Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-03-26
SPANISH AFFAIRS.


Two sessions of the cabinet were held
at Washington yesterday, at which the
report of the United States court of in
curry on the Maine disaster was con-
sidered in detail. The conclusions of
the court, which mere published in
yesterdays Gazette, were cabled to
Minister Woodford at Madrid and he
was instructed to notify the Spanish
govern ment.
Most of the warships of the United
States are now either in American
waters or on their way home. Practi-
cally every foreign station has been
stripped of vessels with the exception
of the Asiatic station. The feet in
, home waters will soop number SO war.
ships, including 10 torpedo boats and
% battleships, monitors, cruisers and
gunboa's. Every available vessel in
the revenue cutter service will be fitted
out at the Norfolk navy yard and sent
| to Key West to reinforce the squadron
commanded by Captain Sampson.
A special cablegram from Madrid
states that the Sagasta council will hold
a council at which startling propo-
sition" looking to peace may be decided
| upon.
Now Ell Liberal, which may be taken
as representing the government, says
in the course of long, we'll considered
article
with extraordinary peace of mind
Spain has abstained from war with the
United States for three years; and even
to-day we believe peace possible. To
the end of attaining peace we have di-
rected all our energy and blood, our
| historical existence and our dictates OF
conscience. We have shown no sign
! of weakness. The peaceful attitude Of
| Spain does not come from debility. l.
is evident that country which has
been able to send an army Of 100000
men three thousand miles away to as
sert its natural authority can scarcely
| be charged with weakness. The ex
plosion of the Maine is attributed to ex.
terror causes. We can suffer nearly all
kinds of ISLANDERS, but not one which
attributes to us national crime. We
do not desire to record in the history
of nations any false imputations. Spain
has, up to date, held the reputation OF
an honorable country. There can be
no nation in the civilized world that
could suspect noble Spain of all imagi
nary crime of such treachery, even tc
wards an enemy"
The government OF Spain, it is stated,
is not disposed to turn back the torpedo
hotilla now proceeding from the Cana.
ries, and would be disinclined to con-
slider suggestion from this govern.
ment, tending to interfere with the dis
position by Spain of her own naval
forces. From the standpoint of the
Spanish government, this move was not
menace, having been decided upon
weeks ago. On the contrary the Span
ish government holds that the extern
sive armament of the Dry Tortugas is
more direct hostile act against Spain
than any movement of the hotilla. H.
stead OF stopping the fotilla, the pres
ent attitude of Spain tends toward re-
inforcing it with other Spanish vessels,
not as q menace, but from what the
Spanish government feels is require
ment called for by the existing condi-
ton of affairs.
The Navy Department was informed
by cable yesterday that the Spanish au
thorties had taken steps to supplement
the existing Notifications of San Juan
de Puerto Rico, the main port of the
island of Porto Rico. Porto Rico is the
only possession which belongs to Spain
on this hemisphere, except Cuba. The
city Of Puerto Rico is fortified after the
old style prevalent in early days, the
defenses consisting of wall which
completely encircles it, of several forts
at strategic points, while the only
means of egress and ingress are through
massive gates. These Notifications are
being strengthened, and the armament
hos been increased by two large guns
of formidable pattern and caliber. San
Juan has % Ala inha bitants.
A DISTRESSING ACcIDENT.-One OF
the saddest accidents that has happened
in that community for years occurred
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