Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-03-19
SPANISH AFFAIRS.

General Blanc0, IL Is announced III
Madrid, is about to start on an extern
sive campaign to crush the power Of
the insurgents in Cuba. This move is
understood to be intended as an answer
TO the criticisms that the Spanish gov
eminent cannot control the island.
A dispatch from Madrid says it is
stated that the Spanish government has
not SAINT any note since February q
nor instructed its minister at Washing.
ton to make any representations against
the presence of American war vessels
in Cuban ports and the vicinity of the
Spanish West Indies, though their
presence is calculated 10 encourage the
insurgents and cripple the new home
rule policy.
1t was reported in Washington yester-
day that a new basis of agreement be-
tween this government and Spain has
been practically agreed upon and that
negotiations now in progress for secur-
ing home rule for Cuba, as completely
as it is enjoyed by Canada, have the
approval Of the President. The feeling
among members of Congress yesterday
was that the likelihood of war has not
increased during the last twenty-four
hours and developments are expected
which will show the relations between
the two countries to be less strained
than the active preparations for war by
both would seem to indicate.
The Cabinet at Washington unani-
mously approves the formation of a
squadron of warships to be stationed at
Hampton Roads for the defense of cities
on the Atlantic coast 1t is denied at
the Navy Department that ships have
been Withdrawn from Key West in re-
spouse to the representations of the
Spanish government.
A Washington special says: While
the Maine disaster in inseparably linked
with the general Cuban question ! was
assured by a member Of the cabinet yes
terday that the President would deal
with the former automatically before
making representations to Spain coz
corning the independence of Cuba.
The blowing up of the Maine is to be
used as an additional and final argu.
ment as to why speedy end should be
brought to the war in Cuba.
Another dispatch from Washington
says: Despite the fact that the re-
port of the court of inquiry is expected
in Washington to morrow, and may in
all probability be made public next
week. there seems to be less apprehen-
sion Of crisis than at any time for o
week past. The President is still firm
in his belief that there will be no war,
and that not only the question of the
explosion Of the Maine, but the Cuban
one can be settled honorably and peace
fully by diplomacy.
Havana. according to special cable.
gram from that city, was more wrought
mp last night than had been the case
for month before. The develop
ments of the next three days, it is
stated, may be Of great importance.
The attitude of the Havana papers has
changed. The United States is now
openly charged by them with bad faith
Divers have recovered part of the
Names silver service and another Of
her six pound guns. On Monday work
will be begun in earnest by the big
derrick Chief. and it is expected that
some of the larger guns will be lifted
and much of the heavier portion of the
wreckage removed. Chief Engineer
Howell. Paymaster Ray and others OF
the Names officers, except Captain
Sigsbee, Lieutenant-Co Commander Vain
wright, and Chaplain Chadwick, will
probably he ordered to leave Havana
in few days.