The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1898-03-26
CONTINUE PREPARATIONS
KNOW NO HOURS OF REST.
General Belief at the National Cnp-
itaI of the Statement in the Army
and Navy Register That the
Maine WINS blown Up by Gov
eminent Submarine Mine.

Washington March l9.-War prepare
tions, like wars, recognize no regular
hours. All hours and minutes count in
the work, and all are utilized to the very
best advantage. The Secretaries of War
and the Navy know no hours of rest. They
have their regular office hours at the de
Partments, and then have their confer
ences with subordinate officers at home.
The positive declaration OF the Army
and Navy Register that the President has
certain evidence in an unofficial way
showing that the Maine was blown up by
a government submarine mine deliberate
~ exploded by Spanish officials has at
tracted much comment in Washington.
Is Conservative and Reliable.
Army and navy officials regard the Reg
lister as very conservative and reliable in
it's statements, and do not believe 1t could
have made this assertion without the very
best evidence that il was correct. 1t
agrees with the daily press reports from
Havana, Key West, and Washington. 1t
has been repeatedly denied at the White
House and Navy Department that there
had been any official communication from
the board of inquiry. That is regarded a
jury whose verdict should be beyond
even the suspicion OF having been inhu
enced by any high power.
These denials are no doubt literally cor
rect, and yet it is the general belief that
there has been outside information laic
before President Mckinley that made hin
abandon the accident theory and bcgr
active preparations for war.
Some OF this information came before
the Maine was blown up II came from
Consul General Lee, who doubted the wis
dom of sending war vessel to Havan;
On q peace mission. He doubted the pro
LESSONS of friendship by the Spaniards
He had reason to suspect treachery. IL
communicated these suspicious TO tn
state department and to the president.
There have been other evidences o
treachery which did not come from tn
board OF inquiry. Not all the cvidenc
OF how the hattlcship was blown up
held exclusively by the board OF inquiry
There has been much that the genera
public has received from outside source,
Received Unofficial Evidence.
The president and his cabinet have II
ceived much evidence that is unoficia
which did not Justify the administrator
in waiting for the official report befor
beginning preparations Tor war
1t has ben repeatedly said that tn
president will not begin war No OH
doubts that, but one of the most eXpcr
enced diplomats in Washington said tina
this could be quite true and yet ther
was every indication OF war. If Spai
was directly responsible for the explosio
it was a hostile act and meant war unlc'
she apologizcd and made such rcparatio
as might be demanded. Indemnity alor
could not settle the question. 1T must
the disavowal of the act, the execution
the officials who offended, the reductio
and disgrace of the captain general und,
whose jurisdiction it occurred, the pa,
ment of an indemnity, the salute of Il
flag, and the surrender Of Cuba, if tn
government so demanded.
For such an act this government Won
be justified in demanding the most COZ
plete surrender by Spain and that wit
very short notice, of the investment
Havana harbor. 1t is for such an eme
gency that the government is preparin
1t does not fear another attack by Spai
It does not fear that Spain will boz
bard New York OF capture some of o.
merchant vessels without provocation.
has no reason to fear that Spain is see
ing war, but it knows that it must
prepared 20 make war unless certa
things are done regarding the blowing