The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-03-11
HAVANA OFFERS A SHIP.
sPhNIhRDS IN CUBA Talk OF OPEN.
ING THEIR POCK ETBooKS.

NV WIN UNIV uuI SUBSCRIPTIONS TO nay =
warship Uncle Sam senas sIs.Soo -
Havana for secret sorvice E1penscs-Gep.
Blanco Tells Madrid All About tho NIaine.
HAVANA, March l0.-A largo meeting Of
Spaniards will DO held on Thursday. March ~,
at the palace OF Governor.G General Blanco, to
raise funds by public subscription to buy a new
cruiser for the Spanish navy. to BIO named "Isla
do Cuba" Tho meeting has been arranged fog
a week from to.day, in order to givo time for the
Spaniards all over the island to send representa-
tives to 1t. A committee will be appointed al
Havana. with delegations Mt all the Spanish
cities and towns In Cuba. for raising tho money
by subscription.
When Spain had a row with Germany on ao.
count OF the dispute over the Caroline Islands,
some twelve years ago. and Spanish patriotiam
was much aroused here. the same plan was
formulated, but the cruiser was never bought,
because tho international complication was soon
settled.
Gen. Blanco said to-day that he was greatly
pleased to see the Spaniards forget all their po-
litical differences whom a patriotic idea was
proposed to Thorn.
The war sentiment continues intense and the
volunteers, tho most numerous military body In
the Havana garrison. are INDUCING in all kinds
Of military practice. Mondays. Wednesdays
and Fridays have been selected by Gen. Blanco
as the days whom tho volunteers are to practice
with the heavy guns OF CGbeHa fortress while
the present war scare lasts. Officers OF the reg.
ular corps of artillery are instructing Thorn.
Yesterday some officers Of the Spanish cruisers
vizcaya and Almirante Oquendo were present
at their drill.
Consul Barker has tele9raphed from Sagun to
the newspaper La Lucha fatty denying that he
is in disaccord with Consul.General Leo, az was
published here. or that he intended to make
disclosures OF any kind with regard to the
American consular service in Cuba. THE Suns
correspondent has been informed that tho publ
cation Of the reports about Consul Barker, which
were cabled to New York o few days ago, have
greatly Disguised that gentleman. Mr.. Barker
says that he gave the causes of his resignation to
the American Government, and that IL Is impos-
sible for him to entertain any sentiment OF hos
tility toward Gen. Lee. whose talent. ability,
and courage he is among the first to recognize.
The correspondent has learned that the Amer
lean ce-Cons in Havana, Mr.. Springer. has
received from Washington ST.. 800 for secret
service expenses. The fact is very much COM
mcnted upon among Spanish officials here.
Capt. Converse of the Montgomery and his
officers, accompanied by Consul.General Lee.
visited Gen. Blanco to-day.
With regard to the Maine catastrophe La
Union Constitutional says to-day that Gen.
Blanco and Admiral Manterola have both re-
ported to the Central Government in Madrid
that the Maine was blown up by the explosion
Of one OF its ammunition magazines.
Messrs. Clark and Strandheld. constructors of
the new floating dock now in Havana. say that
they can raise the hull of the Maine with their
dock.
La Luchd, in an editorial to-day, attacks the
American correspondents hero, charging them
with trying to provoke n war between Spain and
the United States. They only report lics." La
Luchd says. The editorial ends by saying that
the United States is . big nation with plenty
of big mon, but tho heart of these men. In spite.
of their body. Is no bigger than a child's."
La Discussion continues its campaign in favor
of persons who are still in prison in Cuba, al.
though they have been pardoned by the DEGREES
of Gen. Blanco. Ono Of them. according to La
Discussion. is jose Hernandez Guerra, arrested
on April 4. 1896, pardoned by Blanco and still
in Havana Jail.
AT a meeting held last night by the Conserve
tives 1t was decided. after much elaboration.
that the party should go to the polls in the
coming elections for Deputies at the Cortes.
The Marquis Of Apezteguia. President of the
party. was the main supporter of this decision.
But the Incorporating elements among the
Conservatives will almost surely present Con.
Weylcr as q candidate of the party.
Senator'S Gallinger and Thurston and Con-
gressmen Cummings, Money, and Smith arrived
here to-day on the yacht Anita and went to the
Hotel Pasaje. They said they had como to in
y~estigate the causes OF the Maine wreck and the
war situation. They went to-day to the bay.
looked at the work OF the divers. and afterward
interviewed Capt. Sampson, President of the
Board of Inquiry. and Capt. Converse of the
Montgomery. They also talked with the other
members of the board.