New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-03
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ADMINISTRATION ON GUARD.
NOT TO BE CAUGHT UNPREPARED II
AN EMERGENCY ARISES.
POSSIBILITIES WITH SPAIN NOT EXPECTED. Su1
PREPARATIONS BEING MADE TO MEET
ANY POSSIBLE CONTINGENCY.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE

ANY POSSIBLE CONTINGENCY
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRisuSEI
Washington March 2-Aithough the tension
of feeling in official circles over the Maine inc'-
dent has been gradually relaxing in the 'as' nve
days there are many indications that the Au-
,,i,istration IL not TO be taken of Its guard ny
anv deveIopments in the near future. and that
IL is sedulously preparing for posslpie emer-
gencies The report OF the Board or inquiry
chosen 10 investigate the causes or the disaster
to the Maine is not expected to be completed TOT
several weeks to come and by the hndings on
this report the Administrators future policy
is to be chiefly guided. But in the mean tim"
the President and his advisers are taking con-
slant steps TO put the country in position 70
employ its military and other resources to carry
out any programme which may be forced upon
the United States by the exigencies OF an a.
tered situation.
CONTRACTS FOR PRoJECTILEs AND POW.
DER.
The action Of the War Department to-day In
completing contracts for the delivery OF projec-
tiles valued at 81 100000. and in opening neso-
tiations for the purchase OF additional supplies
of poyder fully confirms the contention that
the Government is taking all proper ana Just
precautions 10 put itself In forward stats OK
preparation for National defence.
That the problems involved in the relations
Of the United States and Spain have been COM
pljcated by the Maine disaster Is not denied, nor
Is there any official concealment or the great
gravity Of the situation which may result wnsn
the Court OF Inquiry completes its work, but In
any event according to the Information aireaoy
secured. a pacific solution is considered extreme
ly probable. -
In fact, the possibility that the Court wiz
end reasonably conclusive evidence that the
Maine was maliciously destroyed may not re-
move the matter Immediately from the sphere OF
diplomacy II Spain meets the issue OF respon-
ability souarey The remote contingency o.
war is anticipated in the single almost incon-
ceivable chance that the Havana Government
had connivance in a deliberate plot
Indications of unmistakable character have
already reached the President that the purely
accidental theory Of the disaster Is resisted oy
all those who were aboard the vessel at the TINS
Of the explosion. and. on the other hand, II does
not appear that the court has so far FOUND EVIL
dence that could warrant an open rupture ne
tween the two Nations having most at stake IN
determining beyond doubt the precise response
bnty for the affair. Every naval bureau has
exhausted the ingenuity OF its experts TO evolve
some convincing theory OF pure accident 10 no
purpose with the result that even the most con-
servarive officials have reluctantly been forced
to speculate on the external methods which
could have contributed TO the dreadful destruo-
ton No agreement in this direction is percept
BILE that does not directly controvert the official
assurance OF SPAIN through Senor Du Bose.
that mines did not exist in Havana HarSor. and
until the United States is in possession OF such
! information that would warrant demand for
a thorough examination OF the bottom OF the
bay by dredging 10 demonstrate whether sub
marine works have existed there, as Secretary
Long has said, Spanish Governmental partici-
patton in the explosion is practically eliminated.
QUESTION OF SPANS RESPONSIBILITY.
| This casual remark Of the Secretary yester-
| day continues TO be distorted to suit the sensa-
| tion -mongers. who pretend to find in It indica-
! tions that the Administration contemplates
avoiding the question Of Spanish responsibility
for the Names destruction This WAS suf-
fciently refuted to-day, when II was learned that
the State Department Is fortifying itself with
every law and precedent bearing on tho sub
! ject OF responsibility. whether incurred through
! carelessness negligence OF precaution or inef-
| fective policing. II IL eventually appears that
| the destruction Of the ship was Accomplished
| through weakness. although with the ignoranc"
| Of the Spanish authorities IL has already been
decided that Spain shall assume full RESPONSE
| bility for the disaster, ana perhaps DC
70 confess the insuffciency OF her government
Of Cuba The State Department believes that
the Spanish Government II it is incompetent 70
protect the ship OF friendly nation visiting one
of ,ts ports has demonstrated the futility OF its
claim that II discharges It's responsibilities 10
c,vil,zation in the direction OF Cuban anairs-
Under such circumstances Spain Will be held
strictly accountable not only for the loss or the
Maine. but for prompt remedy Of an abominabis
confession OF impotency.
IN A GOOD POSITION FOR DEFENCE.
On the theory tha, readiness for war 10 Tho
arrest method Of preserving peace. the two Mill
tary branches OF the service are making every
effort TO place themselves In the effective cond'-
ton which they are supposed to MAINTAIN AZ All
times and so far the means provided oy Con-
sress meet the necessities the Government y
to-day in a better position to defend itself or 70
90, on the offensive than at any time Tor tne
last twenty years
Nost Of the current preparations have been
| contemplated for years and many OF them nsvo
heen going on for a long time without e'tr~S'-
ing any notice. but the extraordinary acuon u
the War Department yesterday In beginning
work on five thousand projecties. 70 COST nearly
81 100000 in advance OF actual authory On
,ar. "a taken TO indicate that the ordnance ON
Of sure OF tHt sulii'i-iiNy Va 'N''
,nunition stores at time when the country 10
admittedly confronted by diincut interna-
t,onal matter. 1t appears that soon after yes
,ara.v.s Cabinet meeting the House conferrees
On the Fortifcations bill receded from their OBJ
lection TO the Senate amendment appropriating
So43 900. 10 be Immediately available for am
uuniton for the coast defences. and with
this assurance Of eventual authority the ord
nance officials OF the Army with Executive ap-
proval promptly arranged with representatives
OF foundries to begin work AT once on orders
aggregating ive thousand shells OF eight ten
and twelve inch calibres. to be delivered within