Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1898-03-25

Preparations for War Pushed with Ur-
gent Haste.--RepOrt on the Maine Dis-
aster Now In the Presidents Hands---
Expectation OF Decisive Action Tow
ard spain Next Week.
The past week has been the most
strained and anxious in its impression
on the public mind of any like period
since the Maine was blown up. The daily
newspapers have been filled with every
sort of conjecture and declaration, some
OF them of the most alarming character.
But when everything is sifted down to a
basis of fact the only thing positively
known which is Of real Importance is that
the report Of the court of enquiry was fin
ished Tuesday, the court being then in
session at Key West, and the report was
then turned over to Rear Admiral Sicard
for his approval. Lieutenant Commander
Mark, judge advocate of the court, left
that day with the report for Washington
to place it in the hands of Secretary Long.
He was due to arrive in that city last
night or this morning. He was accompan-
personal guards.
Nothing whatever is known of the find
ing of the court. 1t is believed that the
President and Secretary Long have not
had advance knowledge of its import. 1t
is very volumnous document and the ex-
pectaton is that two or three days will be
required for its examination by the Presi-
dent. 1t will probably be sent to Congress
and given to the public next Monday or
Tuesday. 1t is understood that what the
President desires is that, when received in
Congress, the report shall be referred to
the committees on foreign affairs of the
two houses without debate and there re-
main until reply has been received to
the note which our government will ad-
dress to the government at Madrid.
At one time it was said that the President
wished Congress to finish its business and
adjourn, leaving him to deal with the
Cuban question in his own discretion. 1t
is now said, and probably more truly, that
he will lay before Congress all obtainable
information and make that body equally
responsible with the Executive for what
ever action is taken.
The feeling has been growing during
the week that the result of the Maine en-
quiry has become matter of only second
AIRY Importance, and that the actual ques-
ton at issue is what course shall be taken
with regard to putting an end to the war
in Cuba and stopping the death of the
helpless reconcentrados by starvation. 1t
is upon this point that the public feeling
has grown so intense during the week. 1t
is said that so conservative man as Sena-
tor Hale Of Maine has informed the Presi-
dent that he believes the feeling in Con-
gress cannot be longer restrained after the
Maine report is received, and that he fears
war is inevitable.
Early in the week Speaker Reed was at
the White House in consultation with the
President-an unusual occurrence-and 1t
is suspected, naturally, that this visit had
reference to the excited feeling on the
Spanish situation and the possible action
to be taken in Congress.
Preparations for the national defence
have been pushed night and day, seemingly
with feverish haste. Yesterday the ten old
fashioned single-turreted monitors lying at
the League Island navy yard, Philadelphia,
were ordered into commission, fact which
shows how every available resource is being
made use of by the government. Efforts
have been made to buy more warships
abroad, but without success. 1t is now
said, definitely, that Chilli will not sell the
O'Higgins. The ship Amazonas, bought
of Brazil in England, has been named the
New Orleans. She is practically ready to
sail for this country. The other Brazilian
ship will bear the name of Albany in honor
of the capital of the Empire state. That
also is being rapidly made ready for serv-
ice.
Two or three of our warships have been
withdrawn from Key West and an auxil-
iary squadron has been formed in Hamp-
ton Roads. The correspondents surmised
that this action was taken because of a
representation by Spain that the existence
VI 81 sc sHuaulOn az hey WeSI WAS
"unfrendly" encouragement of the Cuban
rebels, and that as a friendly act in offset
the Spanish fotilla of torpedo boats, on its
way to the West Indies, had been stopped
at the Canary Islands. But upon this
point, or upon any other, the officials at
Washington have given no information
whatever Their mouths have been abso-
lutely closed upon subjects relating to the
"war" situation. The correspondents
know whatever they can see and no more.
The rest is pure conjecture.
There is no doubt that Spain is prepar-
ing for an emergency just as actively as is
this country. The difference is that the
Spanish newspapers are strictly forbidden
to publish any information whatever about
the preparations which are going on.
The Presidents Probable Course of