The record-union., 1898-03-31
Several WarshIps Purchased and
Other Negotiations Pending.
Orders Issued to Mobilize Naval Vessels
and More Troops Going to Canary
Islands to Strengthen the
Garrison There.

! MADRID, March 30-While the sit
uation here is outwardly of the calm
est description, the actual position Of
affairs is regarded as critical by both
the United States Legation and the
Spanish Government.
The United States Minister, General
| Stewart Woodford, is working ener-
getically, and will continue to work
energetically for Spain's peace until the
| first gun is fired. 1t is known that
the Spanish Government admits the de-
STABILITY or necessity of complying
with the demands Of the United States,
and it was only the disinclnation Of
the Ministers to put this willingness in
concrete form that the danger lies. If
conference were to be held with Brit
ish, German or French diplomats, the
matter would be settled without cues
ton
The point which General WOOdford is
now pressing is that in the interests
of humanity hostilities in Cuba must
cease Immediately. No date was fixed
either in the first nor in the present
hote, but the United States is now
dwelling upon the meaning of the word
Immediately" and insisting that
Spain accepts its general interpreta-
| 1ion. The public generally is taking
little apparent interest in the situa-
tion, but there is a general disinclina-
tiOn to believe that war is likely.
A dispatch from Barcelona says that
the armed steam yacht Giradla, pur-
| chased by the Spanish Government
from Harry McCalmOnt, the English
ace horse owner, after the vessel hal
been rejected by the United States is
now being fitted up as a dispatch boat.
lei Pals says four warships have
been obtained by Spain in France, and
that negotiations are pending for the
purchase of several torpedo boats in
Great Britain
lei Pals" also says that orders have
been issued to mobilize all the Spanish
warships, and that the torpedo boat
Halcon is to sail Immediately from Car
thagena for Cadiz, where a second tor
pedo squadron is being prepared.
Military engineers are starting for
the Canary Islands, and the Balearic
Islands are being fortified.
Italy, it is said by lei Pals" has de-
cided to sell the armored cruiser Clli-
seppe Garibaldi Of G,S4O tons and well
armoTcd. a sister ship of the Varez. to
Spain.
Two regiments still, according to "El
Pals" are going 10 the Canary Islands
tc strengthen the Spanish garrison
there.
The Armstrong; Spanish agent. q
Spaniard. who is in touch with the
Government and commercial people in
Spain, has expressed the be:iee that
unless the Powers intercede there VIII
be war.
He added; II the United States Of
tered money for our clearing out Of
Cuba, We could not accept, but if the
proposition emanated from another
power. it is not unlikely that it would
be accepted"
This view OF the case is echoed by q
portion Of the Spanish press, which ad-
Vlses Spain to wash her hands of Cuba.
Senior Ortiz De Saratc, . prominent
former Carlist Deputy, who has just
been defeated at Vittoria, expresses
the opinion that there would be no war,
saying: we have neither ships. sail
ors, soldiers, plans, nor money, and
| the Government knows it. 1t viii strug-
gle 20 the last end, then cave in"
Senior Sarato. who was recently at
Cadiz. says the Spanish warships Pc
layo and Carlos V, which the Govern
ment announced ready for sea, cannot
possibly be made ready sooner than in
two months.
RECONCENTRADOS ORDER TO BE
RESCINDED.
WASHINGTON, March 80. - The
Spanish Legation here late tonight re-
| ceived d cablegram from the Cover
| nor General of Cuba saying the Cap
tain-GeRera1 reported the pacification
of the eastern provinces so far ad-
vanced that it had been decided to re-
scind the reconcentrados order in three
provinces, and allow all subjects of this
decree to return to their homes in the
country. To aid in the re-establsh-
| ing of the reconcentrados upon their
Continued on Seventh Page)