The herald., 1898-04-22
COMPLICATED BY SCARCITY OF
PROVISIONS
SPANISH LACK OF SUPPLIES
Is Looked Upon as Likely to BRING
the War to Premature
Close

the highest government circles that the
issue of war may be decided, not by valor
and enthusiastic perseverance, qualities
of which the Spaniards possess an abund-
! ance. but by the reserves of coal and
victuals, of which they have but scanty
provision in Cuba. 1t appears that In re-
| spect of coal in particular they are worse
| off than they have hitherto imagined. The
| Spanish government, believing to the very
last moment that peace would be preserved
through the intercession of the pope and
the powers, neglected to lay in sufficient
provision of coal, despite the representa-
tions made to them by one or two far-see-
| ing naval officers. Besides this, 1t Is be-
lieved they never once inquired of the Brit
| ish or other neutral governments whether
coal would be regarded as contraband OF
war, The result is said to be state of
things which may be fraught with unpleas-
ant surprises and bring hostilities to pre-
| mature end.
| Those in the secret were anxious to over
| throw the cabinet on other grounds before
the beginning of war, for patriotic consid-
| erations forbade public discussion of the
country's weak point on the eve of hostili-
ties. The short time allowed for the delib
erations of parliament rendered this in
| tention difficult of execution, and the Lib
eral cabinet, which conducted negotia-
| tions, will be allowed to bear the RESPONSE
bility for the results during a conflict. This
alarming story comes from an excellent
source quite above all suspicion, even, OF
| hostility to the cabinet.
"If, as fear, events should demonstrate
its truth, the close of the war may also be
the end, not only of the Liberal govern
ment, but of much else which is infinitely
more worthy of respect than any political
party, and which enjoys the sympathy of
all Europe l hear that extreme depres-
sion prevails among the few who are ini~
tiated into this painful secret"
Referring to the Daily Chronicles sug-
gestions regarding coaling facilities
(which" the Westminster Gazette says
put in plain terms, mean that we ought
not to permit the Spaniards to coal in the
West Indies if the war is in American
waters, but that we ought to permit the
Americans to coal at Portsmouth and Glib
raltar if the war is in European waters
the Westminster Gazette says: with full
sympathy for the cause which it is in
tended to promote, that is impossible.
That would be an unjust decision. If our
sympathies with the United States are
SO strong as to constrain us to render as
sstance, we ought to join her and take the
full consequences as belligerents. If our
sympathies are not strong enough for that
or if we are not invited to assist her, ouI
neutrality must be impartial"
Leo Disappointed
LONDON, April 22.-The Rome cores
pondent of the Daily Chronicle says: The
pope has thanked Archbishop Ireland and
Cardinal Gibbons for their efforts in the
cause of peace In view of the war the
vatican has cabled instructions to Mgr.
Martinelli at Washington, enjoining him
to preserve the utmost prudence and strict
| neutrality.
! The pope Is deeply disappointed that his
| efforts during the past few days to secure
| from Spain remuneration Of Cuba have
not succeeded.
| His holiness, who loves and esteems the
| United States as well as Spain, Is pro-
foundly grieved at the prospects of war.
| He said to one of his confldants: This
war is an inexpressible grief for my old
age"
| The departure of Don Carlos is attrib-
uted to official representations by the
| Spanish government, which demanded
from the Italian government that he be
| required to leave. Carlist agents are
very numerous in Italy, and they de-
clare that a Carlist insurrection is certain
| in Spain in the event of that country's de-
| feat.
| Mail news which has just been received
| from the island of Grand Canary, one of
the Canary island group, says that up
to April 12, 5000 Spanish troops had ar
rived there, and 1000 more were expected
that day. 1t was said that when the con-
sular agents, Mr.. Thomas Miller, who is a
British subject, wanted to send a cable
message to Washington, announcing the
arrival of troops, his message was stopped
and he was informed by the military au-
thorities that if the incident had occurred
in war time he would have been shot.
McKinley's Merit
LONDON, April 22-The Daily Telegraph
says editorially: The idea of ridding Cuba
| of Spaniards has been threatened by
| American statesmen during the last half
| century, but the merit Of acting upon it
with all it's tremendous responsibilities and
risks-for it is a merit-belongs to Presi-
dent Mckinley. The adequacy of his justi-
| fcation cannot be doubted in England, and
every voice Is raised to wish the United
States success.
| The Times says: No exception can be
| taken to the course pursued by the Span
| ish government in avoiding the formal pre-
| sentation of a document which Spain s
previous decisions, irrevocably formed
| thereon, had made practically superfluous.
| The two nations are at war. There is no
| especial responsibility attaching to firing
| the first shot, seeing that both are clearly
| committed to the arbitrament of war The
announcement that the United States will
adhere to the principles of the treaty of
| Paris is an expression with a genuine de-
| sire to conform to the more humane views
of warfare accepted by the powers. The
| sympathy for the United States felt by
| Great Britain cannot but be noticed among
| the commercial community, by the sense
| of relief thus afforded. 1t is to be hoped
| that in the interests of both countries and
| the world at large the better understand
| ing now being arrived at may be perma-
nent. The Americans will observe, no
| doubt, that there is little sympathy and
| even little liberation for them anywhere
but in this country, her colonies and de-
Tendencies.
He Did Not Resign
| HAVANA, April 21.-Orders of a secret
nature have been formulated and will be
made public in the event of an attack be-
ing made upon Havana. At yesterday S
meeting of the colonial cabinet 1t was de-
cided on motion of Senior Gown to prose-
cute all professors of the university in