Evening star., 1898-04-02
THE WEEK.


The Spanish cabinet replied to the de-
nands of the United States by Offering to
release and take care Of the reconcentrados
| until they could become self-sustaining and
| to consider the question of an armistice ii
| the request for it came from the insurgents
the answer was considered unsatisfactory
by the President and his advisors, and 1t
was announced that the whole matter
| would probably be referred to Congress on
Monday. Senior Quesada, the representa-
tive of the insurgent government here, said
the insurgents would not ask for armis-
| tice. The Spanish torpedo flotilla arrived
at Porto Rico The Spanish cruisers Viz
oaya and Oquendo sailed from Havana,
presumably to join the fiotilla. General
Blanco had a talk with the officers of the
volunteers in Havana and impressed upon
them the seriousness of the situation, and
urged them to be patriotic in this crisis
call was issued for all able-bodied men in
the island to enlist in the cause of SPAIN
The report of the Maine court of inquiry
was sent to Congress Monday; it found that
the ship was destroyed by an external ex-
plosion, but did not attempt to fix the
responsibility; the reading of the report
aroused the war spirit in both houses and
number of resolutions were quickly Of
tered, some recognizing the independence of
Cuba, while others contained virtual decla-
ratious of war against Spain. a caucus of
republican members of the House was held
diiu SldHu taken against 1urlher Oelay In
bringing the Cuban question to head; the
revolt was only checked by representations
on the part of the friends of the President
that demand had been made on SPAIN to
Wn1cn an answer was expected, which
would settle the whole question in a salts
factory manner. The general elections last
Sunday to the Spanish cortes resulted in a
decided victory for Premier Sagasta the
liberals winning about 300 out of the 432
| seats. A special cablegram from Madrid
stated that the public there regarded war
as inevitable. The Queen Regent of Spain
made personal appeal to Queen Victoria
20 use her influence toward mediation, but
the latter turned the letter over to Lord
Salisbury. NJ. Hanotaux, French minister
OF foreign affairs. stated in the chamber of
deputies at Paris that the United States
and Spain were equally dear to France
Preparations for war were continued at all
points along the coast. The feet of war
ships at Key West was made ready to
| move at fifteen minutes notice; their decks
were stripped of all woodwork and the off,
GERS sent their valuables ashore Orders
were issued for the organization of a mos
quito fleet for the defense Of the seacoast
cities. Commodore Schley raised his flag
On the Brooklyn at Hampton Roads and as
sumed command of the flying SQUADRON
The New York legislature appropriated ST.
OOOOOO as contingent war fund; similar
resolutions were introduced in other legfs-
| latures General Miles issued an order for
concentrating troops. A second Spanish
torpedo flotilla, it was said, was to be pre-
pared for sea at Cadiz. The Navy Depart
| ment was advised of the departure of two
| Spanish warships from Carthagena for Gu
| ba. General Blanco issued decree ending
reconcentration In the provinces of Pinar
del Rio, Havana, Matanzas and Santa
| Clara. The defenses of Manila, Philippine
Islands, were strengthened, with a view of
guarding against possible attack by sea.
Domestic.
A severe earthquake shock was felt in
! central California Thursday night; several
houses in San Francisco were wrecked, but
no fatalities occurred. At the Mare Island
| navy yard the machine shop was wrecked
and damage was done to the extent of
$25O,000. Heavy rains again swelled the
Ohio and other western rivers beyond the
danger line, doing considerable damage In
| Indiana and nlinpis. A terrific windstorm
was reported to have killed several families
| In Indian territory. Ali Ferouck Bey, the
| new Turkish minister at Washington. pre-
sentsd his credentials. The Supreme Court
decided that person born in this country
of Chinese parents Is a citizen. The funeral
| of Lieutenant jenkins of the Maine was
| held at Allegheny, Pa Anton Seidl died at
| his home in New York.
Foreign.
1t was rumored in London that Japan
had asked the United States to join Great
Britain in supporting Japan's refusal to
withdraw from Wei-Hai-Wei after the
| payment Of the Chinese war Indemnity. 1t
was announced in the house Of commons
| that Russia had notified the British gov
| ernment that Port Arthur and Ta-Lien-
| Wan would be opened to foreign trade.
| The Anglo Egyptian force operating on the
| Nile captured the town OIL Shendy, rout-
Ing the dervishes and cutting on the main
| body of their advancing army from their
base of supplies. The condition Of William
e. Gladstone continued very critical Forty
eight members Of the crew of the steamer
| Greenland perished In storm in North
| Atlantic Zoe noes. n. Emile Zola's appeal
came up before the court of cessation in
Paris; the belief was expressed that the
case would not be retired and that the SEN
| tence Of q years imprisonment would not
be imposed. Mrs. Della Stewart Parneli,
mother OF the late Charles Stewart Par
Lell. died from the effects OF burns at her
home In Ireland.
In the District.
The House District COMMITTEES granted =
hearing on the subject Of proposed amend
ments 70 the highway act along the lines