The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-03-07
WAR FEELING IN HAVANA,


'''-'N f'''A-'''f AtN IN ' - Wa
The Warship Vizcaya Is In Constant
State of Readiness.
Havana, March 7.--As the conviction
becomes settled that The court of in
quiry will decide that there was mine
explosion under the Maine discussion
alnong American naval officers and
civilians here is prevalent as TO the
warlike measures which it Is believed
the Unied States government will
adopt in case the question of the pay
ment Of indemnity by Spain is over
ruled. A majority believe that Amer
ican troops will be landed at some
point cast Of Havana and the insur-
gents communicated with, that the
Spanish soldiery will be defeated or
captured in detail, and that In the
meantime IL fleet of United States ves-
sells will blockade. If not lombard, Ha-
vana. No one seems to doubt that the
reduction of this city would he COM
paratively easy. Four II inch guns
two west and two east of the city--are
the only ones that are considered dan
gerOus. These are not likely to be well
served, while their emplacements are
not modern.
That some Spaniards are of the opin-
ion that an attack on Havana will be
made is believed to be shown by the
abnormal activity displayed on board
the Vizcaya. This correspondent has
the best naval authority for the state
ment that the ViZcaya is in a constant
state of readiness for emergencies, and
that picket boats are on the alert day
and night.
1t is pointed out that the men of-war
Vizcaya and Almrante Oquendo. when
the latter arrived, might be caught in
blockade and fall an easy prey to
a United States fleet. The cruiser AL
fonso XII is without boilers. and would
be of no use. All this discussion of the
probability of war among the Amer-
cans and Spanlards proves nothing,
and only shows the state of feeling
here.
Then conduct OF the Spanish divers
who are in"estgating the wreck of the
Maine is a mystery. Thus far they
have not been down five hours in the
aggregate, and they show no DISPOSE
ton to make a thorough inquiry. 1t Is
impossible to learn the truth fully re-
garding the purpose of the Spanish
court of inquiry. but 1t is generally be-
leved that the divers were sent down
for forms sake only and that report
will be made in acc Iordance with in
structions from Mad,.d. 1t may be
that the Spanish divers have discov-
cred that the whole port side of the
Maine forward is gone and, having so
reported. further examination is deem
ed unnecessary. The work of our own
divers henceforward Is bound to be
slow, owing to the pCndorous weight 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 w2ight in determining
the future policy Of the United States.
TIe is much affected by the suffering
that he found in MatanZas, and highly
indignant at what he calls the ''inhu-
manity of the course pursued" Dur
ing visit to Artemisa, this province,
he saw thousands of reconcentrados
who refused to beg, though starving.
They were evidently Of class accus-
toned to make their own living and
unwilling to become paupers. He saw
thousands of acres of the best tobacco
and banana lands in the world reduced
to waste, with trochas and gairisons
at every village and crossroads. His
drivers pointing TO the mountains Is
miles away, said: "There are plenty
Of insurgent camps there that the
Spanish have never discovered
In addition to Henri Laine. the Ameri-
can correspondent, Vicente Pardo
Suarez, editor of La Republica, and II
others have been arrested, making 13
in all. Eight are in cell AZ and five in
cell 46 at Cabanas Fortress Henri
Laine will be sent north on Wednesday.
1t is officially stated. from American
sources, that two or more American |
correspondents will be required to re-
turn 10 the United States al the same
time The prisoners are charged with !
conspiracy. In all Is are implicated. |
Eleven, it is said, will be sent out Of |
the country and seven to the Isle Of E!
Pines