The age-herald., 1898-04-09
THE NATION ON
 THE BRINK OF WAR
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tContinued From First Page.) itely have been sent to Minister Woodford concerning his withdrawal from Madrid, that being left to his discretion. The pros poets of his withdrawal have been fully considered, however, and there Is reason to believe that in the event of his rettremnt the British ambassador at Madrid will look after American interests and afford protec- tion to such Americans as remain in Spain. This, is stated in authoritative quarter, Is part of a comfty between the United States government and Great Britain and reciprocated by the United States in afford ing protection to British subjects on a for mer occasion The Spanish minister at Washington has received no instructions as to his departure nor has he made prep arations to go although his establishment IS In such a condition that he could leave within few hours If so desired. As an evidence of the complete cessation of nego- tiations 1t can be cited that today closed the seventh consecutive day since the Span ish minister called at the state department.
 spain's Fleet May Have Sailed
 War and naval preparations are proceed ing systematically, but the larger details of preparation have been shaped and there is little more to do than to see the regula- tions executed. While there are many na- val movements, there has not yet been any decisive order affecting the movements of the fleets. All is in state of expectancy in this regard. report was current to- dy that the Spanish fleet of cruisers had sailed from eadiz for American waters There was no confirmation of this, either at the Spanish legation or at the navy department though it would not be i'm probable as the press .despatches from Madrid last night stated that this formi- dable Feet was expected to sail today.
 At the capitol the senators who are de- voting themselves to the task of securing a Nh hn r1ratr which practical uanimity on the part of the senate canAbe obtained were quite act i've and wheT the day closed felt that they had made appreciable progress. There was joint meeting of the leading mem- bers of the steering committees of the various parties during the day in the rooms of the committee on appropriations ii. which the whole situation was canvassed and the reasons for prompt AEcton in the senate after the matter is once taken up were gone over much as they had been in preceding meetings The managers of this movement are endeavoring to secure reversal of the decision of the commit tee on foreign relations to report for both independence and intervention but they do not yet count upon a majority of tho committee though they assert they have made headway. They recognize the fact that even with a majority of the commit tee their way they would still remain some senators, including Thurston, Pettigrew, 1dlflnSeT anu pddSOu, WHOin IL VIII us very difficult to win over to any line of action that does not provide for the recog- milton of the present Cuban government and who will insist upon debating con- trary policy They are finding fewer obsta- cles to progress among democrats, popu- lists and silver republicans. than among straightout republicans.
 The movement to consider the whole Gu ban question in executive session is gain ing ground The senators who have look ed up the precedents find the only parallel case to the present to be that when war was declared against Great Britain in 1872, the declaration was considered in secret session.
 Get Them in Line
 Tonight the conservative senators who are opposing any recognition of the pres- ent Cuban government claim that ma jority of the committee on foreign rela- \ tions will now support their position, con- tenting themselves with a general declafa- tion for the freedom and independence of the island coupled with proposition for intervention in the present war between