The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-09
CALM IN THE SPANISH CRISIS
nFCIDED IMPROVEMENT IN THE,
OUTLOOK.

The Advices From Madrid-Futility
of Attacking the United States
Likely to Impress Itself on Possi-
bIe Foes-Purchase of War Ships
Abroad by No Means Certain.
washington, March Sin spite of num-
srous conferences of officials of the con-
dnuation of preparations now in progress
m large scale to put the country in a
STATE of defense and of the outburst of pa
uiouc speeches in Congress- there was a
feeling apparent in the best informed cir
cles that the situation as to our relations
with Spain was to-day much more favor
able than it was yesterday. Perhaps the
semi-official advices received through the
Associated Press from Madrid indicating
peaceful purpose on the part of the
Spanish government, contributed in large
measure to that feeling, and it may have
been the growing knowledge of the vast
extent of our own resources tended to the
belief that they would impress others with
the futility of attacking the United States
However that may be-, the feeling prevail
ed and at the White House, too, after the
cabinet meeting wherein all the facts that
were known to the President as to the
existing state of affairs were laid unre-
servedly before the cabinet members and
discussed.
Perhaps one Of the best evidences of the
confidence in a peaceful outcome was the
declaration that while Capt Brownson
was going abroad for the government to
learn what ships of war are for sale and
their condition, he would not necessarily
make any purchases, as it was hoped and
expected that by the time he arrived in
Europe the present cloud would have roll
ed by. The officer left Washington to-
night, and will take the ST. Paul to
southampton, sailing from New York He
will report his arrival Immediately at the
United States embassy in London but
further than that the captain declines to
Indicate the places he will visit in Europo
lie has been furnished all of the nforma-
uon IN the possession of the navy depart
nent respecting the ships in course of
construction in Europe, and had a talk
with Mr.. Lane, who is said to have some
Of these ships for sale, though he does
not at present have the right in the case
OF the TWO small Brazilian battleships now
building at La Zinne, in France AS to
lhese, or, indeed, any Brazilian or Chilian
Warshlpssu it, has been discovered that Bra
M and Chill are parties to treaty by
the terms of which neither country can
sell any of its warships unless the other
country sells a ship. The reason for this
peculiar provision is to be found in the al
nance that is reported to have been en-
tered into by these two countries for nu-
tual protection against Argentine and 9TH
south American nations. As to the
I!sht TO buy foreign warships, all author
tlr.at ....t.
maue' even after hostilides have begun. if
Me neutral nation exercises strict i'm
patuahty between the belligerents and
sllps are not armed and QUILTED ready
roF service. The trade of shipbuilding is
ecognized as a legitimate one, Which may
We carried on at all times
sood deal is being accomplished in the
way OF preparation In both the navy and
war departments. The conference at the
navy department to-day looked into the
piocuIement of a suitable store for am
uuniuon, coal and supplies, touched upon
le question of dry docks and generally
'1iuefeu number of other matters con-
"'G,ed with the operation of warship
me war department was not behind the
i zen. Flagler, chief of ordnance
- very busy, reaching out in every direc-
uon by means of the telegraph for mate
h .,a' 70 learn just how far the resources of
eHe pig private manufacturing concerns
tI Sn ue relied upon to come to the aid of
% department. in arming and equiping
Necessary
soa ual-Gen Miles is looking after the per-
4 iel Closely and to-day was trying To
peIiect the organization of the two new
silient of artillery that Congress has
an -Oi 1eo. izeo. The names of the officers
are withheld
tnfee weeks ago tonight the Maine was
tiro" i'm up. As it was last week at this
c,an.. 20 II Is now; nothing is known Off
conrt az 10 the cause of the disaster. The
l, ~ Is at work hard, that is all that is
e,oo o"I at the navy department. It is not
fniah Hlo"h when 1t may be expected to
renoH. ti "s work. But the Importance of its
a. does not diminish in the slightest
midst Dy the lapse of time and in the
ham, ~ diversions caused by more recent
bayp ay-nlhgs the more thoughtful officials
The Hot lost sight of the fact that when
10 81 port OF the court of inquiry comes
or ue navy department in the hands
Ije,-t uusty naval officer probably
ina commander Mark himself. the
ms. ms advocate of the court, the govern
ana may be face to face with another
vital ISSUE
nent - Duoosc called at the state depart
confeee iate IN the day and had a half-hour's
noo"terence with Judge Dav. Ee brorgbt
to Lspdtches and the talk did not relate
but ptesent strained condition of affairs
the vas rather an informal discussion of
con- condition of affairs in Cuba. In the
Mr. ol the visit it is understood that
nev,sI-oosc Duoosc suggested that some of the
trepoper correspondents at Havana were
Hay@nssing on the privileges which the
Tba authorities had accorded them
Paw new Spanish minister, Senior Polo
rnorroaDe' De' win arrive in New York to-
is ~" on the German line steamer. He
dav e4pected at the legation the following
for Ina Ina arrangements then will be made
Pres,1ie t'ie presentation of his credentials to
1S,uent 7, Mckinley.
are m 10 known positively that negotiations
statoI progress toward having the United
bunSi. acquire the crack cruisers now
yard" Tor Japan, one at Cramps ship
In AZ Philadelphia. and the other at the
IIO In iron Works of San Francisco.
AZ ~" Nv iar they will succeed cannot be said
evor 'lIne. Il is known positively, how
tea mat no oyertures have been submit
ana suus far to the authorities at Toxic,
dee, ~ would be for them to give the final
a N@lOn. Pending fhie q contract ,,ottId