The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-23
The Torpedo FIOtiIIa Now al the Ca
naries to BE Conveyed Across the
Atlantic by a Cruiser.
MADRID PRESS PESSIMISTIC
Ell IMPARCIAL THINKS SPAIN HAS
LOST HER OPPORTUNITY,
While Ell COrreO Has Given Up Hone
of Aid from EurOpe--Queen Regent
Generous with Her Money.

MADRID, March 22-The papers here
publish full reports Of the movements of
the United States war ships and of the de-
fensive preparations being made by the gov
eminent of the United States. 1t is re-
ported that the Spanish war ship selected
to convoy the torpedo flotilla has sailed
from Carthagena for the Canary islands.
1t appears that the delay in the voyage
of the torpedo boats is due to the fact that
the Arete, one of the Spanish torpedo boats,
received some slight damage while on her
way from Cadiz to the Canares.
The Spanish newspapers advocate further
Strengthening of the naval squadron in
Cuba, so not to be caught at disadvan-
tage in case of war The Heraldo thinks
that in view of the OBSERVATIONS prepara-
tons" of the United States, Spain has full
liberty to make similar preparations. The
Globe insists that injury has been done to
Spain by the United States squadron re-
naming close to the seat of war. 1t glad
ly notes, however, that the verbal sugges-
tions of Senior Polo Bernabe (the Spanish
minister at Washington to Secretary
Sherman have led to the withdrawal of
portion of the squadron, thus demonstrate
ing the cordially existing between the two
countries.
The Impartial independently expresses the
opinion that the action of the United States
has completely checked the advantage
which Spain might have derived from grant
ing autonomy to Cuba, and alleges that
the United States has practically stran-
gled autonomy at it's birth" The Impartial
also thinks Spain failed automatically in
not having obtained the removal of Con-
sui General Lee nor the withdrawal of
the ships from Cuba" and expresses fear
that although military action will be keen
er than ever" it will not suffice to pacify
Cuba, lowing to circumstances created by
the United States.
The Correo (Carlist) does not expect help
from Europe, but hopes the Latin countries
of America will support Spain. p
Senior Moret, the minister for the colonies,
told the newspaper men who waited on him
to-day that the report of the Spanish court
of inquiry would not be known soon as
had been expected. He said he believed the
American report would not be favorable
as Spain desired.
Count De Vile Gonzalo, Spanish ambas-
Sador to Russia, has resigned.
The Spanish government has received a
dispatch from it's minister at Washington,
Senior Polo Bernabe, saying that the re-
port of the United States naval court APP
pointed to inquire into the loss of the battle
ship Maine holds that the explosion was of
external origin.
Senior Polo, the Spanish minister, said at
Washington yesterday that the report from
Madrid that he had notified his government
that the American naval court of inquiry's
report was that the explosion was of ex-
ternal origin was an error He added that
he had not notified his government what
the report would be for the reason that he
did not know, and did not send cablegrams
to his government except where he knew
what were the facts, and in this case he
was not in possession of the facts.
A dispatch to the st. Louis Globe-Demo-
crat from Madrid says: Spain is deter
mined to fight for retention of Cuba and
Porto Rico. This is certain, though the
members of the Cabinet and the few Of
icers of the army who thoroughly under
stand the situation are convinced that war
with the United States means the loss of
Cuba and Porto Rico as well. Preparations
for this struggle have been proceeding with
the utmost vigor and vast quantities of
munitions and supplies are being sent from
here and ordered in New York for Cuba.
The arsenals are kept going night and day,
and to strengthen the army even conscrip-
ton has been reSorted to.
The New York World yesterday printed
the following under a Madrid date: the
Madrid papers, including the ministerial
organs, Correo, Correspondence, Ell Lib
eral and Globe are publishing the follow
ing news of naval preparations: The flying
squadron is detained at Canary islands for
two reasons. One is the necessity OF re-
pairs on the torpedo vessel Ariete, and the
other to give time to the battle ship Chris
topher Columbus to coal and join the flying
squadron before 1t proceeds to Puerto Rico.
Orders have been given to hurry prepara-
lions on the battle ships Pelayo, Mar
settles, Charles v, Havre, Numancia, Vic
toria and Carthagena, to enable them to
join Admiral Cervera's squadron in the
evolutions at Carthagena. His fleet already
includes the firSt-claSS cruiser Maria Their
esa, the second-class cruiser Alfonso XIII,
two third-claSs cruisers and the new f1rst-
class cruiser Varese, of 1909 tons, bought
from Italy.
Another flying squadron will be formed
at Cadiz, with three torpedo vessels built by
Spain and two destroyerS recently handed
over by English firms, and the torpedo
boat Dona Maria Molina, whose trial trip
was made at Ferrol this week. FOR the the
fleet of Admiral Cervera will remain on
the coasts of Spain. Some of the ocean
ports of the peninsula have called the at
tention of the government to the expedi-
ency of promptly concerning land and sea
and submarine defenses, offering to con-
tribute part of the expense.
No marine reserves have yet been called
out as two battalions of marines are re-
turning from Manila. The crews or the
coastguard vessels, depots and arsenals at
Ferrol. Cadiz and Carthagena had enough
available men for the new war vessels
The minister Of marine, Admiral Bermelo,
has repeatedly StdlSu lalSiN hhete
cIines to divulge his preparations lie de-
sires the country TO understand only that
ne intends to meet any emergencies on the
purely defensive and pacific lines or con-
duct all along proclaimed by the present
government The papers say nothing OF the
military preparations. ,,. -
The New York Herald's Madrid CORE
spondent says: Il am in a position 10 IN
form you-and it is highly important just
now in connection with the political calcu-
lations of the immediate future--that the
Snanish government will refuse to accept
any findings Of the Maine commission Wnlch
NAV suggest Spanish responsibility. The
Spanish ministerial view is that Ihs lnpu t.
tation which such finding would nave, IL
admitted would forever be an irremoVabe
blemish upon SPANS reputation as civil
lied country which she could not possibly
hear If the report of the commission
throws blame upon Spain, which would car
nv with it call for indemnity, the peninsu-
lar government will forthwith make an APP
neal TO the combined European powers on
the plea of equity and common fairness TO
Intervene in favor of SPAIN against what
every Spaniard would esteem as the most
monstrous and Ubiquitous finding. 1t is
hoped that under such circumstances the
United States will agree to the appointment
who could carry out their work with per-
fectlv unbiased minds, CONDITION almost
imnosSible to officers of the United states,
who would naturally seek 10 exonerate their
service from all fault or blame, and Who
without doubt look upon Spain as an enc
my 1t may be stated, however that the
Ministry still cings TO the thought that the
commission cannot possibly return a-verdict
other than one that the explosion was acci-
dental"
Threaten to Resign.