The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1898-03-25

New 9q1AAxons 1e1ng F0elnea 70 Ne
Stationed It J1anapt0M ROads.
Washington, March 10. The event
Of the day In Official circles was the
issue Of an order for the formation Of
q new squadron Of naval vessels to 10,
stationed at Hampton Roads. The.
squadron will consist Of five ships, all
the best Of their types. Two Of them,
the battleships Massachusetts and
Texas, are withdrawn from the nres.
ent North Atlantic feet at Key West.
and Tortugas. In ordering this move
ment the navy department is not AMI
mated by any purpose Of yielding to.
representations or limitations that
may have come from the Spanish.
minister. On the contrary, the forma-.
ton of the new squadron was brought
about by purely strategic considera-
tiOns. although 1t appears from the.
nature of the force SO far under or
ders to rendezvous ut Hampton Roads
that this strategy is of the defensive,
nature. The point is said to be the
best, strategically, on the Atlantic
coast. 1t Is almost centrally located
and the ships from that point can
reach any portion of the coast in short
order, which is regarded as desirable,
since no one can tell just where a
flOtilla of torpedo destroyers or fast
cruiser may turn up with hostile intent
to attack town. The gunboat Hell
ena reported to the department that
she had sailed from Funchal, Madeira,
for Key West
To Join the Squadron.
1t is now said that it has been def
nitely determined to bring the battle
ship Oregon around South America to
Key West.
The Spanish minister called at the
state department at 3 O'clock and re-
manned with Judge Day something
conference were extremely reserved at
its conclusion. 1t is understood, how
ever, that it developed no new phases,
but was a general talk in which pacific
assurances were exchanged and O
hopeful view of the situation ex-~
pressed. At that time the naval Or
ders taking the battleships Texas AMI
Massachusetts from Key West and as
signing them to the fleet at Hampton
Roads was not known at the state de-.
partment, so that the minister was
not officially informed of the fact. He
heard it later, however, and naturally
was much gratitied, as the gradual
strengthening of the American feet at.
Key West has been the source of
grave apprehension by the Spanish
government The semi-official state
ment given out ut Madrid advancing
the government view that demand
for indemnity, based on Spanish le-.
sponsibility for the Maine explosion,
would be Indignantly repealed by'
Spain. attracted much interest in Of
fetal circles. There has been little
doubt for some time that
Spain Was Preparing
for the contingency of an adverse re-
port by the American court of inquiry,
and to that end was preparing to an
ticipate and offset it by making clear
the governments policy of standing
by the report of the Spanish commits
sion. The report of the latter body
was due in Madrid yesterday, and
while its conclusions are not officially
known. it is foregone conclusion that :
due to accident resulting in internal
explosion. This was foreshadowed in
the advance utterances of Capt. Peral,
head of the Spanish commission, who
stated publicly several days ago that
the theory of external explosion was
untenable. Along with the selni-of-
fetal statement from Madrid that
demand for indemnity will be indig-
nantly refused, is the further state
ment from reliable sources that Spail.
has made it clear to the authorities.
here that Intervention may lead to
war. The prospects of such interven-
ton appear to be seriously entertained
by Spain and strong efforts have been
made to avert it by showing that the
condition of the recOncentradOs did
not warrant the step and also that it
would threaten to end all prospects Of
further pacific negotiations.
Both governments have been sound
ing each other on the activity of the
other in searching for ships, but there
has been little ground for objection OH
either side as both have been in the
same market.
Murder and Suicide.
Mana CAL March 1l-Valencia Celia