Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1898-03-05
AWAITING REPORT.
War Not Expected danger Is
in Cuban Question.

In CuDan Question.
Reticence IN All Quarters, but War
Preparations Go On.
WASHINGTON, d. c.. March 4-What-
report Of the naval court OF inquiry in re-
gard to the horrible Maine disaster there
ARE no premonitOry symptoms here at
present. The administration calmly awaits
events. meanwhile making such preparations
a. it can for possibilities. although. rs every
wcll-informed person here understands. 1t
would take at least six months to make ade-
quate preparations for the worst OF posi-
F., bilities, actual war. The administration
however. does not expect war. Ii it did, 1t
would be making much more active prepara-
tons and much more urgent appeals to Con-
gress. and Congress would not be delaying
action on the comparatively few and
small requests which have been made.
The Maine incident, Mt least, is en-
pected to terminate peacefully. Trouble
may come. it Is feared, afterward, in the nr-
ton which may prove inevitable on the part
Cuba. prominent New England senator
(not Mr.. Hale of Maine who talked for some
time with President Mckinley recently says:
"rhe danger lies. not in the Maine incident,
, but in the settlement OF The Cuban question.
which it has fastened. There Is prospect of
serious trouble there. We have all been
hoI ing that the Cuban question would settle
its If. and therefore. the administration has
adopted no definite plan for our participa-
lion in its settlement. but fear we have got
to face the question as soon AS the Maine i'll
rilent closes, aud prepare for speedy ac-
tiOn.'
Never in the history of similar proceed
ina hnv oh INF inn ht.pn I'm
guard the facts from public scrutiny. Never
have officers of either arm of the service
remained more consistently reticent under
the orders of their chief. The first and
most obvious conclusion is that the courts
report must not be expected soon.
The second and most important con-
cusou. one which many conservative
observers have reached ere now is thai
at the end of the first weeks work the
probability Is more remote than ever
that the court can ever attribute the
Maine disaster 10 accidental and interior
causes. The weeks work has hardly been
one that makes for peace. Justin proportion
rs that fact has become palmer III the light
of the testimony taken, the evident purpose
of the court of inquiry to make haste slowly
has forced itself upon those who watch its
course. Had it been possible early in the
investigation with reasonable certainty to
say that the Maine calamity was a misfOr-
tune only. and not crime, the continued
suppression Of that conclusion would have
served the interests neither OF the United
| States nor of Spain. On the contrary, hal
The facts tended to show an accidental origin
Of the explosion, all peace-loving, sober
minded people would have rejoiced to see
even partially lifted. the dark cloud that now
menaces both nations, and the conservl alive
press of America would have welcomed an
opportunity to relax the dangerous tension
that now prevails.
WASHINGTON. d. G., March A party
OF government officials has accompanied
congressional delegation to Fort Washing
, ton to witness Il test ofthe new Reybun 10
inch forliration gun guarding the approach
to the capital ut that point. The test was in
every way successful. Three shots were
fired, each one reaching almost to Alexan-
dria. seven miles distant. 1t was necessary for
the gun to BE- in view irit two minutes ut each
firing. The gun can throw II sli II IL miles.
The party included Assistant Secretary OF
War Meikleiohn, Senators liawlny. Mason,
Peuigrew, Carter AMI Mitchell, Representa-
tivss Hull. chairman Of the House military
committee: Hrm"nway, Pitney. Mcclellan
and Il number of engineer Off 'rrs.
NEW HAVEN, Conn. March THE CUP
per Bicycle rlun consisting of about 80
members has Just had q special meeting and
ns,"r r,h,. ,.,nh yote,l to r,s, I.. iiseIf nt
once into n military organization. caIliny
itself the Clipper Cuban Cal Its. 1t has re-
ported to Governor Cook. asking Tor re.
QUESTION of arms, and that it he attached to
the company OF volunteer Cuban cadets just
formed hv Alderman Edward 4. l,ourkr
NJ" lohh, MarGh 4Lnanay HOOK, Whlcn
Is now an lslah" unuer tne autocfalic RUE OF
Colonel Ludlow of the L. s. engineer rOrUS
Is Drislnhs WIN .ne pay9nelno s uuias 81 INC
Us. army under Inc strl"test regulations 20
arrest amy person VINO reaches ts SHORES
without an order from INC chier oTncer III
command OF the reservation. me orders
now are TO take any person iolind on the
nook b"ior'" New Jersey Justice NJ sea,
Drithl IN" nave , nun h,.en anu iinPr'soheu
torthwhh; Inc prlheiphl WORK pelilS dohe
now Is to hurry forward tle emPncemeht OF
the new three io-ihrn guns, one OF Whi'h "
nearly mounted. These guns staiiu hearef
the shore nan any one OF the 10 moriarH.tn"
Two ioihcl or ti' il-innn guns now J." post
tloh' IL VIII require 'o ""Is 10 pun 'hr9'
guns In position.
v..,,,,>oro~ - - u, r,
"AShlNulOA, -. "a, MarGh - me
loubie-turreted monitor Terror mas gone 70
New iork RON oh, ii"'i,p,oh Io"us unuIr Or
ders. She VIII pe most PoWerini rem
iorcement OF the uei use OF the commerria'
metropolis IN case oil neeu, ana. stationed III
the Narrows. wouid oH uihlcu'' Tor any
hostile snip 10 pass her. WIN me exception
OF the arrival OF me framing shlp ESSEX at
hampton roa's ana 'he broohyns arrival
NJ 81. Lucia. pron'to,y 20 coai on n'r way 20
LaSlayra' distant ooV hli'es, tn,s Is tne oh'y
naNal moItmrh, OF hio,heh.. rourlcei I'VE,
men rapiu II lhS SWi lF, ''aVe neeii ulspatche'
TO me hi'''s3. WIN mess guns ~ Pace
the 'hi'aHo Will pe pretty well ihouerhi"eI
IN inc matter OF armament; nne VIII carry
SUI h'r iVnr plS eiSht,ihcn guns III spoh-
sons on lhe spar ueck, "hIle on tho qua
deck these - nVe-lhth rhplu IRE guns
VIII Replaces eieht sN.lhch guns Oh olu pat
Nin. i"o ~, P"in - ~ 81 my oo'hu,''""h
III New lork on Marcn r. ANnough
rateu US the Prtsiueht yacht, the Vessel,
whlch mas peeh tno1ongniy oveInh,ieu anu
lurh'sheo WIN new po,ie,s anu uecks. cur
res even now suhlcleht oattery 10 MAKE
ner, Wnen speeu Is taken INTO account,