The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-03-18

pIllS the DatUleSnlp oregon dlouhu
South America to Key West. The Navy
Department has issued orders that Such
trial as may be made of the new torpedo
boat Rodgers shall take place While theI
boat is under way Saturday next from
Baltimore TO Norfolk. She also will go
s0uthward to join the tiOtilla at Key
West. The Columbia and Minneapolis
are still each 260 men short of their
full quota, but it is expected that enough
men will be secured in the course of
few days to enable the ships to be sent
to Hampton Roads to execute the or
derS issued today. The Naval recruiting
officers are meeting with success at
New Orleans. Yesterday they secured
40 men who were professionally fitted
for the Navy.
The Semi-official statement given out
at Madrid advancing the governments
view that a demand for indemnity based
on Spanish responsibility for the Maine
explosion. would Indignantly be repealed
by Spain, attracted much interest in
official circles. There has been little
doubt for some time that Spain was
preparing for the contingency of an
adverse report by the American Court
Of Inquiry, and to that end was pre-
pairing to anticipate and offset it, by
making clear the governments policy of
standing by the report Of the Spanish
commission. The report of the latter
body was due in Madrid yesterday, and
while its conclusions are not officially
known it is a fOregOne conclusion that
it will find that the Maine disaster was
due to accident resulting in an internal
explosion. This was foreShadOwed in
the advance utterances of Captain Pcral,
head Of the Spanish commission, who
stated publicly several days ago that the
theory of external explosion was untena-
bile.
Along with the semi-official statement
from Madrid that a demand for indem-
nifty will be Indignantly Tepelled, is the
further statement from reliable sources
that Spain has made it clear to the au-
thorities here that intervention may
lead to war. The prospects of such in
teryenti0n appear to be seriously en-
tertamed by Spain. and strong efforts
have been made to- avoid this by show
ing that the condition of the rcconcen-
trades did not warrant the step, and
also that it would threaten to end al.
prospects of further pacific negotiations.
Both governments have been sounding
each other on the activity OF the other
in searching for ships, but there has
been little ground for objection on either
side, as both have hecn in the same
markets. Tine administration explains
its buying of ships on the ground that
SpAin's attitude has been so mcnacing
as naturally 10 call for an augmented
Navy. while Spain takes the same view
that the activity in the United States
requires suitable preparations by the
Spanish Navy.
The report that Spain had protested
against a flibuStering expedition to
Puerto Rico cannot he verified, as Off
cials here say this expedition has not
yet got away
The President expects the report OF
the Court of Inquiry tomorrow or next
day
Both the President and the Secretary
are determined that no efforts be spared
to maintain the secrecy of the courts
verdict until they themselves have de-
termined to give it publicity. Therefore.
even the admirably designed Naval ciph-
er code will not be relied upon, and at
the Presidents instance, Admiral Sicard
was directed to place the document in
the custody of some Naval officer, ac-
cording 10 the usual method. and for
ward them to Washington in that man
ncr. 1t Is not known positively that the
conclusions of the board are final, but
if the ordinary routine of the courts
inquiry has been followed in this case
they probably are so unless the Secre-
tary Of the Navy believes, after looking
~, 4 a
investigation should be further pursued.
The largest measure of preparation yet
made by the War Department TO meet
the contingencies of the future prOb-
ably has just been completed. 1t is the
preparation of a bill providing among
other sections for the placing of the
army on a war footing for the full
strength of 100000 men, The bill has
been carefully gone over by the War
Department and was introduced in the
House by Representative Hull, Chair
man of the House Committee on Mill
tary Affairs, who. it is expected, will
urge it vigorously inasmuch rs it is an
administration measure
In view of the possibility of conflict
with Spain considerable interest centers
lust now in the Strength of the militia
force of the United States, which would
be liable to be called upon in case of
necessity. According to latest reports
the total organized strength of the mill
itia of the United States is 114,362 men,
while the number of men available for
military duty (unOrganizcd) is 1O,301,-
$50
The Spanish Minister, SenOr Polo, re-
ceived a dispatch today from Captain
General Blanco, as follows:
1.-The Council of Secretaries, under my
presidency, has resolved to prorogue in
all parts of the island up to March 81,
1899, a decree of April, 1897, relative to
the suspension of proceedings Nrainst
landed estates, unless the insular Iegis-
lature takes special action on the sub
ject."
The effect of this, it is explained, is to
do away with the taxes on these lands
which have been devastated and have
become unproductive.
MADRID To RESIST FINDING.
Madrid, March 1.-THE following
somi.official note was issued here to-
day:
- AEoiDa is mot vet known Int