Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1898-03-18


the Amazonas, placing Lieut.. Com
mander Arthur P. Nazro, executive Of
ficer of the San Francisco, in charge of
the latter vessel. Without doubt the
Amazonas will be gotten across the
ocean as soon as possible, and 1t is ex-
pected that the San Francisco will con-
voy her.
May Build Six BattIeships.
A good deal of encouragement was
created at the navy department by
report from the capitol that a major
ity of the naval affairs committee is
disposed to substitute six battleships
for the three provided for in the pend
ing naval appropriation bill. This num-
Der is supposed to represent
about the normal working capacity
of the three ship-building concerns in
this country that are able at present
to undertake the construction of bat
tleships.
New Dry Docks.
Washington, March 16.-The con-
struction of five modern dry docks was
agreed on Tuesday by tho house COM
mittee on naval affairs. They are to be
located at Portsmouth, y. H.. Boston,
Mass, League island, near Philadelphia,
Pa, Algiers, near New Orleans, La, and
Mare island, near San Francisco, Cal
Ex-Prcsident Cleveland Talks
Princeton. n. j., March l6.-Former
President Cleveland was interviewed
Tuesday upon the subiec. of the Maine
affair and the existing relations be-
| tween this country and Spain. Mr..
| Cleveland at first declined to express
| any opinion upon the matter. II should
only be misunderstood" he sniG. X
have been resting here quietly since
leaving Washington, and do not wish
to say or do anything which may be con-
strued in any way as comment upon
public affairs" Finally Mr. Cleveland
in Arm and emphatic fashion volun-
teered this statement:
Though ] have ne Wish to be inter-
viewed, you may state for me that, tG COM
mon with others. I think every patriotic
citizen ought to Loyalty support the gov=
eminent during period OF trial like the
present, no matter what eXigenc!es may
! arise. will also state that ! hope the
present difficulties will be settled without
| bloodshed. 1, is possible that an honorable
way out will be found eventually, and that
| there will be no war"
MIR. Cleveland said he preferred to re-
serve all comment upon the possible
and probable outcome of the Maine at
fair until after the official publication
of the report of the board of inquiry.
Austrin's Position.
| New York, March iG.-A copyrighted
London cablegram to the Evening Post
says: The general English comment on
the Vienna news that Emperor Francis
Joseph is leading crusade among the
| continental powers on Spain's behalf
is that this was only to be expected from
the family ties. the queen regent being
an Austrian arellduGhsss, while reli-
| gious ties all encourage Austrian SYM.
pathy with Spain. Moreover, there is
the emperor's well-llnown dread of the
| possible future consequence of Ameri-
can intervention in European affairs.
All that is known in well-informed
| quarters here suggest that both the
| Austrian and the German emperofs
would go great lengths to prevent an
| outbreak of war between America and
| Spain
Peace IL Rossible.
| Madrid, March Let is asserted In
well-informed circles that the negotia-
| tons in New York as to the commercial
treaty are paving the way for an un-
derstanding between the Cuban gov
eminent and the insurgents ON grounds
to be submitted for approval to the
home government. The aspect Of at
fairs has undergone a complete change,
and there is q strong feeling in favor of
peace between the United States and
Spain. 1t is alleged that knowledge of
this fact led Mr.. Curzon, parliamentary
secretary for the British foreign office,
to decline to reply to the questions put
by Michael Davitt, nti-Parnellite mem
Der for South Mayo, as to whether
Great Britain had offered to mediate.
1 Says Sailors Deserted.
Madrid, March ia dispatch to the
impartial from Lisbon says that a
score of sailors deserted from the
United States warships while they
We're there. The dispatch adds that
the deserters are nearly all spaniards.
| TRAGEDY IN DUBUQUE.