The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-03-12
IS WAR NOW INEVITABLE?
THE PRESIDENT r. IT CANNOT
ne AVOIDED.

TIL PRESIDENT FEARS IT CANNOT
DE AVOIDED.
That Conviction Accounts for the NnobniHattou
OF Warshipa aud OF Troops-The rroard or
lnsuiry VIII Report That the srn,nn was
Blown up by n MIne-The Report Will &c
to Congress with the PrCsidcnt'u Rcconmen.
d~ntion-Grnvc Apprehension In washiusten.
WASHINGTON. March 11.-Presidcnt McKin.
ley. tho members of his Cabinet, and tho officials
OF tho State, War. and Navy Departments who
have knowledge Of information that has been
received from Havana in the last few days are
tonight gravely approhensive. At no time
since the Maine was destroyed has the
situation been 80 critical. and those
in authority arc no longer able to conceal their
deep anxiety. Tho information which has caused
the hopefulness Of the President and his advisers
for an amicablc settlement OF the Cuban uucs-
tion to be changed into fear is. Of course, unot.
fetal, but 1t is none the less reliable. as 1t comes
undor the seal of privacy from Consul. General
Lee and the naval officers now on duty in Ha-
vana.
by letter, by telegram, and by word OF mouth
the President has been told that the explosion
that wrecked the Maine came from the outside
ofthe vessel. One of these Government officers
goes further and says that the testimony taken
by the Board Of Inquiry indicates clearly that
nothing but a submarine mine could have
caused the disaster.
This information had not boon received last
Sunday evening except in the form Of gossip
and rumor. when President Mckinley called Q
| confercncelof the leaders OF the Senate and House
to arrange for the introduction of the $50. OOO,.
600 emergency bill, but since thon 1t has been
made known in such q way that every member
of the Administration feels confident that the
board will report that the explosion was In no
sense accidental.
This conviction and nothing else accounts
for the sweeping orders that have been
issued for concentrating the vessels OF our
navy in the waters adjacent to Cuba
and Of the army troops at points along
tho coast line of tho Gulf States. Nothing but
the fact that tho Administration is convinced
that the very worst is to be feared from the ro-
port Of the Board of Inquiry can account for the
order issued to-day by the Secretary of War
changing and reforming the military divisions
of the country. completely abolishing two d-
visions and creating new ones, in order to make
| u ttiIltOES luDEdCcu IL tuCn "OTO compact
go that operations can be carried on with mil.
itary expedition.
Nothing but the conviction that q conflict Ia
imminent could justify the order already do
cided upon, that will take the Major.Ge neral in
command of the army from the quietudo of his
office in the War Department into the field
In active command of the troops. When Gen.
Miles buckles on his sword to become a real
soldier again he will wear tho stars of q Lieu
| annntGaparal aa thu rraHa iu 70 H. aut,,.
that he may take the rank heretofore CO.
joyed by Washington, Scott. Grant. sher.
man. Sheridan, and Schoflcld. Such official
acts as these are not performed for effect, they
are born of necessity. and whereas. until two or
three days ago, the President was preparing for
war as a means of preserving peace, he is now
mobilizing tho vessels of the navy and the
troops Of the army. because no thinks a conflict
seems to be unavoidable.
Tonight the President Is at n State dinner In
honor of the heir apparent 10 the throne of a
nation that may or may not be friendly to the
United States in case of a war with Spain. To-
morrow he will formally receive tho Minister
from the country with which the United
States may soon be at war. To nei-
Their Of his guests will he indicate
the fear that is in his heart. No member OF the
Cabinet even knows what course the President
will pursue when he receives the report Of the
Board of Inquiry. 1t Is said by some of them
that Mr.. Mckinley does not yet know himself
what action he will take. He has not dis
cussed the situation with them in the
light of the knowledge that the board
will report that the Maine was blown up
by design, and the only indication he has given
OF his knowledge of the truth is the alacrity and
almost eagerness with which he supports the
plans Of the Secretary of the Navy and the SEQ.
rotary of War for putting both arms OF the ser
vice on a thorough war footing ut the earliest
possible moment.
The President has considered various plans
for conveying to Congress and to the country
the findings of tho Board of Inquiry and for
making known his subsequent policy. but it 10
learned on authority that his mind Is not yet
made up. Nothing definite iB known beyond tho
fact that he will demand OF Spain prompt
reparation in the form Of an indemnity
to the amount Of the full value OF
the Maine and heavy punitive damages In addi-
ton. The President Is confident that Spain will
accede to the demand, but he is equally conf
dent that tho people of the United States will
not be satisfied with q reparation based on cash.
This Is why American warships are being head
cd toward Cuba and why troops are being Or
dered from all points to tho East.
Some members of the Cabinet and some OF the
Republicans of the Senate and House with
whom the President has been In hourly consult
tation day and night for tho last week have
urged upon him the wisdom OF announcing the
nature of his demands upon Spain for the loss of
the Maine simultaneously with the publication
of the report OF the Board of Inquiry,
and at the same time to lot It be known
what policy he will pursue to bring about
the freedom of Cuba. All questions involved
In the controversy with Spain should be
settled at one time. these men argue. and
the President has listened to them patiently.
Ho has kept his own counsel. however. and one
of his close friends with whom he talked last
night. says that It is evident the President has
not yet determined what his general Cuban
policy is to be or when or how no will put 1t in
operation.
As is well known, ever since last fall whom
Gen. Woodford presented his letter of ~instruo-
lions the President has been endeayorlnR TO force
tho Sagasta Ministry into a confession OF it's