The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-03-24

washington. March 24.-The feeling Is
universal that the elimination OF the
Spanish crisis Is near With the re-
port OF the Maine court of inquiry only
little while off. with the White House
the center OF long and earnest conferen-
ces between the president and the party
leaders and with exceptional activity
towards emergency preparations in the
war and navy departments, there Is
abundance or evidence that definite re-
suits regarding the Maine disaster, and
the Cuban question in general are about
TO be reached.
There has been no change in the plan
Of sending the report to congress early
next week. probably Monday. accomp-
anied by message from the president.
1t Is definitely settled, however. that the
message and the papers accompanying
Ii will relate exclusively to the Maine
disaster. The message will not take
UP the fearful condition of Affairs In
Cuba as shown by the reports OF United
States consuls, these being reserved for
subsequent action and later message
to congress.
The prevailing impression among the
Republican leaders of the house Is that
the president will intervene in Cuba en-
humane grounds but 1t IL positively
stated by one OF them who is close to the
president that the Intervention will
not come until after the report Of the
board of inquiry goes to congress.
The two questions will be treated
separately" said he. ~and the message
relative to Cuba will be sent to congress
soon after the report on the Maine
question" The Cuban message will
be In effect a declaration to Spain that
the present methods Of warfare in Cuba
must cease. 1t will result in interven-
tion In case Spain demurs. The message
will be accompanied by the reports of
the consuls in Cuba Mr.. Dolliver says
that Intervention on humane grounds
will place our action upon moral level
that would command the broad SYM
pathy OF the world. 1--WE could afrord,'
he says, Ito waive all question as to the
Maine IL the board does not fix the re-
sponsibility for the disaster on Spain,
In order to make the greater ISSUE"
The remark attributed to Admiral Sic
ard at Key West. to the effect that the
case of the Maine was perhaps the most
peculiar In the history OF modern times.
II interpreted here as clearly indicating
that the direct responsibility for the
explosion cannot be placed. During the
progress Of the investigation. the law
officers Of the government have been
giving the legal side OF the question
their close attention. and the statement
is made that the case Of the Maine is
indeed peculiar The records, IL Ia said,
do not show that ever before In the in
tercourse Of nations has q vessel of one
power been destroyed in the waters of
another without the cause Of the dis
aster and the responsibility for 1t be-
ing known beyond dispute by any other
nation.
Secretary Long has ordered the double
monitors, Puritan and Terror. to Key
West. where they will reinforce the
squadron in these waters. He also
determined to bring into service the
eight single-turreted monitors at League
island navy yard, Philadelphia, two of
which will be sent to Boston, two to
New York and four held in reserve at
Philadelphia. While there IL vast
difference between the old and the new
type of those engines of destruction, yet
they are essentially the same. and naval
officers say that II Is a great mistake to
believe the effectiveness Of the old mon
itors is past They took part in the
notable engagement resulting in the fall
of Charleston. In recent years they
have been somewhat overshadowed by
the fine cruisers and battleships of the
new navy. but the department never has
lost sight OF them as effective defense
vessels In time Of need They have two
15-inch guns, mounted In a revolving
turret. The turrets are in perfect con-
dition. and the guns. while not of the
latest type. are effective for heavy shots.
The Puritan and Terror take the place
Of the Massachusetts, and Texas. recent
~ withdrawn from the squadron at
Key West. This move was in accord
ance with program previously agreed
upon, though this program has not been
announced heretofore. The Puritan Is
regarded an the most formidable fighting