The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1898-03-17
4 RITTER FEELING
Our Relations with Spaine Are Not
Strained.

so strained.
Washington. March 1O.-In spite of
numerous conferences of officials, of
the continuation OF the preparations
now in progress on n large scale to
put the country in a state Of defense,
and Of the outbursts Of patriotic
speeches in congress. there was a GER
tain feeling apparent in the best in
formed circles that the situation, as
to our relations with Spain, were
much more favorable yesterday than
1t was Monday. Perhaps the semi
official advices received through the
Associated Press from Madrid. indi-
eating peaceful purpose on the part
OF the Spanish government. contribut-
Ell in n large measure to that feeling,
or 1t may have been that the growing
knowledge of the vast extent of our
own resources tended to the belief
that they would impress others with
the utility of attacking the United
States. However that may be, the
feeling prevailed, and at the White
House. 700. after the cabinet meeting.
wherein all the facts that were known
to the president as TO the existing
state OF affairs, was laid before the
cabinet members and discussed.
While Capt. Brownson is going abroad
for the government to learn what
ships of war are for sale and their
condition. he will not necessarily make
any purchases. Capt. BrOwnson does
not expect 10 stay abroad long. and
goes only on condition that he may
| return Immediately in case of an open
rupture.
AS TO the right to buy foreign war
ships all authorities agree that such
purchases may be made. even after
HOstiIitfes Have Begun,
if the neutral nation exercises strict
impartiality between the belligerents
and the ships are not armed and out
fitted ready for service. The trade OF
shipbuldng is recognized as a legiti-
mate one, which may be carried on
ut all times.
A good deal is being accomplished
in the way Of preparation both in the
| navy and war departments. The con-
ference at the navy department look
ing into the procurement of suitable
store of ammunition, coal and sup
plies. touched upon the question Of
dry docks and generally considered
number Of other matters connected
with the operation Of a warship. The
war department was not behind the
navy. Gen. Flagler. chief of ordnance.
Is very busy reaching out in every di-
rection by means of the telegraph and
the mail to learn just how far the re-
sources Of the big manufacturing con-
Germs can be relied on to come to the
aid of the war department In arming
| and equipping volunteer army
should one be found necessary. He
will not tell what he is doing in this
direction. holding that IL Is not wise
to make everybody acquainted either
with our strong or weak points.
Mai. Gen. Miles is looking after the
personnel closely and trying hard to
perfect the organization of two new
| regiments of artillery which congress
| has granted. Three weeks ago last
| night the
| Maine Was Blown Up.
| AS il was last week at this time. so IL
| is now; nothing is known officially as
! to the cause of the disaster. The
| court is at work hard; that is all that
| is known at the navy department. 1t
is not even known when it may be
| expected to finish it's work. But the
| Importance Of it's report does not di-
| minish in the slightest degree by the
| lapse of time.
Senior du Bose called ut the state de-
| partment and had half-hour's con-
| ference with Judge Day. He brought
no dispatches and the talk did not re-
late to the present strained condition
| Of affairs, but was rather an informal
discussion Of the condition OF affairs In
[, Cuba. In the course Of the visit 1t was
suggested by Senior du Bose that some
| Of the newspaper correspondents at
Havana were trespassing on the priv
ilegcs which the Havana authorities
had accorded them. The new Spanish
minister. Senior Barnabe, will arrive
in New York to-day on a German line
| steamer. He is expected at the lega-
ton the following day. and arrange
merts then will be made for the pre-
| sentatiOn Of his credentials to Presi-
dent Mckinley. There will be the
usual exchange Of Fluctuations, which
will be of more than passing interest
Senior Barnabe left Madrid before the
recent critical juncture was reached.
and ut the time Of his departure the
rev commercial treaties were upper
Ioost i'm the interest of the Madrid au-
thorties.