New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-07
Speculation IN HAVANA.
DISCUSSING THE PROBABILITIES IN
EVENT OF WAR
WHERE AMERICAN TROOPS WOULD IANp-RE-
DUCT1oN OF HAVANA EAsY-sENAToR

WHERE AMERICAN TROOPS WOULD I.ANp-RE-
DUCTIoN OF HAVANA EAsY-sENAToR
pRocToRs OBSERVATIONS.
Havana. via Key West. Fla. March 6.-As
the conviction becomes settled that the Court OF
Inquiry will decide that there was mine ex-
plosion under the Maine. discussion among
American naval officers and civilians here Is
prevalent as to the warlike measures which 1t Is
believed the United States Government Will
adopt In case the question OF the payment OF
indemnity by Spain is overruled A majority De-
lieve that American troops will be landed at
some point east Of Havana. and the Insurgents
communicated with: that the Spanish soldiery
will be defeated or captured in detail and that
in the mean time fleet OF United States vessels
viii blockade IL not lombard, Havana. No one
seems to doubt that the reduction OF this city
would be comparatively easy. Four l2-inch
guns-tw, west and two east Of the city-are the
only ones that are considered dangerous. These
are not likely to be we'll served, while their EN-
placements not modern. as they shouio De-
That some Spaniards Of opinion that an
attack on Havana will be made Is believed 10
be shown by the abnormal activity displayed
on board the Vzcaya. This correspondent mas
the best naval authority for the statement that
the Vizcaya is In constant state or readiness
for emergencies. and that packet boats are on
the alert day and night inside the haroor ana
outside the harbor at night. 1t is pointed out
that the men-of-war vizcaya and Almirante
Oquendo might be cauSnt in a blockade ana ran
an easy prey to a United States fleet. The
cruiser Alfonso XII is without boilers, and
would be OF no account. All this discussion OF
the probability Of war among the Americans
and Standards proves nothing, and only shows
the state OF feeling here.
The conduct OF the Spanish divers VINO are
investigating the wreck OF the Maine Is
mystery. Thus far they have not been down
five hours in the aggregate and snow no as
position to make a thorough inquiry IL IS I'M
possible to learn the truth fully regarding the
purpose Of the Spanish Court OF inquiry Out
1t Is generally believed that the divers were
sent down for FORMS sake only. and that re-
port will be made in accordance Win instfuc-
tons from Madrid. Il NAV be that the spanish
divers have discovered that the whole port SIDE
Of the Maine forward is gone, and. having so
renorted. further examination is deemed UNI
necessary The work OF the American divers
henceforward is bound TO be slow. owing to the
ponderous weights to be moved. and the safety
clamps. nuts and rivets must be cut
Senator Proctor is likely to make speech in
the Senate on his return that vii! have great
United States He Is much affected by the SUI
fering that he found in Matanzas. and highly
indignant at what he calls the "inhumanity or
the course pursued" During A visit to Arte-
rnisa. this province. he saw thousands OF recon-
centrados who refused to beg. though starving
They were evidently Of the class accustomed to
make their own living. and unwilling TO become
paupers He saw thousands Of acres Of the
hest tobacco and banana lands In the world re-
duced 10 waste. with trochas and garrisons at
every village and crossroad. His drivers point
ing 70 the mountains fifteen miles away. said
There are plenty Of insurgent camps there
that the Spanish have never discovered
The work OF distribution Of American RELIEF
under Miss Clara Bart IN, Mr.. Ewell and their
assistants is In Senator PrOctors judgment.
carefully and effectively carried on. The de-
mand is far In excess OF the supply. The sup
plies expected at Matanzas and Sagua la
Grande 10 be brought by American cruisers.
will afford the greatest relief
Now that the Almirante OQuendo and the
Vizcaya are lying in the harbor. the Spaniards
exultingly declare that the city Is safe; and il
is given out officially in the newspapers that the
Onuendo Is of the same size. armament and
complement as the Nizcaya