The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-07
HAvANA'S CAPTURE NOT HARD.
ONLY -FOUR OF THE CITY's DEFENSE
GUNS DANGEROUS.

GUNS DANGEROUS.
Probable Plan of Attack by the Unit
ed States Discussed-SpecuIato
Count on American Troops Being
Landed and Easily Defeating the
Spanish SOIdiers-United States
Fleet Expected to blockade and
Possibly lombard the City-The
Spanish Warships Already Taking
Precautions Against Surprise.
Havana March g. (via Key West, Fla)-
AS the conviction becomes settled that
the court of inquiry win 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 will adopt in case the ques-
ton of the payment of indemnity by Spain
is overruled
A majority believe that American troops
win be landed at some point east of Ha-
vana and the insurgents communicated
with that the Spanish soldiers will be de-
feated or captured in detail, and that in
the meantime a fleet of United S,ates
vessels will blockade, If not lombard Ha-
vana. No one seems to doubt that the re-
duction of this city would be comparative
ly easy. Four twelve-inch guns-two west
and two east of the city-are the only ones
that are considered dangerous. These are
not likely to be we'll served, while their
emplacements are not modern.
That some Spaniards are of the opinion
that an attack on Havana viii be made
is believed to be shown by the abnormal
activity displayed on board the Vizcaya.
The Associated Press correspondent has
the best naval authority for the statement
that the Vizcaya is in constant state
of readiness for emergencies,and that pick
ct boats are on the alert day and night
inside and outside the harbor at night. 1t
is pointed out that the men-of-war VIZ
caya and Admirante Oquendo, when the
latter arrives, might be caught in a block
ade and fall easy prey to a United States
fleet
The cruiser Alfonso XII is without boil
ers, and would be of no account.
All this discussion of the probability of
war among the Americans and Spaniards
proves interesting, 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 they show no disposition to make
thorough inquiry. II is impossible to learn
the truth, fully regarding the purpose OF
the Spanish court OF inquiry, but 1t is
generally believed that the divers were
sent down for FORMS sake only, and that
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 forward
is gone, and having so reported, further
examination is deemed unnecessary
The work of our own divers hencefor-
ward is bound 10 be slow, owing to the
ponderous weights to be moved, and the
safety clamps nuts and rivets that 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
much affected by the suffering that he
found in Matanzas, and highly Indignant
at what he calls the 'inhumanity of the
course pursued" During visit to Arte.
msa, this province, he saw thousands of
reconcentrados who refused to beg, though
starving. They were evidently of a class
accustomed to make their living and un-
willing TO become paupers. He saw thou
sands 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 driver, point
ing TO the mountains fifteen miles away,
said: There are plenty of insurgent
camps there that the Spanish have never
discovered"
The work of distribution of American re-
lief under Miss Clara Barton, Mr.. l1lweIl
and their assistants Is. in Senator Proc
tors judgment, carefully and effectively
carried on. The demand Is far in excess
of the supply. The supplies expected at
Matauzas and Sagua la Grande to be
brought by American cruisers, will afford
unspeakable relief.
Now that the Almirante Oquendo and
the Vizcaya are lying In the harbor, the
Spaniards exultlngly declare that the city
Is safe; and it Is given out officially in the
newspapers that the arrival is of the same
armament and complement as the viz
caya.