The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1898-03-18
NORFOLK vIRGINIAN: FRIDAY MARCH Is lsDa

RoaItH to- eXecni.e the orders issued to-
asUt The lmvuR recruiting officers are
meeting With success at New Orleans.
Yesterday they secured 40 men who are
professionally fitted for the navy.
The semi-oflicial statemeTt given cut
ao Madrid advancing the Governments
view THAT at demand fi-r Indemnity,
LESeu on Spanish responsibility for the
Maine explosion, Would be Indignantly
repelled by Spain. attracted much in
terest t7' official circles. There has been
ntole doubt for some time that Spain
was preparing for the contingency CT
an adverse report by the American
court of inquiry, and to that end was
preparing to anticipate and -offSe: II by
making clear the GIAvernma:;t's policy
OF standing by the report of tie Span
lsh commission. The repc'rt OF the lat
Ter body was due ~ Madrid yester-
day, and while Its conclusions are not
officially known, it IS 4 forego;ic nan-
clusiorn that it will find that the NTftae
disaster was due to lalccident resulting
in an hlternal explosion. This was
f-Teshadowed in the advance utter
ances of Captahp Peral, head of Nhe
Spanish commission. who stated pub
licly several days aga thaa the theory
OF cXtelCi2A explosion was u1tenable.
Along with the scmi-ofliciaI Statements
from Madrid that II demand for .mdem
nifty Will he Indignantly repelle0, is t'hc
further Statements from reliable sources
that Spain has nude it clear to the
authorities here that intcrvent tion may
lead to war. The prospects of such h.Ir
terNcntb,D appear to be seriously enter
tanned by SpajG, and Strong efforts
have been made ~ avert III by show
ing that the condn!,m of the recuncen-
tradOS did not warrant the step, ard
also THAI It would threaten to end all
prospects Of further pacific nesctia-
tiCns.s
Roah Governments have been sound
Ing each other on the ,:ictivity ,-f the
other IN searching for ships. bua there
has been little gro,u.d for objection I'm
either side. as boah have been in the
same markets. The administration pX-
rains Its buying of ships 'Tl the ground
that Spain's attitude has bean 81
mcnacing as naturally IT. call for am
auSmc2ted navy. while Spain takes the
same view that the activity ,r the
United States requires suitable pre-
rurat!nnS by the Spanish rravy.
The report that Spain had protest
Cd against flibustering expedition tn
PueriD Rico cannot he verified, as Off
Gals here say this expedition has not
Yet got nwag.
The President expects ahe report Of
the court III inquiry tomorrow or CreXu|
day.
Roth the Prnstlent and the Score
tary are determined that no efforts be
spared to Taintnn the secrecyeuf the
courts verdict m,rtil they themselves
h''Wlr determined To give it publiciut
Therefore, even the admirably design
"a naval c.pher code will not b. re-
Ted ursn and az tie Presidents in
stance. Admiral Sic ird was directa III
To place the dUcmrrnt h- the cus;stiy
1.1 ~ 4. ~,
usual method Hnd fOtAlrd ih:m to
Washingllhn In ir.lit MARINER. 1t is not
knrAI, positively that the conc,usl, ~
- ;he board are fin H. but If the or
dinary routine cf the courts inquiry
h-'s beer! followed i'm this ease. III "
T"oha'h'r' are 80 unIsss ine S5rrctary Of
he Navy believes. after looking. into
,!r t%.rimrny, that some It-,es a. in
vt'E'sltion shout be G.I.ther rrlrsued.
~ - lnrges. measure az preparIlLEn
YET made by the War Department -
nl.lr. the contingencies of the future
probably has jus; been c0mpls.Et, ItI
Is the preparation @: a bill providing
among "rller seCt!cc,s for the placing
OF the army IN WIT footing fl. the
full strength Of l0i, 900 m5m, The bin
has tten Clrfuli, gene over by The
War Department snd was introduced
in the House ny Representative Hull.
- ''lIIiihIi u tlt IlspuSt t'DUIltsCtc on
Military Afi@!rs. who. i; is cXp:.c. ed
vii. urge J: vigorously i.usmuch a,s il
l. an admintStIr .on measure.
lcs view 4 pl'ss bNify OF conflict
with Snain considerable in;ereS: cen
trrs JUS nov in the Stror'Gtfl q: the
MILITIA fSrca of tn. uni,ad States.
which would be liable to be called upon
in case nf necessity. According 10 lat
est ru;i1rts, ;he total orGunized Strength
OF The militia a. the UnirS,d States is
ll4,Ste men, while he number of men
available fcr military duty (unorgau-
!ue,N is lO3ol,339.
Tie Spanish AIt.r,;sttcr, Senor Polo.
received dispatch ie-day from Cap
hifn General l'ianco. as follows:
''Ihe council OF secretaries, under nv
prtSidoCGy. has resolved TO pro-rOugu4
in all pIrts of the ,sland rrD 10 March
81, 1899, n decraa cf AHrA 1897, rela-
tive t. the suspension uf procsGail.gs
againSi landed estates. unless the in
sular Legislature. takes: special action
cm TIN, subject
The efIec; cf This. il is expla i:e.d.
is to do away NL;h ;axes on those -
lands whirh have betn. devastated and
Cjlve become unproductive.
REPORT OF BOARD 0FINQUIRY.