The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-01-01

son or the important occurrences the
world over. the interest Of American
readers Is conferred In the great drama OF
the Spanish war. which spread Itself over
the whole span of twelve calendar
months.
JANUARY.
The closing events Of 1897 IN the Span
ish-American situation AL indicated the
pacifcation OF Cuba and tho removal or
! the strain between the United States and
| spain. The elevation OF sagasta to tho
Office Of Prime Minister was followed BY
The recall Of weyier and the appointment
OF Blanco as Captain and Governors
General OF Cuba. The feeling Of the
| Spanish populace in Cuba was very Bit
ter against the Americans on account
of the tone Of President AfcKJnloy's mes
sage. which reflected severely upon wey-
Ier's administration and took O. favorable
view Of Blanco's plans Of reform.
In view OF the demonstrations IN THa-
bana. the Atlantic squadron was placed
in readiness, and early in January rem
dezvoused Off Key West. Captain sgs-
bee, Of the Meine, was in constant COM
munication with CORsul-Genegal Fitz-
hugh Lee at Habana. On the night OF
January 2ith, in consequence of a com
munication received from General Lee.
Captain sigsbee was ordered to proceed
at once to Hahana on a friendly visit.
He reached the harbor Of Habana on
the 9th and was received with the Gus
tomary ceremonies Of a vessel visiting a
foreign port.
On the last Sunday IN January Captain
sigsbee, General Lee. and other United
States officers accompanied some OF the
Spanish officials to a bull-hght outside
the city, and on their return the famous
circular. ending with the frantic appeals
Death TO the Amerlcansr' death TO
autonomy" Long live spainY Long
live Weyler| was thrust into Captain
sigsbee's hand He read It. but attached
no Importance TO It whatever
FEBRUARY.
Early in February Captain sIesbee
made a special effort to entertain The
Spanish people on board the Maine. bar
without success. The Captain and his
officers visited the city frequently, and
to all appearances Habana was as or
derlyya as any city in the most peaceful
times. The political air, however. was
not clear. On the 9TH Of February the
famous. or rather infamous. De LONE
letter was made public. In this letter
Senior De LONE. the Spanish Minister 10
the United States. referred contemptu-
ously to President Mckinley. senior Dc
Lone confessed that he had written II.
and resigned. On the 18th OF the month
Senior Polo y Bernabe took the portfolio
as Spanish Minister In place Of De Lone.
on the next night the battleshlp Maine
was blown up at her mOorlngs In the
harbor OF Habana and 266 OF the officers
and crew lost their lives In Consequence.
The conclusion was reached at once by
Americans that the destruction OF the
Maine was duo TO Spanish treachery.
Meanwhile, the humanitarian aspect OF
the situation in Cuba, which all along had
kept alive the sympathles Of the American
people with the struggling Insurgents. had
not been lost sight Of. On the 18th OF Feb
rHary the House, and Senate both voted
without a dissenting voice. resolutions
calling upon the Secretary OF Stale for
iVl iilloiulall9n feBdfding the condition
of the reconcentrados in Cuba and the
progress OF AUTONOMY. II was well known
that the Department Of State WAS in pos
session OF information supplied by the
United States consais In Cuba OF tho
most narrowing description respecting the
widespread distress throughout the island.
Two days later the House PASSED she
Notifications appropriation bill. and ia
the last week OF the month passed a bill
providing for an increase OF the regular
army by two additional regiments OF ar
tillery.
MARCH
The De Lone incident having been
wholly ignored by lie Spanish Govern
ment aad the destruction OF tho Maine
being held automatically at ieast as an
accident. these two events did not serve
10 tighten the tension between the gov
eminent 81 MadyIt and that az Washirx-
ton Other 0ccar7cnces. boweyes. dtd add
20 the strain
Early IA March the Srsnsafds objected
TO the transport Of supplies eor tile stavv-
ing reconeenfrados Ia government war
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