The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-03-07
LATEST War NEWS,
The President Will be Supported II His
Stand

Madrid. March, -General Weyier In on
interview yesterday, reiterated his denial
that there wore mines in Havana harbor.
He said before leaving the island he stay
ed with his staff fer two days on board a
steamer that was anchored within sight of
where the Maine was anchored.
| lie added that he considered that all the
facts In connection with the disaster show
that 1t was due to an accident, perhaps 10
negligence.
In conclusion General Weyler said that
he did not expecJ war between Spain aud
the United States.
Washington, March Judge Day says
| that the word demand should not be
used in reference to SPANS request for the
recall of General Lee, but that lntimated'
should be substituted, When asked If
Spain, when informed OF the determine
ton of this Government would declare
General Lee to be persona nou gra.a the
Assistant Secretary Of the State said he
thought not
He did hot think the Spanish Govern
i ment would now insist ON General Lees
recall.-.~
Key West, March 7.--Advices from Ha-
Inquiry has caused great excitement in
that city. II Is said there that the board,
after hearing some more testimony in
Havana, will leave for Washingt on, and
prepare their report during the journey.
Bands OF Spanards are parading the
streets Of Havana shouting death to the
Yankees!"
The general opinion among Spaniards
Of all classes In Havana Is that war must
be declared OF once against the United
States as the spaniards are becoming furi-
Gus over the situation, and declare that
they will kill "the id Yankees" If
they are not sent away from Havana.
Tallahassee, Fla, March 1.-The Ocala
Rifles have just received new and iinprov-
cd guns, similar to regular United States
Army weapons, to replace defective ones
previously had, and companies at Tampa,
ST. Augustine and Sanford will b. likely
to get the improved guns at once.
New York, March IA special dispatch
from Havana to the Journal says:
Besides the war-like significance, there
Is an interesting story back OF the rushing
ct Spain's warships to Havana, and the
fact that still another, frst-class line of
battle ship, is expected Wednesday. Spain
is desirous OF having as many of her ships
as possible locked in the new floating dry
dock which English contractors are lust
completing before the contractors shall
have left Cuba and turned the dock over to
the Spanish authorities.
The new dry dock Is being installed bv n
hrn of ship builders of Newcastle on.
Tyne. 1t was built In their yards and
lowed across the Atlantic In the Autumn
Under the contract the English were IN
put the dock In place in slip which tho
Spaniards should have prepared according
to specifications.
Iho contractors are to prove the perfec-
tlon of their work by docking and cleaning
one Spanish cruiser. That done, tho Span
iardswere to pay over to the contractors
agent, Joseph Graham, the balance Of the
contract price of this dock, ESQ 900, and
relieve the builders from further RESPONSE
bility.
Now the Spaniards are trying to turn
their bargain to still greater advantage
They havr paid 80 per cent. of the contract
price Of the dock and demand that the
contractors fulfill all sorts Of req ulrements
not men toned In the contrao. before they
will accept the dock and pay over the bal.
ance of the purchase money.
Should President Mckinley become DON.
V'nced that Congress will support him In
the action, he will purchase the two bat
tieshlps, one protected cruiser one torpedo
gunboat and four torpedo boat destroyers
which have been offered to the United
states Government by European builders.
lie has conferred with several Senators.
and they have advised him to take this
action. He will continue his conferences
with members Of the naval committees and
otner leaders, and once assured Of their
support will make the contracts.
Tbs two battleships and the oruieer
could be completed In two or three
months, AN administration official says
and the others could be delivered at once,
Prominent Senators are said to have
met at Senator Hoar's residence and
agreed to uphold the President in any &C.
tion g might take in this matter. Mem.
beers of the House Committee on Naval
Affairs nj en- eynrpss THAR intop tic, ~ NJ,
suing the same course. Members OF Con.
gress of both parties seem disposed to sup.
port the administration In taking emer.
gency measures.
Consul General Lee has Informed the
State DEP artment of the receipt OF jewolry
and japanese lacquer work, addressed to
person in Havana, In his care, sent from
the United States by some one who at.
tempted thus to defraud the Spanish auth
critics by evading the custom duties Tho
will aid the Spanish off.
cials in the effort to detect the person or
persons who sent the articles,
With rockets, batteries and music inter. |
ningling with cheers, Havana welcomed |
the Alfonso Kill, Of the Spanish Line, at
sunrise yesterday, One thousand five hun.
dred soldiers thronged the deck of this
latest cruiser to arrive in the harbor.
Dispatches brought from Havana say
thafthe chief purpose Of the Naval Court
OF Inquiry returning was to cinch tho
Important testimony of Ensign Powelson.
All the work Of divers has corroborated
the ensigns evidence.
The Maine's guns, even if they are re.
covered by the wreckers 1t Is now be.
licved will not be of use until they have
been annea'ed and practically rccast.
Divers have located the starboard turret
Of the Maine. 1t was blown clear of tho
ship, ard lies upturned on one side, sunk
iocp in he mud. This is regarded as IN.
'ther proof of the tremendous force of
.he explosion. Because Captain Magee,
If the wrecking tug Right Arm, refused
20 allow his men to convey ths recovered
bodies from the wreck to the dead barge,
few hundred feet away, on the ground
hat his contract did not provide for such