.
WANTS ALL THE EVIDENCE.
Washington, d. c., April 1.-Repre-
| sentative Fleming. of Georgia, has in
i troduced a resolution of inquiry direct
, ing the Secretary of the Navy to inform
| the House if the document printed by
| the Senate as the Presidents message
and evidence on the Maine incident con-
! tains all the evidence embraced in the
report of the Naval Court of Inquiry
now on file in the Navy Department and
of the omitted evidence.
MIR. QUAY FOR RECOGNITION.
Washington. d. c., April 1.-Senator
| Quay to-day offered Il resolution in the
| following terms:
THAT the Committee OH Foreign Re
| lations be and is hereby instructed to
report on or before the 9th instant a
bill for the recognition of the republic
of Cuba"
| 1t went over under the rule.
SPAIN DESIRES PEACE.
London, April 1.-The Madrid core
spondent of the Daily Telegraph says;
There is reason to believe that q GER
! tain number of Spanish troops would be
withdrawn under decent pretext from
! Cuba. provided the American govern
ment would advise the insurgents to ac-
cept the new order of things. Most peo-
pie believe that Spain's sovereignty in
Cuba is drawing to an end: but if it
were lost by diplomatic methods civil
war would ensue.
Despite the governments large 4na-
| jority in the Cortes, Spain really desires
| 10 make the utmost sacrifices for the
! preservation of peace: and no govern
ment can afford to go further in the mat
ter of concessions than the present De-
raj Cabinet But even it must draw
| the line somewhere
| PRESIDENT SEES THE DRIFE.