The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1898-04-07
Spain DECIDES TO RESIST
President Puts Hostile Finalities in
the Hands Of Congress.
DlPL0NlAC": NOW AT AN END.

Madrid Reached Definite CnncluBion &C
Make No Further Concessions to, the
United States-The Spanish Torpedo
EIotiila Arrives at Porto Eico-oui
War Fleets Strips For Hostiiities
WASHINGTON, D. C. (SpecirD.-The Span.
isA answer to tho Administrators de,
-nands tor the restoration OF civil order irs
Cuba brought the two Governments al
Madrid and Washington definitely to the
parting OF the way. Though in measure
fragmentary and obscure, the summary Of
the concessions orered by the Sagasta
Cabinet, which Minister Woodford trans.
mitted By cable, was full and clear enough
to show that Spain, while yielding far
more than the United States could have
reasonably expected at any previous stage
OF the negotiations between the two couG-
tries, had nevertheless left Unfulflied tho
condition OF absolute independence for the
CG0ans, which has within the last few
days come TO be looked on as the most
popular and essential feature OF the Solu-
ticn OF tho Cuban problem.
The Cabinet meeting received Sp2i2's
answer TO the proposition OF this GoTera-
meGt, and, finding it unsatisfactory. prac-
ticaliy decided upon a policy which placed
the whole record before Congress, aad tho
responsibility OF further action upon that
body.
Tho Spanish Minister called ut the State
Department and was in conference with
Judge Day for some time. Although there
was the strictest reserve as to what oc-
Cured. it can be stated positively that the
United States submitted no further pro-
positions, nor did the Spanish Minister Of
fer anything which changed the situation
of affairs. Both sides regarded the issue
as made up.
Great surprise was felt IN Washington
when news came by way OF Madrid TINT
the Spanish torpedo boat dotilla had ar
rived at Porto Rico. The three tor"edo
boats, three torpedo destroyers AM the
troop ship conveying them made good
time. They had only been sighted once,
and that was on March %, the day they
sailed, when o vessel that reached London
from Las Palmas passed them few
miles of the Canary Islands, steaning
slowly south.
Ell Liberal gives tho following description
OF ths little flotilla:
Torpedo catcher Furor, 4os tons; COM
mander, D. Carlior; n men. Torpedo
catcher Pluton, 45O tons; commander, P.
.yasquez; "a men. Torpedo catcher Terror,
405 tons; commander, F. de Is Rocha; ~
men. Torpedo boat Rayo, 12o tons; COM
!mander, Senior Rio; y men. Torpedo
boat AZor. 100 tons; commander, 2. de
,Eguin; 26, men. Torpedo boat Ariete, 12o
tons; commander, II. ,Somoza; 2S men.
Transport Cludad de Cadiz.
Sailing on Mareh23, rhey have taken nine
days to make the trip across the Atlantic.
The feet has made better time than was
expected. The quick passage is explained
by the fact that they met nothing but good
weather and that they had no accidents.
Soon after the arrival OF the news that
Spain's torpedo fotilla had reached Porto,
Rico, official advices were received at the
State Department from Consul General
Lee, announcing thas the Vizcaya and
Oqusndo, the formidable Spanish cruisers,
had sailed for Porto Rico.
by this action Spain prevented the
blockade OF he- armored cruisers in the
harbor OF Havana and has taken measures
to reinforce her torpedo boat fotilla TO
such an extent that It will be impossible
for the naval force of this Government TO
take them without probably sustaining
serious damage itself.
The realities OF war were made evil
dent to the crews OF both.the naval aeets at
Hampton Roads and ut Key West, when all
the deck furniture, as well as the fifteen or
twenty cutters which every warship car
ries, were sent ashore.
The decks were literally cleared for ac-
tion. Only the boats used by the officers
in going from ship to ship were left on
board. This means that when actual bat
tie comes there will be no escape-no life
boats for the GOO men on each OF the first
class battls-ships. They must all survive
or perish with the ship.
The Spaniards would depend for the de-
Tense Of Havana solely upon the submarine
mines which have already done such deadly
work against the Maine.
But Captain Sampson will not be caught
mapping. It Is estimated that Havana
can be- blockaded and starved into SUBJ
mission in from ten to fifteen days.
Secretary Gage and Chairman Dingley
conferred on "war taxes, Withinssa few
days Of the beginning of hostilities addi-
tional taxes will be levied on beer and
tobacco. New import taxes will be
imposed on tea and coffee. The
war taxes imposed from 1861 to 1865
raised s3I1 ,o00, 900 per annum. II exactly
the same taxes were imposed to-day on ex-
actly the same articles. Secretary Gage
estimates that the revenue would be- $685.
600, 900 yearly. The vast increase shows