The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1898-03-19
CONTINUE PREPARATIONS
KNOW NO HOURS OF REST.
General Belief NJ the National Cap
ftsI of the Statement In the Army
sad Navy Register That the
Maiae Was Blown Up by . Gov
eminent submaFtne Mtne.

Washington March I9.-War prepare
tions, like wars, recognize no regular
hours All hours and minutes count in
the work. and all are utilized 10 the very
best advantage. The Secretaries Of War
and the Navy know no hours Of rest They
have their regular office hours at the de-
paTtments, and then have their confer
eBees with subordinate officers at home.
The positive declaration Of the Army
and Navy Register that the President has
certain evidence in an unofficial way
showing that the Maine was blown up by
a government submarine mine deliberate
ly exploded by Spanish officials has nj.
traeted much comment in Washington.
IL Conservative and Reliable.
Army and navy officials regard the Reg
lister A. very conservative and reliable in
its statements. and do not believe it could
have made this assertion without the very
best evidence that il was correct II
agrees with the daily press reports from
Havana, Key West, and Washington. II
has been repeatedly denied at the White
House and Navy Department that there
had been any official communication from
the board Of inquiry. That is regarded as
a jury whose verdict should be beyond
even the suspicion Of having been infu
eneed by any high power.
These denials are no doubt literally cor
rect. and yet it is the general belief that
there has been outside information laid
before President Mckinley that made him
abandon the accident theory and begin
active preparations for war.
Some Of this information came before
the Maine was blown up. Ii came from
Consul General Lee, who doubted the wis
dom Of sending a war vessel 20 Havana
IN a peace mission. He doubted the pro
LESSONS of friendship by the SpaniardS
lie had reason 10 suspect treachery. lie
communicated these suspicious 10 the
state department and 10 the president.
There have been other evidences OF
treachery which did not come from the
board OF inquiry. Not all the evidence
Of how the battleship was blown up is
held exclusively by the board Of inquiry
There has been much that the general
public has received from outside sources
Received CaOmeiaI Evidence.
The president and his cabinet have re
ceived much evidence that Is unofficial
which did not justify the administration
in waiting for the official report before
beginning preparations for war.
II has ben repeatedly said that tho
president will not begin war. No one
doubts that, but one OF the most expert
enced diplomats in Washington s,id that
this could be quite true and vet there
was every indication Of war II Spain
was directly responsible for the explosion
1t was a hostile act and meant war unless
she apolo9incd and made such reparation
a. might he demanded. Indemnity alone
could not settle the question. II must be
the disaVowal of the act. the execution Of
the officials who offended. the reduction
and disgrace of the captain general under
whose jurisdiction il occurred, the paw
ment Of an indemnity. the salute OF the
flag, and III, surrender Of Cuba. il this
government so demanded
For such an act this government would
he justified in demanding the most com.
plete surrender by Spain and that with
veIy short notice. Of the Investment Of
Havana harbOr. II is for such an emcr
gcRcy that the government is preparing.
IL does not fear another attack by Spain.
II does not fear that Spain will BON.
bard New York OF capture some of our
merchant vessels without provocation. II
has no reason to fear that Spain is seek
ing war, but il knows that il must be
prepared Ia make war unless certain
things arc done regarding the blowing up
of the Maine and the future of Cuba.
7 white House DeaIaIa.
Denials Of the fact that the president
knows what the verdict Of the court Of
inquiry is 10 be have been made from
the White house. They are to be accept.
cd as part Of the situation. There is alb
solutely no reason for Tetracting the state.
mcnt published Thursday TO the effect
that the president does know that the
court expects to report that the explosion
was due 10 outside agencies, of course
he has no official knowledge OF this
fact. To this extent the denials are ac.
cumie; beyond this they are misleading.
No one for moment believes that the
president lacks in ordinary prudence and
common sense. Il would indeed he remark.
able IL the administration was simply
cropping and stumbling along in blind and
utter ignorance as 10 what the verdict Of
the court will he. II is doing nothing
of the kind. The president told a friend
at the White house Friday afternoon, be-
fore the dinner to the Belgian prince. tina,
he had abandoned the theory Of aeciden.
tai explosion. and when that friend said
10 him. We'll. Mr.. President. what them
TIE president gravely responded, at means
that the independence Of Cuba Is writ.
ten in the book of fate"
: DemRud IL Being Prepared.
This is the presidents exact language
. The state department is already prepar,
ing its demand 20 be sent to Spain. De
mails from the White house are for the
purpose Of quieting the public mind They
are ridiculed by persons who have &C
tual knowledge Of the situation.
|, Elaborate SchenAe.
;, General Miles prepared an elaborate
y scheme contemplating the transfer Of in
c fantry and cavalry from the interior post,
4 TO the stations along the seaboari. Thi,
e order was sent TO Secretary Alger, whC
G failed TO act on Il previous TO his depar
n tnre fom home. when he had been ap
prised Of the death Of his sister The or
der is one which docs not require IN,
immediate movement OF troops, but wal