The herald., 1898-03-18
ARE NEARING A CRISIS
THE BELIEF OF BURROWS OF
MICHIGAN
WAR MAY NOT BE IMMINENT
But the Officers Of the Government Are
Making Every Effort to Be
Prepared for It
Associated Press Special Wire

6IaJe6 0CuotOl julius - D0IIOW6 "
Michigan, in a signed statement in tn,
World, says:
II am profoundly impressed with tn,
belief that in our relations with Spair
q crisis is near at hand.
'In few days the government will
receive the report of the Court Of In
Quiry. The report will be that tn.
Maine was destroyed by the explosion
of Spanish mine or torpedo.
IF the court makes the report tina
anticipate 1t will, then will come tn,
tug Of war;"
What Is the situation with which
the country is confronted?"
"a vessel of the United States gov
ernment lies in the port Of friendly
power on the exact spot selected by
that power and the vessel is on peace
full mission. She is destroyed
'The question of ports does not en-
I Ser into the discussion Of responsibility
" Spain was as much bound to protect
the Maine and her crew from harm II
the port of Havana as if she had beer
anchored at her immediate door.
care not whether the explosion was pro-
duced by or through the connivanct
VI IL OpdIldTQ VI SuDdup CPoih . AC-
sponsibility for the deed is not lessened
thereby.
Suppose that the President of the
United States visited Spain on friend
ly mission and was the guest of the
Queen Regent and during the night was
murdered by some member Of the
Queens household, or by some fanatical
Spaniard not connected with Spain's
Cabinet, would not this government have
the, right to hold Spain responsible for
the deed? I contend that 1t would.
Therefore 1t is that l say that in our
relations with Spain we are approach
ing a crisis, the solution and settlement
Of which Congress alone must deter
mine. The country expects Congress to
do it's duty in the premises and that the
President will do his. Neither can shift
the responsibilities Of the hour upon
the other.
ANY proposition of Congress to shirk
responsibility or impose special powers
upon the President to meet emergencies
as they arise will be resented by the
people. Congress must not only remain
in session until 1t knows all the facts con-
nected with the loss of the Maine, but
must not adjourn until it has settled and
settled right, all other questions that are
pressing for speedy solution
WELL INFORMED
NEW YORK, March 1.-THE Navy
Department officials have obtained COM
plete information as to the build and
armament Of every gun vessel Of the
Spanish navy now on the Cuban coast.
There are no less than thirty-four of
these small vessels of war which are
now doing Cuban patrol duty. The
craft in question are additional to the
fleet which is at present in Havana har-
bor. The latter consists OF the armored
cruisers Vizcaya and Oquendo, the
cruisers Infanta Isabel and Alfonso
XIII, and the torpedo gun vessel Nueva
Espana.
The small patrol craft are for the
most part of tonnage varying between
100 and 300 tons. In the 300-ton class
are three built in England. They are
named Herman Cortez, Pizarro and
Vasco Nunez de Balboa. Each boat
carries three officers and fifty men. In
the 200-class are the Diego Velasquez
and Ponce de Leon. Each carry three off,
GERS and thirty-flve men. In the 100
ton class are all the remaining gun
boats. The armament Of these small
vessels consists in most cases Of ten
rapid fire guns and from one to two ma
chine guns.
TODAY's TRANSFER
LONDON, March 1.-THE warship
Amazonas, built for Brazil, but pur-
chased by the United States, will be
formally transferred to the United
States tomorrow morning at Gravesend.
utenant-Commander Colwell the
United States Naval Attache here, will
receive the ship from her Brazilian
commander. A crew from the San
Francisco will then be marched on
board, the Brazilian flag will be hauled
down and the Brazilian sailors will be
landed. The executive officer Of the
San Francisco will probably take COM
mand Of the Amazonas, and she will sail
for the United States as speedily as
possible, under sealed orders. It is sup
posed she is going to the North Ameri-
can Station, where her crew can be rein
forced. The Amazonas has been provi-
stoned and coaled for her trip to Brazil,
The United States government pur-
chased all the supplies.
Commander Willard H. Brownson, the
agent of the United States government,
who arrived here yesterday from New
York, has been besieged by ship men
and reporters. He says the reports of
the object Of his mission are incorrect
and that his errand Is one which he can
not speak about.
Apparently, Commander Brownson is !
acting as advisor to Lieutenant Com
mander Colwell.
A special dispatch from Rome says
the Italian Minister of Marine, Admiral
Brin, has informed the Spanish Am
bassador to Italy, Count De Bonomar,
that his request that Italy sell three
warships to Spain will be discussed at
the next cabinet meeting.
FUNDS DISBURSED
WASHINGTON. March 1.-THE first
disbursements under the recent act Of
congress appropriating $4,000, 900 for
the national defense, has been made bv
the Treasury Department on an execu-
tive order for $4,000, or s14b. a05
to be cabled to London to the credit Of
Sir William Armstrong, in part payment
Tor twelve rapid-f1ring guns, Including
mounts and ammunition. The purchase
including mounts, etc., is $25, 900 for each
gun, or $262,0O0 for the twelve. In ad-
dition to this payment the Treasury De-
partment will cable Rothschilds at Lon
don $1,6S9.621 in full payment for the
Brazilian cruiser Amazonas, and in part
payment for the Abreuall,
The twelve rapid-fire guns are for the
use of the War Department.
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