Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-04-04

decided that the Spanish torpedo flo
tilla is to remain at the Cape de Verde
Islands until further orders. The flo
tilla will be joined later by a squadron
composed of the armored cruiser EN-
peror Charles ", of 9235 tons; the
cruiser Alfonso Kill. of 5000 tons;
the armored cruiser Infanta Teresa. of
1000 tons, and the armored cruiser
Cristobal Colon, of 6,S40 tons which
will accompany the torpedo f1otilla to
Cuba
1t has also been decided by the gov
eminent to send the armored cruiser
Vizcaya and Admiral Oquendo, both Of
1000 tons, back to Havana. They will
receive orders to this effect as soon as
they sight Porto Rico
A national subscription to strength
en- the Spanish fleet will be organized
by royal decree; but the decree will
not be published before a declaration
of war.
The cabinet, which met at o'clock
last night, discussed the situation until
midnight. At the close of the confer
ence it was declared that no official
news had been received at that time
from Washington. But it was admit
ted that the ministers were filled with
gloomy impressions. One cabinet min
lister declared that he had received pri-
vate information confirming the eX
IRENE
GRAVITY OF THE SITUATION.
The minister for war, Lieutenant
General Correa, submitted for the ap-
proval of the cabinet, elaborate plans
for the organization of the military
forces of the kingdom.
The minister for the home depart
ment, Don Ruiz y Capdepond, in an in
terview declared that everything point
ed to war.
The cabinet has examined PROPOSE
lions for the arming of merchant YES
sells as privateers; but it has been de-
cided to await events before coming to
any decision on this subject.
Finally, a telegram from the Spanish
Minister at Washington, Senior Polo
Bernabe, was read at the cabinet meet
ing, in which Senior Bernabe said
President Mckinley will be overruled
by Congress.
The armored cruiser Emperor
Charles V. has been ordered to leave
to-day for Ferrol. Officials here now
frankly admit that the situation is
delicate in the extreme. They con-
slider war as being imminent and 1t is
popularity believed that President Nc
Kinley will address an ultimatum to
Spain early next week
All parties are offering
AID TO THE GOVERNMENT.
Even the Carlist chiefs are presenting
themselves to Premier Sagasta, prof
fering their services in the emergency.
The newspapers are denouncing the
Rishop of Barcelona on account of the
letter which he wrote proposing the
abandonment of Cuba provided SPANS
commercial and religious interests are
guaranteed.
Other bishops are calling on the gov
eminent to resist the United States
and are offering money to aid the mil
itarv and naval preparations The
newspapers say there is a great patri-
otto movement on foot throughout the
provinces in aid of the naval fund
The trial of the new cruiser Alfonso
XIII. is reported to have been carried
out with satisfactory results. II IS
added that she will be commissioned
to ioin the Havana squadron forth
with
fotilla of torpedo boats and tor
pedo boat destroyers is being prepared
for active service at Cadlz
A decree has been gazetted creating
225, OO0, coo pesetas of new treasury
notes on the guarantee OF the recelpts
from theTtobacco stamps and octrol
duties.
The members of the diplomatic corps
are Joining in taking steps to AVOID
war. They are under the leadership
of the Papal nuncio, Mgr. Franclca
Naya. the archbishop of Catinia. and
the Austrian ambassador here, Count
Dubsky.
The organizers of this afternoon
meeting to protest against the
TORTURING OF ANARCHIST
prisoners will declare they are deter
mined to prevent it being transformed
into a demonstration against the
United States, which is threatened.
The minister of marine, Admiral Ber-
meio. continues receiving many petit
tions from foreign and Spanish mer-
chants and sea captains, who are de-
sirous of obtaining letters of marque,
so as to fit out privateers in the event
of war breaking out between the
United States and Spain
There was little excitement in Mad
rid this afternoon, owing principally to
the fact that thcfe was no bull hight
to-day.
Extra precautions were taken to pre-
vent disorder at the Republican mass
meeting this afternoon. The number
of guards at the United States lega-
ton was increased.
The object of the demonstration was
to demand a revision of the sentences
imposed upon political and other Of
tenders. to protest against the tortur
ing of anarchists in the prison of the
Fortress of Monjuicha, Barcelona, to
demand the free import of wheat, and
TO demand universal CONSUMPTION, with
out the redemption of the rich con-
scripts.
The demonstration, contrary to ex-
pectation, turned out to be very quiet
and formal affair In fact, it may be