The Portland daily press., 1898-03-18

| pacific negotiations.
Both governments have been sounding
each other on the activity Of each other
| in searching for ships, but there has been
| little ground for objection on either side
| as both have been in the same markets.
| The administration explains its buying
of ships on the ground that Spain's atti-
tude has been so menacing as naturally
| to call for an augmented navy whlie
| Spain takes the view that the activity IN
the United States requires suitable
preparations by the Spanish navy.
The report that Spain has protested
against filibustering expedition to Porto
! Rico, cannot be verified as officials here
say the expedition has not yet got away.
SECRETARY DAYS BUSY DAY.
g Washington, March 17s-Assistant SEQ
retary Day was very busy today. 1t was
Diplomatic day and in addition to his
| foreign callers there were number OF
Senators and Representatives kept in
waiting for some time in order to get ac-
cess to the Secretary.
prominent caller, but he did not remain
| longer than ten minutes. He was 1mme-
diately preceded by Senator Davis, chair
man of the committee on foreign rela-
tions who was closeted with the Assistant
Secretary for fully an hour Inree
diplomatic callers included che French
| Ambassador, Senor Cana; the Ch1l1an
minister and MIR. Hengelnuller the
Austrian minister. Because Chill has
been mentioned as the possible salesman
| of a warship to the United States. the as
sumption was drawn that the minister
had called on that business AS a matter
| of fact he is preparing for his departure
for his new post In London ana mas IN
| formed the department that ne Will sail
| from New York on the 23rd inst 1t as
state that the Austrian minister's call
had no reference to presentations TO the
state department in behalf of the spanish
| side of the present issue. In explanation
of his call it was suggested that ne mas
not missed a diplomatic reception day in
many weeks, and is engrosseu ID
reciprocity negotiations.
BECOMING WORRIED IN HAVANA.
Havana. via Key West, March 17.-Last
night on the occasion of General Blanco
BANQUET to the officers of the Vizcaya and
the Almirante Oquendo and the members
| of the autonomist government with the
correspondent of the Madrid Imparcial as
the only newspaper guest, the palace was
more carefully surrounded by soldiers
4 and police than evar before, even in the
time of Weyler. 1t was very evident that
1 a dynamite or something similar was
| feared.
|
American correspondents who are obnox-
| ious to the authorities is again being SON
sidered now that the court OF inquiry has
| left Havana 1t really seems as II now,
| for the first time, the probability OF an
open breach with the United States Is be-
ing seriously considered in Spanish
official circles in Cuba.
| SITUATION IS CRITICAL.
| New York. March 17.-Ma jor- General
| Nelson A. Miles, returned to Washington
today. Before leaving, Gen. Miles was
asked what he thought coneerning the
war situation He replied. refiectingly:
''It is very hard to foretell JUST Whao
| will happen. Matters look very serious,
but the country is prepared for any
emergency.
nMy inspection of the Notifications and
defenses in this vicinity as well as on
other parts of the coast. has proved entire.
" satisfactory. We have the finest per-
sonnel of army men of any in the world.
MANY of these men have had four years
hard experience on the frontier. II trou-
BILE comes it is not a question OF men
and patriotism, but question of supply
ing the proper engines of war.
1.-THE machinery that has been turning
out the steel for 20-story buildings is
rapidly being utilized now to manufacture
cannon, rifles and other war equip
ments.
ORDERED TO HAMPTON ROADS.
Washington, March 17.-The Texas and
Massachusetts, battleships that are now
with Admiral Sicard's squadron have
bean ordered to proceed at once from Key
West to Hampton Roads. where they will
Il join the cruisers Minneapolis, Brooklyn
and Colum bia and other vessels yet to be
selected, forming new naval division.
The reason for this change of programme
is not known, but apparently it disposes
for the present of the talk about flying
squadron.
CHILLI WON'T SELL.
London. March 1S.-The Santiago cor
resnonfept of the Times says: "The
Chilian government authorizes me to de-
nv the rumors of the sale OF the cruiser
O'Higgins No offer for any Chilian ship
Wilt be entertained by the government
until pending international questions be-
tween Chilli and Peru are definitely
settled"
A FAST BOAT.
London, March I7.-It is said that the
torpedo boat destroyer purchased ty the
United States at Sunderland Will nave a
sueed of thirty knots per hour. Men are
reported to be working on her day and
night in order to complete the boat.
AMERICANS TAKE CHARGE TODA
Gravesend, Eng, March 17.-Part o1
the officers and crew of the Amazonas,
the vessel built for Rrazil, but sold to!the
United States. left here this afternoon.
Her American crew will take charge OF
her tomorrow at II O'Clock a. III.
RECRUITS FOR FORT SLOCUM.
Cleveland, March ia telegraphic or,
der was received at the recruiting offict
in this city today to send ell recruits fol-
the artillery direct to Fort Sloculn, New
York, instead of to Columbus barracks a.
heretofore.
TORPEDO FLEET STOPPED.
Madrid, March 17.-Admiral Bermejt
the minister Of marine, has wired th'
; commander of the torpedo hotilla at tht
Canadires not to proceed to Havana.
GOING TO FORT HENRY.