The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-04-10
Copyright by the Associated Press.)

Berlin, April 9.-AIl news of the
Hispano-American crisis lis anNiously
watched in Germany. as the opening of
actual hOstilities is expected, and Ger
man commercial interests especially are
involved.
The newspapers, although still hop
ing that peace will not be broken, are
beginning to discuss the probable eff
feet of war upon trade. Public opinion
is much divided. many of the papers
expressing the opinion that the United
States ought TO be satisfied with the
concessions Spain is omering, others de-
claring, however, that the United
States is right in demanding the alb
solute independence of Cuba as the
only means of preventing. recurrence
of the disturbances and quoting the
just indignation in America at Spanish
misIule
Hardly anybody III serious political
circles doubts that war is coming, the
point at issue being deemed irreconcil-
able, although every paper does full
justice to President AlcKinlcy's mod
Grafton and evident desire for peace.
The national conservative newspapers
have taken occasion to point out that
III the event of war Germany ought
to seize the opportunity TO attain OBJ
iectS watch her politicians have been
aiming at for years. The Deutsche
Ieitung. the leading organ of this party,
expresses the hope that the German
Foreign Office is arranging to "apprO-
pirate Samoa. drive the Americans
from there. and take possession of one
of the Antilles, if possible the Danish
Islands, as Germany, after Cuba has
become American or Independent, will
require a coaling station in those waters
for her navy and merchant marine.
1t is learned mt the Foreign Office
here that tie Cannamaba incident has
been satisfactorily settled. Spain agree-
ing to pay 10000 pesetas damages for
the destruction of German property ana
the lives taken by the insurgents IN that
part of Cuba. In consequence of this
settlement the German war ship Geier
has been ordered to Brazil Instead OF
going to Havana for the purpose of col
lecting an indemnity and punnishins
the perpetrators of the outrage. 1h,
newspapers. however. call upon the gov
eminent to send at least one war ship
to protect German interests in case OF
!Iostilities. and 1t is understood Sthe
Navy Department has instructed the Of
ticialS ut KEEL to send Il vessel across
the Atlantic. In the event of an out
break the official attitude of Germany
will not De changed. Under no circum-
stances will she depart from the strict
est neutrality. The Spanish Ambassa-
dor here. Senior Mendenz de Nigo, made
another attempt during the past week
to secure GermanNs intervention oil
mediation. while EmeperOr Francis
Joseph of Austria renewed his personal
and confidential solicitations on the
same subject with Emperor William.
1t is said on uneXceptional authority
that the Queen Regent is the initiatOr
of the movement to enlist the Pope III
Spa;n's behalf and Emeperor Francis
Joseph aided her: but Emperor William
warned them that the step was likely
to meet with the decided disapproval
of the majority of Americans.
4 diplomat at the Spanish Embassy,
in an interview said: Spain is ready
for war. if it comes While it is true
that large number of the Spanish peo-
pie are anxious for war, the govern
ment is trying to avoid it. In the event
of war the Spaniards can be depended
upon to stand by the Queen regent and
young King. in spite of all the Demo
would be cOwardly for them to act other
wise. The Yankee republic will fiud
the present generation of Spaniards as
chvalrous as their forefathers.'
Commander Willard II. Brownson.
the agent of the United States Navy
Department in Europe, has been given
to issue instructions to all the
United States Naval Attaches I'm Eu-
rope, according to the requirements of
the situation. In fact there is even
a possibility that they may all be recall
ed home.
On strictly reliable authority, it Is
learned that all the United States Naval
Attaches have been ordered to end their
negotiations for the purpose of war
ships, munitions of war. etc. The reason
for this is that the time is regarded as
too short to allow for the transportation
Of the purchases to the United States
before war is declared The same au-
thority says heavy purchases have been
made Of war material, the nature OF
which is kept a profound secret, but
which, III the event of h0stilitSeS, Will
play most important roln.
A member of Empe"o- Williams
household furnishes some Interesting de-
tails of His Maiesty's trip to Palestine.
de has finally decide TO leave the En-
press behind. her physician foSbidding
horseback riding and as driving in Pal
sstine is impossible, she had to relinduish
her "trip. much to her regret. The En-
peror's programme, besides the dedica-
ion of the German church at Jerusalem.
includes laying the corner stone of the
German school, parsonage and hospital.