Evening journal., 1898-03-18
THE DONS WORKED UP.
Declare That Intervention In Cuba
May Lead to War.
BERNABE CONSULTS WITH DAY.
New squadron TO Be Formed-Laine, tho
Newspaper Man, Thinks He Has
Found n weyIerite Plot.
News From Havana.

WASHINGTON March 1s.-A semi
official statement given out at Madrid
advancing the government view that a
demand for indemnity based on Span
tsh responsibility for the Maine explo-
sion would be Indignantly repelled by
Spain attracted much interest in off,
cial circles. There has been little doubt
for some time that Spain was preparing
for the contingency OF an adverse re-
port by the American court Of inquiry
and TO that end was preparing to an
ticipate and offset IL by making clear
the government policy Of standing by
the representative Of the Spanish naval
court
The representative of the latter body
is due in Madrid now, and while its con-
clusions are not officially known 1t is a
foregone conclusion that It will find
that the Maine disaster was due to ac-
cident resulting iR internal explosion.
This was foreshadowed In the advance
utterances of Captain Peral, head Of
the Spanish commission, who stated
publicly several days ago that the the
ory Of external explosion was untena-
BILE
Along with the semiofcial statement
from Madrid that a demand for indem-
nifty will be Indignantly repelled Is the
further statement from reliable sources
that Spain has made Il clear to the au-
thorities here that intervention may
lead to war. The prospects of such in
tervention appear to be seriously en-
tertained by Spain and strong efforts
have been made TO avert II by showing
that the condition Of the reconcentra-
dos did not warrant the step and that
It would threaten to end all prospects
Of further pacific negotiations.
Both governments have been sound
Ing each other on the activity OF the
other in searching for ships. but there
has been little ground for objection on
either side. as both have been in the
Bame markets.# The administration ex-
plains its buying Of ships on the ground
that Spains attitude has been 50 men
Rcing as naturally to call for an aug
mented navy while Spain takes the
same view that the activity IN the Unit
I'd States requires suitable preparations
by the Spanish navy. The report that
Spain had protested against flibus-
tering expedition to Puerto Rico cannot
be verified, as officials here say the ex-
pedition has not yet got away
nl 0HAAltiA MINISTER AHlAfl at Ant
state department yesterday afternoon
and remained with Judge Day some
thing over an hour. Both parties TO the
conference were extremely reserved al
Its conclusion It Is understood, how
ever, that IL developed no new phases
but was a general talk. in which pacific
assurances were exchanged and a hope.
ful view OF the situation expressed.
At that time the naval orders taking
the battleshps Texas and Massachu'
setts from Key West and assigning
them to the fleet at Hampton roads wal
not known at the state department, sS
that the minister was not officially in
formed OF the fact. He heard 1t later
however. and was naturally much graf
lhed. as the gradual strengthening o
the American fleet at Key West ha
been the source of grave apprehension
by the Spanish government.