The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-02-25
THE SITUATIONS PERILOUS
PRECEDENT M'KINLEY,S views RE-
PORTED BT n HIGH OFFICIAL.

PORTED BIZ n HIGH OFFICIAL.
n the Heard or InauirJ Pound That the Loss
or the Maine wss Caused By . submsrine
raine. It would ne sumciont to Cause This
Gevernment TO Declare war on spain
Tho People would Net Anow the Govern
ment to Take Any other C~eurse-Prep-
arations for AN RmerEency Coutinue.
WASHINGTON, Fob. 24.-President Mckinley
and Secretary Long are still inclined to believe
that the Maine met her fate through an acct
dent. but they are by no means committed to
that opinion. What views they have will DO
abandoned II they do not agree with the findings
Of the Board Of Inquiry, in the Judgment OF
which the Administration has every con-
fdence. Tho President has talked with
several OF his friends in Congress about
the disaster, and has expressed himself freely
to them. Among those with whom he spoke on
the subject to-day were vice.President Hobart
and Senators Spooner and Hale. According to
one OF the callers, the President made use Of the
statement that the country was resting on q vol
cano which might erupt at any time. and showed
very clearly that no did not regard q resort TO
war as beyond the limits OF probability. II, he
said. the Board of Inquiry ascertained that
the loss of tho Maine was caused by the OK
plosion OF a submarine mine. war would DO
inevitable. 1t would not matter, he said.
whether the mine was exploded without the
oogniSance of the Spanish authorities; the fact
that the Maine had been allowed to anchor over
such q dangerous device that could be fired BY
some irresponsible officer Of the Spanish ser
vice, whose feelings of enmity toward
the United States might induce him 10
send the Maine to the bottom and destroy
much human life by merely pressing o button,
would DO sufficient to cause this Government to
declare war on Spain. The country. said the
President. according to THE SUNS informant,
would not allow the Government to take any
other course.
Preparations for an emergency continue,
although everything 10 done in the ~quietest
manner possible. There was some telegraphic
correspondence to-day between the Navy De-
partment and Admiral Bunce, Commandant of
Brooklyn Navy Yard, which is supposed to re-
late to tho presence of tho vizcaya In
New York harbor. 1t was said this
afternoon that the Vizcaya would be
watched until she was known to DO bound for
Havana or some port not in the United States.
The kilograms to and from Admiral Bunce may
have related to that reported intention. The
monitor Terror, whose hasty preparation for
service was completed last night, left tho Nor
folk Navy Yard early this morning, aad later
in tho day dropped anchor in Hamp-
ton Roads to await orders in connec-
tion with tho vIzcaya. Secretary Long
said this evening that no new orders had been
issued to the Terror. 1t is now moro than prob
able that she will 20 to New York IL the vizcaya
proceeds directly thence to Havana. The reports
from several States that inquiries have been
made Of militia organizations AZ to their gen.
eral efficiency. the number of men who could
be available for service outside their States,
and how many men could be recruited In
twenty. hours notice, arc not based
on lettors cent out with tho knowledge Of tho
Secretary of War. They may have been made,
however. by the Division of Military Informa.
ton, which Is constantly gathering data in rela.
ton to the condition of the militia forces and
ascertaining how many men could be depended
on for service IL war should occur. A meeting
of the Adjutant Generals of the various States
was held recently in st. Louis, and 1t was suR-
gested at tho War Department to-day that tho
questions to commanders of militia ORGANIZE
tions may have been formulated at that meeting.
To-day tho Navy Department completed q
statement showing the number of men that
would be mustered by the naval militia at the
call of the Government. New York and Massa-
chusetts were the strongest orRanizations for
years, but tho activity of the Chicago battalion
has resulted in Its leading all others. Illinois
ClhlHlS 10 nave Inc mOSG perfectly organized and
disciplined naval reserve In tho country. al
though tho navy people say that Massa.
chusetts and New York, being older and
more experienced. arc better. Chlcaeo's
fresh.water sailors, with officers mustered
In, number 523 men. but tho reports
of the Governor indicate that this force could
be largely augmented II necessity arose. New
York 10 next in point of strength. with 472, then
Massachusetts. with AL; California, with $3.50;
New Jersey. with 1854; Maryland. with 24o, and
the other Eastern and Southern States with or.
CARNATIONS varying from 225 In Georgia to a.
in Virginia, where an organization has just been
perfected. Every State from Massachusetts to
Louisiana, following the coast line. now sup
ports reserves. The inland States having or
CARNATIONS are Ohio, Illinois. Michigan, and
Missouri.
That there Is plenty of available material for
charging tho enlisted force Of the navy to an