The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1898-03-07
TALK OF WAR in HAVANA
TACTICS OF UNITED STATES IN
EVENT OF Il RUPTURE.

GF AyAvA cE IL hCL Cuhs
AS Conviction Becomes Settled That Naval
Court VIII Decide That a Mine Exploded
Under the Maine, American Naval OH
GERS Discuss War Steps-Believe Ameri-
can Troops VIII Form Junction With
the Cuban Army and That Havana viii
be Either Blockaded or Bombarded.
Havana, via Key West, Fla, March
6.-As the conviction becomes settled
that the court of inquiry will decide
that there was a mine explosion under
the Maine, discussion among American
naval officers and civilians here Is
prevalent as to the warlike measures
which it is believed the United States
government will adopt in case the ques-
tion of indemnity by Spain is over
ruled. A majority believe that Ameri-
can troops will be landed at some
point east of Havana and the insur-
gents communicated with and the
Spanish soldiery will be defeated or
captured in detail and that in the
meantime a fleet of United States ves-
sells will blockade If not lombard Ha-
vana. No one seems to doubt that the
capture of this city would be easily ac-
complished.
That some Spaniards are of opinion
that an attack on Havana will be
made is believed to be shown by the
abnormal activity displayed on board
the Vizcaya. This correspondent has
the best naval authority for the state
ment that the Vizcaya is in a constant
state of readiness for emergencies and
that packet boats are on the alert day
and night inside the harbor and out
side the harbor. 1t Is pointed out that
the men-of war Vizcaya and Almirante
Oquendo might be caught in a blockade
and fall an easy prey to United
States fleet The cruiser Alfonso XIII
is without boilers and would be of no
account All this discussion of the
probability of war among the Ameri-
cans 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 show no disposition to
make thorough inquiry. 1t is impos-
sible to learn the truth fully regarding
the purpose of the Spanish court of In
quiry, but it is generally believed that
the divers We're sent down for form $
sake only and that a report will be
made in accordance with instructions
from Madrid. 1t may be that the
Spanish divers have discovered that
the whole port side Of the Maine for
ward is gone and having so reported
further examination is deemed unnec-
essary. The work of our own divers
henceforward is bound to be slow, ow-
ing to the ponderous weights to be
moved; and the safety clamps, nuts
and rivets 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 mucn affected by the suffering
| that he found in Matanzas and highly
| indignant at what he calls the 1nhu-
| manity of the course pursued" Dur
| ing a visit to Artemisa he saw thou
| sand Of reconcentrados, who refused to
| beg, though starving. They We're evil
| IDENTIFY of the class accustomed to make
| their own living and unwilling to be-
| come paupers. He saw thousands of
| acres of the best tobacco and banana
| lands in the world reduced to waste,
with trochas and garrisons at every
| village and cross road. His drivers,
pointing to the mountains fifteen miles
| away, said: There are plenty of in
surgent camps there that the Spanish
| have never discovered" The work of
distribution of American relief under
| Miss Clara Barton and her assistants
| is, In Senator Proctor's Judgment, care
| fully and effectively carried on. The
| demand is far in excess of the supply.
| The supplies expected at Matanzas and
| Sagua La Grande to be brought by
| American cruisers will afford unspeak-
| able relief.
| Now that the Almirante Oquendo and
the Vizcaya are lying in the harbor
| the Spaniards exultingly declare that
| the city is safe and it is given out Off
cially in the newspapers that the new
| arrival is of the same size, armament
and complement as the Vizcaya.