Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-07-26
The Administration Getting in Shape
for SPANS Proposals,
ALL DEALINGS MUST Be DIRECT
No Interference by Any European
Power to Be Allowed.
WARSHIPS TO BE CLEANED

| Aoehci HS" luea, out lnaC is SAD to be
the policy of the administration at this
time. The United States has never made
much preparation for war in times of
| peace, but new wrinkles have been learned
and the time-honored advice is being APP
Piled to eaxctly the reverse of the PROPOSE
tiCn.
| The administration does not look for sub
stantial peace propositions for several
months but the President and his cabinet
advisers intend that when they do come
the United States shall be more strongly
prepared for emergencies than she is now
for a continuation of the war.
Must Be Direct Dealings
The wisdom of this course is said to be
too apparent for any doubt. To become
stronger in offensive and defensive
manner in the next few months is not for
the purpose of intimidating Spain or of
| forcing her to whatever terms this coun-
| try may want Spain will never fare
harshy at the hands of this country in
| direct dealings for peace. The purpose of
preparations, however, is to be in readiness
| to prohibit the interference of any other
| country. The President has distinctly an
nounced tfat when negotiations for peace
| begin in earnest they must be strictly be-
tween the kingdom of Spain and the gov
eminent of the United States That an
nouncement meets the wishes of the peo-
pie of the country, and there will be no
| deviation from it in any way.
Europe Understnnds This.
| All Europe understands that the United
States will make peace with Spain without
the aid or advice of any country. No COM
missions will go to any of these countries,
| as has been the case in recent wars. If
| Europe does not fully understand the posi-
| ton OF this country now she can easily
learn 1t through her diplomatic representa-
tives. She can learn that we have a better
navy than when the war began; that the
army is growing in experience each day;
| that millions more men are ready to answer
q call TO arms. and that millions more
money can be obtained for the asking
The administration does not now expect
interference in settlement of the war, but
| it will be well prepared if there is meddle-
| someness.
| Warships to BE OverhRuled.
1t is said today on good authority that
| between now and the next two months
| practically eve-y ship in the navy will be
cleaned and overhauled. The big dock in
New York has been put In condition for
| receiving some of the larger ships. Other
, docks are also ready. By degrees the ships
| will be with drawn from southern waters
and thoroughly overhauled. The big battle
ships not likely to be locked for months
but divers will be put to work on their bot
| toms. ind the accommodations will be re-
| moved.
| If Commodore Watson's squadron goes to
| Spain the ships on duty there will be oc-
| casionally replaced to allow cleaning and
| repair to those in service. In fact, every
ship in the navy is to be put in spick-and-
| span shape and kept that way.
| The same program is to be observed as 10
! the army. The troops to be brought
to the highest proficiency and kept in
seasoned state If clouds arise on the hori-
ION the President may call for more troops
| He knows he get them and he knows
| the effect on Europe of a spontaneous and
patriotic response.
| President Mckinley is looking far ahead.
| The present is provided for and he is doing
| the same for the future.
| What MIR. Tawney Says.
Representative TawEey of Minnesota is
| in the city and went to the White House
| today to see the President. He told the
President of the sentiment of the people
| in his district. This sentiment is vigorous
| every time newspaper dispatches announce
| that France or Germany are going to in
| terfere anywhere. Mr. Tawney told the
| President that Interference will not be
| tolerated.
1t is understood that everything is to
be done to have the new battle ships now
! building got ready for service in a short
| time. They will add to the demonstration
| that will follow attempts from anywhere
| to handicap this country in peace negotia-
items.
SET DOWN AS A "FEELER."
The Statement Ascribed to the Vati-
| can About Satisfactory Peace Terms.
The reported statement from the Vatican
| of what purports to be terms of peace &C
ceptable to both the United States and
| Spain is set down here as only one of the
many "feeers'' that have been thrown out
within the past two weeks. These feelers
| are intended to test public feeling in the
United States primarily, and secondarily to
break slowly to the masses of the Spanish
people the realization of their complete de-
feat, something of which they are not yet
aware because Of the superhuman efforts
put forth by the Spanish government to
suppress or pervert the news of actual
events. 1t is suspected here that the condi-
tons named 0he annexation to the United
States of Cuba and Porto Rico and the re-
linquishment to Spain of the Philippines
represent what may be now looked upon
as the maximum concessions that Spain is
willing to make. From this point of view
the statement is not discouraging though
of course, it must be realized that the
Spanish maximum is very far below the
American minimum Still, there must be
some starting point for negotia tons that
will in the end lead up to peace, and, there
fore, the publication of these various feel
ers' is not deprecated by our government.
though so far, it can be positively asserted. |
they have no basis Of fact, at least on this
side of the Atlantic.
Baron Won Sternberg, the German secre
tary of legation, called at both the State |
and War Departments today His visit |
had no connection with peace negotiations. |
however. being inspired simply by a desire !
to secure permission from our government |
for another German surgeon to visit, the |
American army camps here and In Cuba |
and to study the many interesting prob
lens there presented for guidance in the |
government of the German army.