The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1898-03-25
THE WAR SITUATION.


The court of inquiry has returned to-
Key West where further investigation
will be made.
An unprecedented action is the en-
listment of landsmen for naval service,
at the League Island navy yard at
Philadelphia. Any able bodied man
who answers physical requirements is
accepted.
Uncle Sam has purchased the big
steamyacht Mayfower at New York.
She was taken Immediately to the
Brooklyn navy yards, and will be
armed with rapidfre guns and will be
used as a torpedo boat destroyer, should
occasion arise.
The New York Herald says that
President Mckinley is now of the opin-
ion that the trouble with Spain can be
settled automatically. He favors a
plan being talked by Levi i. Morton,
of New York and other wealthy men,
to purchase Cuba outright from Spain.
The Spanish government has made
strong representations to the state de
partment against the assembling of
large fleet of American warships at
Key West, the war preparations, and
the influence with these might have on
the approaching elections in Cuba.
The cruiser Amazonas was formally
transferred to L. 5. naval officers at
Gravesend, Eng, the Brazilian flag be-
ing hauled down and the Stars and
Stripes run up; after which she was
coaled, took on a portion of the crew
of the San Francisco and the two war
dogs then sailed for American waters
A friend of President Mckinley who
has talked with him repeatedly in the
past week declares that the President
expects war. He anticipates develop
ments during the week which will
force the issue. The President, accord
ing to this gentlemen, does not desire
war, but he knows that peace without
dishonor is a remote probability
Uncle Sam has purchased two more
foreign warships. One is the Carlo
Alberto, is an Italian armored cruiser
of $500 tons, 325 feet long, 80 feet in
the beam, and with a maximum draught
of % feet II inches, and was built in
Spezia in 500 She has speed of 20
knots; her Italian complement is 400
men; carries II 6-inch quick firing guns,
six AZ inch, two 20 inch, 10 2.2 inch.
10 IA inch guns and two Maxims; and
has five torpedo tubes. The other is
torpedo corvette built for Brazil and re-
Gently launched by the Krupps at Kiel:
t.
construction and armament; is esti-
mated to steam % knots; 1000 tons dis
placement; 259 feet in length; 10 feet
inches draught; the armament consists
of two finch quick firing guns, six -
inch guns, four 1.4-inch guns, with
three torpedo tubes.
A Washington special says: At cab
met meeting at which the Cuban stu
alton was discussed from every point
there was much controversy over Min
lister Polos proposition for the amplif-
cation of the autonomy plan. This ar
rangcmcnt contemplates the with
drawal of SPANS troops from the island,
full pardon OF the insurgents, the cleo
ton of a native Cuban Legislature, and
III IdcJ the complete surrender OF span
ish dominion in nearly ever respect ex-
cept the withdrawal of Spanish sover-
eighty. In favor of acquiescence in
this plan were Secretaries Long and
Bliss, Atty.-Gen. Griggs and Post
master-Gen. Gary. Against it were
Secretaries Alger and Wilson. Secre
tary Gage was absent. When this di-
vision in the cabinet became known
several prominent Republican members
of congress called on the President
to protest against further eonsidera-
tion of the autonomy plan. Any com
promise with Spain, it was held, would
result only in continued revolutions
and disorder. as the Cubans would ae-
cept nothing short of independence
The President did not commit himself
1t is expected the developments of the
day will cause general commotion
throughout the country, and that the
cabinet officials favoring autonomy, in
response to public sentiment, may yield
to the Presidents original desire for
the recognition of Cuban independence