Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1898-02-24
SPAIN WANTS WAR
An Intensely Angry Feeling Against the
United States Entertained.
HARBOR OF HAVANA MINED.
Naval Odicers Still Discussing the Cause of
the Disaster of the Maine-A Secret
Inqulry-Active War Prepare
tIOnA Going on.

MADRID, Feb. 22.-The sympathy
and dismay which at first prevailed
when the catastrophe in the Havana
harbor was announced has disappeared
and given way to an intensely belli-
cose and angry feeling, which is free
lv expressed on all sides and by MEM
bers of every political party. They
are kept fully informed of the tone of
the American press and of the appar-
emily universal demands made upon
the president to resort to war, and,
far from there being any alarm
about the matter, grim satisfac-
ton is apparent everywhere. No one
here will admit for one moment that
the Maine was blown up by design.
The disaster is ascribed to the alleged
gross carelessness and laxity OF disci-
pline which people here say constitute
a feature on board American ships.
The gravity of the situation is further
demonstrated by the fact that the
queen regent has summoned to her side
her mother. the Archduchess Eliza
beth, Justly renowned as one of the
cleverest politicians in all Europe and
who was recently at deaths door.
She is q woman of very strong charac-
ter, and those here who have had occa-
sion to become acquainted with her
during her stays with her daugh-
ter express the opinion that she will
encourage the queen regent to yield at
once to the popular demand for war
with the United States, and will 81
lence her daughters hesitations upon
the subject That is, indeed from
dynastic point of view, the only thing
to be done, for there is no doubt what
ever that any further appearance OF
subserviency to America, any attempt
to maintain peace at the cost of Span
ish pride, will result in the overthrow
of the monarchy.
The Harbor Filled with Mines.
New YORK, Feb. %. "A Havana cable
from the Evening kilograms corre-
spondent says:
have learned from the highest authority
Tint no matter what may have been the cause
of the terrible catastrophe to the Maine the
harbor Of Havana Is. and has be IN for long
time. filled with submarine mines and torpe-
does While this fact has been suspected. but
few army apd navy officers have any definite
idea of the location or number Of these mines
AT the outbreak Of the war the greatest Sc
ere " was imposed upon those having
these mines under their supervision and
their presence was forgotten by the pubic
in gen raj When it was rumored that
United State, war vessel would be sta
toned in the harbor, the attention of one Of
Gen Wsyler'S uides-de-camD was called to the
fact that all OF the large shore batteries guard
ing the entrance to the harbor could only be
directed against an enemy in the open sea, and
that il warship succeed in running past the
forts and enterin the harbor the entire city
would be at its mercy. The officer replied that
tho engineers iu,rusted with the most recent
tOrtidcntion of tn har1or had fu ly considered
tn 5 question. unl had arrLn red that If u vessel
ever did en- er the harJot She could be blown
up at once.
still Discussing the Cause.
WASHINGTON, Feb, 22.-AlthOugh the
officers of the construction department
of the navy are almost unanimous
against the theory of spontaneous
combustion or boiler explosion as the
cause of the destruction of the Maine,
they are at a loss with almost every
one else for clear explanation of it.
W. A. Dobson, principal draughtsman
of the bureau of construction, who was
identified with the preparation of
the designs of the wrecked battleship,
said that he was not fully prepared
to accept the theory of many of the
ordnance experts that the explosion
could have been caused by torpedo
from the outside. what makes me
discredit the theory that the Maine
was sunk by torpedo said another
naval officer, sis that Capt. Sigsbee
and all his officers and men were vigil
lantly guarding their ship against
such a visitation. Capt. Sigsbee knew
of the hostile feeling against the
United States then prevailing in Ha-
vana, and he, as we'll as the other Off
GERS of the vessel, had been repeatedly
warned against danger and treachery."
Secret Inquiry.
HAVANA, Feb. %. The board of in
uuiry into the Maine disaster met on
the lighthouse tender Mangrove yes
terday morning with Capts. Sampson
and Chadwick and Lieutenant Com.
handlers Potter and Mark present.
Capt. Sampson presided and Lieuten-
ant Commander Mark. recently exeeu-
tive officer of the Maine. acted as re-
corder. Capt Sigsbee, the commander
of the Maine, was the first witness
called. Capt. Sampson, after the ses-
sion of the board, said that 1t had
been decided not to tell the public the
testimony until all shall have been re-
ceived and the findings have been con-
sidered.
WIN = Warahlp was Sent to Cuba.
WASHINGTON, Feb. %. There is no
longer any concealment on the part Of
the administration as to the reason
which induced It to decide that naval
vessels should go to Havana and Otner
Cuban ports. While no admissions are
made that the friendly visit idea is
no longer to be considered as the rea-
son that the Maine was sent to Ha-
vana. the announcement that another
warlhiP would proceed there a. soon