Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1898-04-02
WASHINGTON LETTER
rIAINE REPORT.
May Demand a Cessation of
Hostilities in Cuba.
U.sWAR VESSELS PAINTED DARK
In Event Of War the State Militia Will
Be Called.
D. 8. WAR VESSELS PAINTEDDARK
(From Our Regular Correspondent

(From Our Regular Correspondent } ,
Washington, March %. 1898.
President Mckinley is master OF the
Diplomatic game that Spain wanted to
NAV. He has sent the report OF the
Naval Court of Inquiry, that the Maine
was trencherously blown up from the
outside. to Congress, where it has been
referred to committees, and has mere
Iv forwarded q copy OF the report TO
Spain, without accompanying III with
any specific demand. he mas tnus Ie-
seated the intention OF Spain to play
its own alleged report, that the explo-
s;on was internal. against the report OF
an. Court and to ask that an interna-
t;o,,sl court be selected to determine
which report should be accepted by
10th countries. Spain had hoped to
gain more time by that dispute, but no
dispute is to be recognized by this
government. The report OF our Court
is final. Spain now has an opportunity
20 offer to do the right thing, but no
natter what IL does, President McKin-
lev intends, as all the world will see in |
a very few days, that peace shall reign
in Cuba. and starvation cease to stalk
over the island.
PRESIDENT FOR PEACE
The Congressional leaders of all par
ties have been taken into the coDn |
dence of President Mckinley. as 90 his
plans, and in return they have prom
ised that Congress would not take any
precipitate action on the Maine report,
bnt world allow the matter to rest un-
til the President automatically in
forms Spaiu OF his intentions as TO Gu
ba and ascertains whether those in
tantions will be peaceabiy acquiesced
in or he met by war. Meanwhile, the
Preside accepts the hint OF the Span
ish government that the feet OF torpe
do boats and torpedo boat d@stroyers
have been sent TO Porta Rico Tor elect
upon the elections in Spain, and not
with hostile intentions towards the
limited States Should that heet, how
ever. be started from Porta Rico to Gu
ba. it will be considered hostile
move against this country and will be
treated accordingly, In short, Spain
must choose whether it will retire
from Cuba peacefully, or be driven
out. That is Just about where the
matter stands President Mckinley is
prepared for either contingency. but
wishes to give Spain last chance TO
avoid trouble.
ALAsKA INVESTIGATIONS.
The Agricultural Department will,
this season, cond uct two special inves-
LEGATIONS in Alaska, one to ascertain by
prsctical experiments what vegetables
and cereals can be grown in Alaskan
soil. and one. under the auspices of
the Weather Bureau. to obtain infor-
nation as TO general climatic condi-
tions. The Sc experiments viii De
more likely to determine whether
Alaska is to become thickly populated
~ he.
tiers.
TRIBUTE TO THE NAVY.
Representative Foss of Illinois, paid
a splendid and deserved tribute tC
American sailors. in a speech in the
House. from which the following is ex-
tracted THE brilliant achievements
of the American sailor in the war oil
our National independence. when oui
NAVY consisted OF only n small teet o.
eight vessels, in command or Comma
dore Essex Hopkins, early inspired
feeling OF pride in our Navy. Tht
names of Biddle and Barry, and Mich
OILS. and WhippIe, and OF others might
mention, recall the daring and bravery
of that period. IL war should come
and we were obliged to rely upon oui
NAVY to protect the honor OF this coun
try upon the sea, the American people
would soon discover that the men il
the NAVY today are fully as brave, dar
ing, and eager to meet the foe, as thi
American sailors of the past. who's
faith and truth on wars red touch
stone rang true metal"
WAR VESSELS PAINTED.
Nothing more significant of the drift
of everything towards war has occurre'
than the order of Secretary Long tina
all of our wArships should at once b
painted a less conspicuous color thai
white, which makes too good a target
WAR. IT MUST BE SHORT AND DECISIVE
II there is to be war this govern
ment has no idea of combining 1t to Gu
ba and the adjacent waters No pla
has been or will be made public, bu
all the same there is plan, which wi
be promptly carried out, to carry In
war right into Spain itself. This gov
eminent has not sought and is nc
seeking war, but If war comes, 1t IN
tends to utilize all of it's enormous re
sources of men and money to fight
to q speedy aud victorious end.
STATE MILITIA.
A War Department official says this
IL present plans are not changed, tn
Drc aklng out OF war Win SPAIN Will l
Immediately followed by the muster
ing into the u. s Army. by regiment
OF the entire organized militia of tn
country. AS there are more than 10
600 men in the militia, it is believe
that they will be all the soldiers thu
will be used 1t would be possible
mass the entire militia force or tt
country at any point we'll inside of te
days. There appears to be some doul
in some quarters as to the President
authority to thus utilize the state m
litia, but there is none among officia
in Washington, who have made stud
of the subject.
COAST DEFENsRs.
One of the results of the recent a
tiyity on the part of the governme
in preparing for exigencies is that O.
cry port on our coast in which any co
siderable damage could be done
warships of an enemy, is so well d
Tended that experts declare that
would be an absolute .imposs Utility I
the entire naval force of Spain TO ent
single one of them, and that
Spanish warships to even attempt
do SO would result in their almost CT
tain destruction. Thanks to an ale
Presid ent and patriotic Congress, o
sea-coast cities are now safe from eli
er invasion or serious damage from
fo-sign enemy.