The San Francisco call., 1898-04-07

NEW YORK, April GA Washington special to the Herald says: President McKinley's intervention programme contemplates the execution of plans to bring Spain to compliance with his de- mands before the United States resorts to the last expedient of war. This plan is nothing more or less than a naval demonstration to be made immediately after Congress passes the resolution au- thoriZing the intervention of the United States to end the war in Cuba. It has been the subject of serious considera- ton by the President and his advisers. The plan has been practically perfected and when approved will be forwarded to Commodore SChley, commander-in- chief of the flying squadron, and Cap tain W. T. Sampson, commander-in- chief of the fleet at Key West, to be put into execution at a word from Washington.
 Of course the plan may be abandoned by reason of unforeseen events, but looking at the future with a knowledge of the situation as it is to day the au
 th0rities feel confident that it may prove to be the soluti'n of the danger ous Cuban problem. and that by it's execution war may be averted. Spains course in case a demand is made Is naturally a subject of keen speculation, but it is evident tLat the President and his advisers believe that the Madrid Government will come o terms; other wise they would hardly consider such a desperate undertaking. With the American fleet off Havana harbor and the flying squadron at Porto Rico it is but step to the discharge of a shot which will inf1ame the two countries to war But the officials hope that there will be no first shot and that appre- ciating that this Government has the military situation well in hand Spain will lose no time in entering into an armistice with the insurgents with their independence to follow.
 In circles waere the feeling of Spain and the Spaniards is well known it is declared that the United States will find that Spain will call the President s bluff and that war will inevitably fol- low the demonstration. It is an open secret that Spain does not propose to take the initiative in declaring war; il ; is her desire that the United States shall be the offender in that she may rt turn to Europe and represent that the American Government forced hostilities upon her because of it's desire to re- move European domination from the western hemisphere.
 The President has been extremely cautious in his diplomatic negotiations, and now he occupies a position which the whole world will approve when he describes it in the message which he will lay before Congress on Monday next or as soon as Consul General Lee cables that Americans have been re- moved from Cuba The flying squadron and the Key West fleet are ready for immediate service. The Texas is ex- pected to reach Hampton Roads to- morrow, and with her the flying squad ron will be complete and ready for business. Should the squadron be re- tained at Hampton Roads until next week it will be joined by the cruisers San Francisco and New Orleans
 The first step was taken by the au- thorities to-day to put the New Or leans in commission immediately upon her arrival at New York by the assign ment of Lieutenant Commander A. P. SCoDOill II oo LSI executive OIlcer. Cap tain w. M. Folger has been ordered to command this vessel by direction of the Secretary. crew for the new cruiser was formed at the Brooklyn Navy Yard and will be placed on board the vessel at the earliest possible moment. It is the expectation of officials that the Newark, which is approaching com pletion at the Norfolk Navy Yard, will also be attached to the flying squadron. as 1t is said that Captain Sampson now has a sufficiently formidable fleet at Key West to carry out the programme which the President has in view Of course Captain Sampson's fleet will be increased by an auxiliary cruiser, picket boats, etc, but the line of bat tie ships, vessels which will E tar the 'brunt of action, are all ready for busi- ness. Captain Sampson now has at Key West the monitors Terror and Puritan. The Amphitrite left Charles ton to-day for Key West, and the Mi antonomoh will leave League Island to- morrow for the same destination. The monitors will be used to lombard the fortifcatiOns of Havana, leaving the battle-ships and cruisers to operate against the naval force, to follow up any advantage that may be gained, and to convoy transports loaded with troops intended for occupation on Gu ban soil