Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-03-17
war CLOUD LIFTING.
1ORE BATTLESHIpS NAY BE- VOTED.
~ Court Of Inquiry Leaves Havana for
Key Wext-Peace Sentiment Growing
4. Courts Report Nearly Ready
~ Evidence Of Z Mine Found

1ugtOn 10 tnc llneb-uerhlu' lnOuRn
" Is officially announced that the
I. United States has purchased the two
brazilian cruisers, and though large
contracts let for projectiles and shells
for both the army and navy would ap.
pear to indicate the imminence Of war,
= matter Of fact the war cloud Is
not O. black or threatening now as II
was q week or two ago. There Is q
most hopeful feeling among those off,
cisls who are nearest to the center Of
inside news It would not be correct
70 my that all danger Of war has
passed, but the chance Of q peaceful
settlement Of our troubles with
Spain Is now considered probable.
Men who . week ago thought war
was we'll nigh inevitable now believe
It Is likely to be averted. This change
81 opinion Is not due to any change Of
attitude on the part Of this govern.
ment. The United States will demand
ample reparation for the wrong in.
aicted upon us by the destruction Of
the Maine. 1t will later on demand
sope satisfactory solution Of the gen.
eral Cuban problem. The improved
feeling Is due wholly to the discovery
that the government at Madrid is
likely to prove much more amenable
70 reasonable and just treatment than
we on this side had been led to believe
would be the case 1t Is due also to
the discovery that In her efforts to find
allies In Europe, at least to the extent
Of moral support, Spain has had
offered her by other governments the
good advice to make all proper sacri-
fees rather than go to war with Amer.
len.
MORE BATTLEsHIPs MAY BE VOTED.
WARRINGTON, March l6 Yesterday
wls another busy day in the war and
navy departments. Secretary Alger
was enabled to make an allotment OF
funds from the appropriation OF $780,
100000, which will greatly facilitate
the work OF the bureaus, Those
bureaus had not been able to conclude
any contracts for the procurement OF
war supplies because no allotment had
besn made, butyesterlay afternoon the
ordinance bureau was given 50, 900
and business went forward with q
rush. 1t Is true that this sum
Is already mortgrved under pro-
visional arrangements made during
the past week, but, with the
assurance Of more funds to come, the
work OF the bureau is now moving
rapidly. A good deal OF encourage
ment was created at the navy depart.
ment by report from the capitol that
. majority of the naval affairs COM
mittee Is disposed to substitute six
bsttleships for the three provided for
In the pending naval appropriation
bill. This number is supposed to rep.
resent about the normal working Ca
pacity Of the three shipbuilding con.
Germs In this country that are able OF
present to undertake the construction
Of battleships.
THE COURT LEAVES HAVANA.
HAVANA, March IS. The Mangrove,
with the court Of inquiry on board,
sailed last night for Key West. Capt.
Sampson, president of the board, as.
sured the Associated press correspond
ent that the decision to leave Havana
was not reached until the afternoon,
after consultation of the members.
Il was decided that, while further
testimony might be obtained here,
this was not sufficiently likely to
justify longer stay. The court
can return II the divers or wreckers
make discoveries that add TO the stock
Of knowledge now gathered. The
plans Of the submerged wreck, in the
Prcpsra'ion ol when Ensign Powell
~ nas nao . large snare are very
elaborate, and Capt Sampson says the
Testimony and records Of the divers
ere very iuil. lie hopes the court will
De allowed 70 resume It's sittings on
re oattleship Iowa, now near Key
VEST WIN tne new York The great
OF part OF tne investigation that re-
MAINS VIII consist unless the court re-
surns here' ora careful study OF the
pisna -
rlAcE SENTIMENT GROWING
MAphlp' Msrcn io'--it is asserted in
usa' 'niormeu circles that the negotia'
Won. IN view iork as 70 the CONNER
as, uea'y are paving tne way Tor an
understanding between the Cuban gov
eminent ana the insurgents on grounds
70 0o submitted for aDOrOvAl In the