Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-03-17
THE
II win Probably Find That the
Maine Was Blown Up.
EXECUTING The PLANS FOR DEFENSE
New Cause for Intervention In Cuba-The
Montgomery at HavanA--TwO More
United States Cruisers Are
Nearly Ready.

| IN III proohpiiiey, iO'o"i INV 'HA''oA
previously indicated that the battle
ship Maine was wrecked from outside
causes and by the completely OF Span
ish officers in Havana or their agents.
The board of inquiry has, according
to the best information TO be obtained,
reported this fact to the president, not
in formal documentary form, but by
plain official information. Ithas been
known here privately that the inclina'
ton of the board Of inquiry was to fix
the responsibility for the Maine dis.
aster on Spain. The president has
known OF every move by the board OF
inquiry, Of the probable verdict Of the
court 1t is upon this showing Of the
case he has been acting in summoning
congressional leaders in urging hasty
preparations for hostilities and to-day
Is expected TO show developments that
will plainly indicate the war crisis Ia
at hand.
1t is certain that within the next
few weeks, and possibly within the
next few days, the president will call
upon Spain for cash indemnity for
the loss OF the steamship Maine and
for such other PREPARATION as the facts
may demand. No official intimation
has yet been given as to what the re-
port of the board of inquiry will be,
but there is no longer doubt as TO
one main feature of the finding and
that is that the explosion was caused
by external means, 1t is not believed
that evidence has been produced OF
sufficient strength to lay the charge Of
direct responsibility against the Ha-
vana authorities, but the facts which
were brought out during the progress
Of the inquiry are unofficially known
to be sufficient to warrant the presi-
dent In holding the central govern.
ment responsible for the destruction
Of the vessel by not atfording protec-
ton.
The Maine incident disposed Of with
out war, then comes the graver fact
of Intervention, for it Is no longer con-
cealed that the administration has de-
cided to actively intervene to put a
stop to the Cuban war The prevail
ing impression is that Spain must
make fight in order to honorably let
60 of Cuba; that Is, must make fight
with stronger nation than herself
and evacuate Cuba under cover of an
unsuccessful war with the United
States.
THE PLANS FOR DEFENSE.
WASHINGTON. March 10. = The feature
Of yesterdays events was the prompti-
tude with which the senate passed the
house bill carrying the appropriation
OF $50 600, 900 for the national defense
and the haste with which Wv was put
through the formal proceedings, en-
crossed and signed by the president.
While the matter has been considered,
1t can be stated that the fund has not
yet been allotted among the various
branches of the government service.
As the ships are to be first choice in
the steps for defense, until their cost
is ascertained it is not possible to d.
vide the remainder of the appropria-
ton among the other branches of the
military and naval services. The sec
rotary Of the navy is making every eff
fort to secure from our naval attaches
and diplomatic officers abroad all in
formation obtalnable respecting the
number of ships building, their
price and other data. This does
not necessarily interfere with
the execution of the plans con-
tlded to Capt Brownson who sailed for
southampton yesterday, but rather
promises to assist him materially in
making speed with his inquiries,
Adm. Slcard has been authorized to
enlist suitable men for the navy at
Key West, Fla, If he can find the ma
terial. He reported that he had re-
ceived some applications from machin-
lists and seamen, and was Immediately
given the power to take the men.
The department is still striving vigor-
ously to secure machinsts, especially
men who know how to run stationary
engines. These men can be quickly
taught how to run marine engines,
and require little other training to
make them valuable aboard ship The
war department is arranging to secure
"a large supply of the most modern
rifles, sufficient, in time of emergency,
to arm force of 800, 900 men. The
need of these modern guns has long
been apparent
NEW CAUSE FOR INTERVENTION.
WASHINGTON, March III forebod-
ings based on scientific advices as to
the sanitary conditions in Cuba are
half realized there will be a new and
strong reason for American interveu.
ton in Cuban affairs which has not
yet been preached, and that is that the
peace must be restored in order to pro-
tect the people of the United States
from danger of epidemies. tits believed
by officials Of the marine hospital serv-
Ice and by experienced naval officers
who are acquainted with the con-
ditions that Cuba will be visited by a
devastating epidemic of yellow fever
during the approaching summer. II
the disease should assume form as
desperately bad as anticipated, moth.
ing but a miracle could prevent II