Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-03-10
NOT 50 VARLIKE.
A Feeling That Our Relations with
Spain Are More Favorable.
TRANSCRIPT OF The MAINE INQUIRY.
= Shows That TIE Maine Was Blown Up BY
Dssign-Lee Will Not Reaign-Inter-
ventIon In Cuba May Soon
Come.

ventIon In Cuba May Soon
Come.
WASHINGTON, March 9-In spite OF
numerous conferences OF officials, OF
the continuation Of the preparations
now in progress on large scale to put
the country in state OF defense, of the
outburst Of patriotic speeches in con
gress, there was q certain feeling ap-
parent in the best informed circles that
the situation as to our relations with
Spain was yesterday much more To-
vorable than it was Monday. Perhaps
the semi.oflcial advices received
through the Associated press from
Madrid, indicating peaceful purpose
on the part Of the Spanish govern.
ment, contributed In large measure
TO that feeling, or 1t may have been
that the growing knowledge Of the
vast extent Of our own resources tend
ed to the belief that they would i'm
press others with the futility Of at.
lacking the United States However
that may be, the feeling prevailed, and
ct the white house, too, after the cabi-
net meeting wherein all Of the facts
that were known to the president as
70 the existing state Of affairs were
laid unreservedly before the cabinet
members and discussed.
While Capt Brownson is going
abroad for the government to learn
what ships Of war are for sale and
their condition, he will not necessarily
make any purchases. 1t is known pos,
lively that negotiations are in prog
ress toward having the United States
scquire the two crack cruisers now be-
ing built for Japan, one at the Cramp
ship yards at Philadelphia and the
other at the Union iron works Of San
Francisco.
A good deal is being accomplished
in the way Of preparation Of both the
navy and war departments. The con-
ference at the navy department yester-
day looked into the procurement Of q
suitable store OF ammunition, coal
and supplies, touched upon the ques-
ton Of dry docks and generally con-
sidered a number Of other matters con-
nected with the operation Of war
ship. The war department was not
behind the navy. Gen. Flagler, chief
Of ordnance, Is very busy reaching out
In every direction by means Of the
telegraph and the mail to learn just
how far the resources Of the big pri-
vate manufacturing concerns can be
relied on TO come to the aid Of the war
department in arming and equipping
= volunteer army should one be found
necessary. Maj Gen. Miles is looking
after the personnel closely, and yester'
day was trying hard to perfect the or
CARNATIONS Of the two new regiments
Of artillery which congress has
granted.
Three weeks ago last night the
Maine was blown up. As it was last
week at this time, so II Is now; nothing
ii known officially as to the cause OF
the disaster, The court is hard al
work; that Is oil that is known at the
navy department 1t is not even known
when II may be expected to finish Its
work. But the more thoughtful Off.
cials have not lost sight Of the fact
that when the report Of the court OF
inquiry comes TO the navy department
the government may be face to face
with another vital issue.
SECRET ADvICEs,
CHICAGO, March 9.-The Chronicle
yesterday printed the following from
its Washington correspondent
Although few persons will admit 1t, the feel
Ing In the inner circles Of the administration Is
that the country Is on the verge Of war Hos.
tilities may begin next week or they may bt
postponed as late as the middle OF April But
conditions are such that an outbreak cannot
be Tong postponed There ia good authority
for the statement that congress will declare
war against Spaln soon after the report Of
the board Of inquiry into the Maine disaster
has been made public. President Mckinley ha,
had In his possession since last night tran
script Of the evidence taken up to last Friday
before the board Of inquiry, which Is seeking
TO discover the cause Of the disaster to the bat
tleship Maine In Havana harbOr That test
mony Is Of the most startling character, l
shows that the Maine was not only blown up b!
design, but that her destruction was tn,
result Of carefully laid Spanish conspiracy
In which o number Of Spanish guerrillas ant
volunteers and at least one Spanish officer wer
implicated. am assured that when the full
report Of the board Of inquiry Is made public, |
will disclose facts which will shock the civilize,
world The evidence now In the possession 0
President Mckinley has caused him TO revers
completely his Cuban policy It's now his be
lief that the final report Of the board will b
Of such character as to compel this govern
ment to declare and maintain war Of aggres
sion against Spain.
LEE WILL NOT RESIGN.
HAVANA, March 9.-Some persons
IN order TO increase the excitement
are urging Gen. Fitzhugh Lee to re
sign, but the consul general Of tn
United States said to a correspondent
yesterday: II will stick by the shi
Of state until the clouds roll by" Tn
court Of inquiry did very little yester
day. Consul General Lee was YER
briefly examined and also one diver
Considerable time was spent on tn
wreck. The Spanish divers put In
, rood days work, examining chief,
the forward part Of the wreck, on tn
starboard side. Capt. Peral, Of tn
Spanish court Of inquiry, was at tn
wreck In a boat for some time durin,