Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-31
WAR PREPARATIONS ACTIVE


sbly be made ready sooner than In two
months. .
WAR PREPARATIONS ACTIVE.
A severe censorship Is exercised 10 pre-
vent the leakage Of news as to naVai
movements, while the war preparations
continue with the greatest activity, anu
as far as possible. the greatest secrecy.
The utmost efforts are making night ana
day to get the first-class ironclads re-
layo and Carlos V. completed, wneh IL
Is regarded as certain they will be dis
patched. with the cruisers Maria Teresa
and Cristobal Colon, 20 join the Nlzcaya
and Almlrante Oquendo i'm Cuban waters
thus forming a squadron of six armored
vessels against Americas seven.
There is a wave of patriotism over the
country, which, with the enrolment OF
the volunteer corps, is spreading enthu-
siasm throughout Spain.
MONEY FOR NAVY.
All seats have been sold for an opera
performance. realizing about 10000 S2OO,-
OOO, for the navy and similar perform
ances are being arranged in other cities.
The Madrid papers allege that the
South American republics have already
subscribed enough TO build warship, TO
be called the Rio de la Plata. while
Mexico has sent huge donations Inc
Spanish army will give a days pay
orders have been sent to strengthen
the defences at Manila and Porto Rico.
There Is a good deal Of comment upon
Americas purchase OF twenty-three
heavy guns from the Armstrong;. and
it is alleged that both Spain and Japan
had previously refused them, after
trial.
The impression OF the press and the
public generally is that Spain will be able
to make a good show in the event OF war,
although her men-of-war are smaller
than the Americans. She would depend
on her great strength in torpedo-boats'
torpedo catche and torpedo-boat de-
stroyers.
WOODFORD AND SAGASTA
Minister Woodford's proposals are not
vet known to the public here. The papers
assert that when he gave assurances Oh
Americas friendliness, Senior Sagasta
pithily retorted by abiding 10 the war
| like preparations Of the United states
| the attitude of the American congress-
| and the American popular feeling. Cen
| eraI Woodford is said TO have explained
| this as "only natural. in order to be
ready for emergencies"
The result of to-morrow's conference Is
awaited on all sides with the greatest
anxiety and hope.
AID FOR RECoNCENTRADOS.
Midnight-At the Cabine, Council Seno
| Capedon. Minister Of the Interior, ex
nlained the results of the elections, anC
| Senior Moret read a series of fmportan
| documents relative TO the situation o.
| the reconcentrados in Cuba, and the re
sults of the efforts hitherto made TO
their relief. In view of these documents
| Senior Moret proposed and the councl
| anproved an open credit OF 3,VO,OV
nesetas 1855 COO. TO be placed at the DIS
nosition of General Blanco by cable, 4
be used i'm succoring reconcentrados an'
| to facilitate means of work for thos'
| willing to return to their holdings VIII
the supply of needful advances TO en-
able them to till the ground.
The documents read by Senior More
tended TO show that the healthy recon
! centrados who were DESTROYS OF WORKING
could find sufficient labor in the fields
but that those who had lost their imple
ments or the small capital necessary Z
sustain them for three months, whi
waiting for the product of their nus
bandry. needed some kind OF ADMINS
tratiye organization more complex thai
the simple distribution Of food by com
missions created.
AMERICAN PROPOSALS.
Senior Sagasta gave an account OF TN
conference with United States Ministe
Woodford. and explained Americas pro
posals, their character and significance
The council deiberated at great length
and after consideration of the importan
issues depending upon its decision, re
solved to submit the results OF the de
uberations tomorrow to the Queen Re
| gent.
The report that the government ha
obtained the queen Regents signatur
to a new credit from the Bank of Spai
is unfounded.