The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-03-22

adverse report ny the American t7'Nft
81 Inquiry, and to that end WAS pre-
pairing 20 anticipate AMI offset It. by
making clear the government poli"y or
standing by the report ~ the Spanish
commission. The report Of the latter
body WAC due in Madrid Yesterday. and
while ~ conclusions are not officially
known ii = n f~orc-onc conclusion that
II Viii find that the Maine disaster was
due - accident resulting ia an internal
explosion. This was fn-tr~hadowed III
the advance utterance~ Of Captain Peral.
head of the Spanish commission. who
stated publicly several days ago that the
theory of external explosion was uutcua-
lie.
Along with the ~cmi-oficial statement
from Madrid that a demand for iudcm-
nifty Viii T. Indignantly TcI~llrd, ! The
further statement from reliable sources
thar Spain has made il clear IT, The au-
thoriticS here that ia:crv rtion may
lcai t. war. The prospects ~ such IN
tery,ntion appear L. T., seriously en-
tcrtafut-l 10y Spain. and strou. efforts
have b-tu made 10 avoid this hy show
ing that The condition or thr rccouceu-
tradp> did not warrant the step. and
also that II would threaten q end al.
prospects OF further pacific regulations.
Both governments have bcrn soundiu.
each other on the activity OF the other
in searching for ships. bur there has
been little ground for objection on either
shic, ~ both have been in the same
markets. The administration explains
rs buying of ships on th. ground that
SPANS attitude has been - m"nacin-
* naturally "a call for au augmented
Nav. While Spain takes thu same yir,v
that the activity III tho United States
requires suitable preparations hy tho
Spanish Navy.
The report that Spain had protested
against a tiiihuNtcring expedition to
Puerto Rico clnnot b. verified. IL OH
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 tn" President and the Secretary
are determined that no efforts bc spared
To maintain the secrecy Of the courts
verdict until they themselves have dc
tcrInIned Ia give il publicity. Therefore.
even the admirably designed Naval ciph-
,r code viii not hc relied upon. aud al
the Presidents instance. Admiral Sicdr,l
WAS directed to place the document in
the custody Of some Naval officer, ac-
cording IL the usual method, and for
ward them to Washington IN that man
ner. IT > 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 ease
they probably are So unless the Sccre-
tary of the Navy believes, after looking
into the testimony. that some lines of
Investigation should he further pursued.
The largest measure Of preparation vet
made by the Wa Department to meet
the contingencies Of the future. prob
ably has just been completed. 1t is the
preparation of Il bill providing among
other sections for the placing of the
army on Il war footing for the full
strength of 1Ui.0Oo men. The bill has
been carefully gone over by the War
Department and WaS introduced IN the
House by Representative Hulk, Chair
man Of the House Committee on Mill
tary Affairs. who. il is expected. Will
urge il vigorously inasmuch rs it is an
administration measure.
In view Of the possibility Of 4 conflict
with Spain considerable interest ccntcrs
just now in the Strength of tn" militia
force of the United States, which would
bc lab 10 be called upon in ease of
necessity. According to latest reports
the total organized strength of the mil
itia Of the United States is l1l,362 men.
while the number Of men available for
military duty mnorGanizcdl is 1O,3ol.-
800.
The Spanish Minister. Senior Polo. re
ceived Il dispatch today from Captain
General Blanco aS follows:
The Council of Secretaries. unlcr my
presidency. has resolved To prproguc in
all parts OF the island. w 10 March -,
1899. II decree of April, 1891. relative 10
th. N,IEa,atr>TAtl nf l,ls,,a1IlnsrG ,Y r1InAt
landed estates. unless the insular lcGie-
lature takes special action on the sub
ject."
The effect Of this. il is explained. j. 10
do away with the taxes Oh these lands
which have been devastated and hay"
become unproductivc.
MADRID TO RESIST FINDING.
Madrid. March 1.-THE following
semi-ofhcial note was issued here to-
day:
The report Of the Spanish commission
on the Maine is not yet known. but
the statement of several technical Of
ticeIr. who have made Il close cXamInt-
ton of the scene Of the disaster, show
it WAS indisputably due to an Internal
accident. American assertions 10 the
contrary are Therefore deplOrcd in official
quarters as tending to mislcad public
opinion and render the situation still
more difficult from the standpoint Of
maintaining friendly relations between
the two countries. IT may be regarded
rs certain that should the American
technical commission present 1t report
declaring the disaster to he due To an
external explosion. the public here viii
refuse to accept such "A finding and any
demand for an indemnity based .hcreon
will be Indignantly repealed by Spain
CUBA OFFERS INDEMNITY.
President Palma Says she Would be