The Holly chieftain., 1898-02-25
SPAIN WANTS WAR
An Intensely Angry Feeling Against the
United States Entertained.
HARBOR OF HAVANA MINED.
SavaI oniesrs Still Di-cu-.inr the Cause of
the DisRster Of the Mainr-A Secret
Inquiry-Active War Prepsra-
tions Going

and dismay which at first prevailed
when the catas ,rOphe in the Havana
harbor was announced has disappeared
and given way 20 an intensely belli-
cose and angry f.eling, which is free
" expressed on u sides and by mem
bers of every political party. They
are kept fully informed of the tone of
the American pr and of the appar-
/ emily universal demands made upon
the president 10 resort to war, and,
far from there being any alarm
bout the mater, grim satisfac-
! tion is apparent .verywherc- No one
here will admit for one moment that
the Maine was bown up by design.
/ The disaster is a bed to the alleged
gross carelessnes, and laNity of disci-
pline which peopr here say constitute
"a feature on bo ID American ships.
/ The gravity of Il situation is further
demonstrated b. the fact that the
queen regent has -Immoned to her side
her mother, the Archduchess Eliza
| beth, justly renow ned as one of the
clcverest POLITICAL, in all Europe and
who was recent at deaths door.
She is a woman OF ,erv strong charac-
| ter. and those here who have had occa-
| sion to become &C, lainted with her
| during her stays with her daugh.
ter express the opinion that she will
encourage the quepn regent to yield at
once to the popula- demand for war
with the United N.ates, and will ST.
lencc her daughter hesitations upon
the subject That is. indeed, from a
/ dynastic point of view, the only thing
TO be done, for there is no doubt what
ever that any further appearance of
subservieucy to America, any atte empt
to maintain peace at the cost of Span.
! ish pride, will result in the overthrow
of the monarchy.
The Harbor Filled with Mines
| New YoRK, Feb. 23.-A Havana cable
from the Evening Telegram's CORE.
| Spondent says:
l have learned from the highest authority
! hat. no matter what may have been the cause
u tho terrible catastrophe to the Maine the
IIrbOr OF Havana is and has be IN for long
line. filed with submarine mines and torpe-
iocs. While this fact has been suspected. but
. few army and navy officers have any definite
.dea Of the location or number OF these mines
Al the outbreak OF the war the greatest
.rcey was imposed upon those having
,hCse mines under their supervision. and
n general When 1t was rumorei that
q United States war vessel would be sta
LlOned In the harbor. the attention OF one OF
zen WCyler's aides-de- Camp was called to the
TACT that all OF the large shore batteries guard
ing the entrance to the harbor could only be
iirects against an enemy In the open sea and
that If a warship succeeded In running past the
'orts and entering the haT0Or the entire city
would be ut Its mercy. The officer replied that
The engineers intrustcd with the most recent
'ortihcation OF the harbor had fully considered
!his question. and had arran red that II a vessel
| 5yeT did en- .cr the haroor She could be blown
lp at
sim Discussing the Cause.
| WASHINGTON, Feb. 23.-Although the
officers of the construction department
Of the navy are almost unanimous
com bustion or boiler explosion as the
cause of the destruction of the Maine,
they are at a loss with almost every
one else for clear explanation of it.
w. A. Dobson, principal draug tsman
Of the bureau of construction, who was
Identified with the preparation of
the designs of the wrecked battleship
said that he was not fully prepared
to accept the theory of many of the
ordnance experts that the explosion
could have been caused by torpedo
from the outside. What makes me
iiscredit the theory that the Maine
was sunk by torpedo said another
naval officer, '.is that Capt. Sigsbee
and all his officers and men were vigil
lantly guarding their ship against
such a visitation. Capt Sigsbee knew
of the hostile feeling against the
United States then prevailing in Hn-
vana, and he, as well as the other Off.
GERS of the vessel, had been repeatedly
warned against danger and treachery."
a secret Inquiry.
| HAVANA, Feb. %. The board of in.
qury into the Maine disaster met on
the lighthouse lender Mangrove yes
terday morning with Capts. sampson
and Chadwick and Lieutenant Com.
manders Potter and Mark present.
Capt Sampson presided and Lieuten-
ant Commander Mark, recently execu-
tive officer of the Maine. acted as re.
corder. Capt Sigsbee. the commander
of the Maine, was the first witness
called. Capt sampson, after the ses-
sion of the board, said that it had
been decided not to tell the public the
tSabiihDuN hnbii Az Suhti huSe Decu re-
ceived and the findings have been con.
sidered.
whv n warship was Sent to Cuba.
WASHINGTON. Feb. 23.-,There is no
longer any concealment on the part OF
the administration as to the reason
which induced it to decide that naval
vessels should go to Havana and otner
Cuban ports. While no admissions are
made that the friendly visit idea is
no longer to be considered rs the rea-
son that the Maine was sent to Ha.
vana, the announcement that another
warship would proceed there as soon
as the excitement over last Tuesdays
terrible affair had subsidized shows
that the protection of American in
terests and not mere etiquette has
actuated the ADMINISTRATION. Capt
Sigsbee's precautions in keeping am.
munition ready for service in the rifles
OF the secondary battery are evidence
that he did not regard his mission as
one of loving brotherhood.
Active War PRESENTATIONS.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 23.-To-day was
devoid of rumors in the Spanish
American situation. The excitement
which has prevailed in Washing
ton for the past week was scarcely
noticeable and the government officials
and congressman have resumed their
daily routine, satisfied to wait until
the official investigation Of the Maine
disaster shall be concluded before
forming an opinion as to the cause.