The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-18
Especial to Atlanta Journal.

has protested against our naval dis
play in Cuban waters and has asked
what our preparations mean. The
protest was the outcome of the first
official visit Of Senor Polay Bernardo
to the State department since his re-
ception there.
Assistant Secretary of State Day
declined to give definite respor so
to the Spaniard regarding the con-
tinued preparation Of war vessels in
Cuban waters, but in reply to the
question as to why we were buying
war ships a foreign waters he said,
rs far as [ can learn:
"We are purchasing war vessels
in foreign waters to take the place
Of the battleship that was lost in
foreign waters"
No one believes hero moment
that Spain's demand that we with
draw our ships from Havana will be
met. 1t has become evident here
that the prediction made in these dis
patches by Quesada that Spain
would try to delay matters further
by more promises of autonomy, were
we'll founded. There is now hardly
any doubt that the new minister's
special mission to this country is to
secure our cooperation in now au-
tonomy scheme for Cuba.
The Spanish minister's request for
the United States to withdraw our
ships from Havana is based on this
plan. The United States is informed
that the presence Of battleships in
Cuban ports is hinderance to Spain
in carrying out her program of per
footing autonomy. The official re-
plies of this country to these requests
have not yet been made, but it is
thought that they will be such as to
propitiate Spain or further jeopardize
the interests Of the Cuban insurgents
ANOTHER SHIP BOUGHT.
In pursuance Of the expressed de-
termination Of tho President yestcr~
day to continue preparations for
war, Secretary Long has practically
closed tho deal for another vessel.
The vessel in question is tho May
flower, steam yacht built by Ogden
Gillette. Its deck is protected and
it is one Of three fast yachts in Tho
world. 1t will be fitted out as a
torpedo dispatch boat. This Will
make three vessels purchased out
right by tho government in ono wock.
In addition to this Secretary Long
has the option on the dynamite
throwing gunboat Nicheroy, which
can be closed as soon as hostilit os
seem inevitable.
The President has endorsed the
purchase Of the May flower and Sec
retary Long has ordered tho boat to
proceed to New York at once.
PRESIDENT READY 10 ACT.
The President is quoted by Son
tor today as saying:
III would rather sec my admins.
tration an ignominlous failure than
that it should be responsible for IN
unholy war"
This shows that the President,
while preparing vigorously for war
fare, is praying to avoid one, if pos
sible.
This same Senator said:
"The President will maintain tho
honor of tho country and insist
upon full reparation for the Maine
disaster, incieen to rccoI Inizng
tho independence of Cuba. do not
think he will be swerved from tl.is,
the main issue, but do expect to
see him secure Cnbau independer co
without war. How, I don't know,
nor do think he does at ttlis
time."
NAVAL APPROPRIATION BILL. g..
When tho naval appropriation bill
is finally reported to the House it
will more closely resemble the naval
budget Of Great Britain than ever
before on the score of economy. The
appropriations for increase of the