AMERICA AND SPAIN.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCIX, Issue 11559, 21 April 1898, Page 5

AMERICA AND SPAIN.

THE AMERICAN FORCES. THE STRUGGLE IN CONGRESS. RESOLUTION OF THE CONFERENCE. INTENTIONS OF ME M’KINLEY SPAIN ALLOWED A DAY’S GRACE. DECLARATION BY THE SPANISH PREMIER. AUSTRALIAN VOLUNTEERS. United Presa Association—By Electric TelegraphCopyright. NEW YOKE, Aran. 19. Spain is laying torpedoes in many ports in Cuba, and has erected new batteries at Havana and strengthened the garrison. MADRID, April 19. It is reported that the .Queen Regent’s speech at the opening o£ the Cortes to-morrow will reflect the Spanish warlike feeling. April 20. The Premier, Senor Sagasta, addressing his supporters in the Cortes, preparatory to its opening, passionately protested against the infamous aspersions on Spanish honoqr. He said that at the instance of the Pope and the European Powers, Spain had made final concessions. Now America was driving Spain to war. Spain would never yield territory to menaces. Acts, not words, were now necessary. WASHINGTON, April 19. A Bill is being drafted placing two hundred thousand men at President M’Kinley’s disposal in the event of war. The resolution as finally adopted by the conference of the two Houses ! stands thus :—Congress directs and empowers President M’Kinley to use the land and naval forces to compel Spain to relinquish the authority and government of Cuba and to withdraw her forces, and render the Cubans free and independent. Several American newspapers think that the President will veto or use his discretion in enforcing the resolution, using such forces as may he necessary to avoid war. Eeceived April 21,12.15 a an. ' April 20. The straggle in Congress lasted seventeen hours, until the persistence of the House convinced the Senate extremists that it was impossible to carry recognition of the Cuban Republic. The galleries and lobbies of the Capitol were thronged with men and women until three in the morning. The Senate finally voted for the compromise by 42 votes to 35, the House carrying it by 310 to 6. There were many angry scenes and emotional incidents, party politics dominating the situation. There was intense national relief when the decision was taken.

There is a general feeling that the war will be short, and that there will be little bloodshed. Spaniards, however, declare that it will last three years and that they will fight to the last. 0 Beceived April 21,12.35 a.m. LONDON, April 20, Mr Smalley, the New York correspondent of the Times , says that President M’Kinley has signed the resolution arrived at by Congress. A Renter's message says that President M’Kinley will to-day sign the resolution, with an ultimatum giving Spain one day in which to yield. Anglo-Saxon opinion throughout the world is solid in favour of America in the coming war with Spain. ROME, April 20. Italic, the Marquis di Rudini’s organ, states that the Powers intend to request that the war between

America and Spain should be localised and confined to Cuban waters. SYDNEY, Apbil 20. Colonel Bell, tlie American Consul, states that he has had offers from hundreds of volunteers who are desirous to assist America in the threatened war, and who are prepared to proceed to the scene of action immediately. THE TWO NAVIES. The following particulars of the Spanish and United States navies are taken from the latest-Naval Annual (1897)5 —

SPAIN. —AJBMOUBED SHIPS Name. Tons, Horsepower. •a CJ a to 20-0 20-0 20*0 ao-o 20-0 20-25 8-0 16-0 20-0 200 8-0 20 f 0 11-0 p 3 600 500 484 450 535 500 600 600 450 500 Trn 500 .5611 ■*4 W 1891 1898 1897 1896 1895 1890 1863 1887 1897 1896 1874 1891 1865 Almirante Oquendo Cardenal Cisneros ... Cataluna Christohal-Colon Empemdor Carlos V. Infanta Maria'Teresa Numancia Pelayo Pedro d’Aragon Princesa do Asturias Prrig-eorda ... ... Vizcaya Vitona... 7.000 7.000 7.000 6,840 9,235 7.000 7,305 9,900 6,340 7.000 553 7.000 7,350 13.000 15.000 15.000 14.000 18,500 13,758 3,708 8,000 13.000 15.000 328 IS.Of-O 1 4,500 CBCX6ING SHIPS. Alfonso XU. ... 3,090 4,800 IT'S 300 1887 Alfonso XIII, 5,000 HJM10 20 276 1891 Aragon... ... 3,342 4,400 14 300 1579 Castilla ... 3,343 4.400 14 300 1881 General Concha 324 600 11-5 93 1883 Conde -do Venadito... 1,130 1,600 14 130 1888 Don Alvarode Bazar 830 4,600 20 110 1898 Don AntoniodeDlloa 1,130 1,600 14 130 1887 Don Joan de Austria 1,130 1,600 14 130 1887 Dona M’riade Molina 830 4,600 20 110 1896 Destructor ... 458 3,800 22-56 55 1887 lileano 524 600 11-5 116 1885 Pernando-el- Catolico 500 550 10 98 1875 Pilipinas 750 4,600 20 110 1892 0 all da 571 2,609 19 80 1891 General Lezo.„ 524 600 U 97 1885 Infanta Isabel 1,130 1,500 14 130 1885 Isabel H, ... 1,130 1,500 14 130 1886 I el a d&Cnfca 1,030 2,200 16 160 1887 Is la da Luzon 1,030 2,200 16 160 1887 Jorge Juan ... 935 1,100 13 146 1876 Lepanto 4,82fi 12,000 20 276 1892 Magellaaes ... 624 600 11 97 1885 Marques de la Vic* toria a*. 830 4,600 20 110 1897 Marques de la Ensenada 1,030 1,600 15 184 1890 Marques del Duero... 500 550 10 98 1875 Marques de Molina... 571 2,600 19 80 1891 Martin Alonzo Pin* zon... 571 2,600 19 80 1891 Navarra 3,342 4^400 14 300 1881 NuevaEspana 630 2,600 18 91 1889 Qniroa 315 500 11-5 — 1895 Kaoido 570 2,600 18 80 1691 Heiaa Christina A*. 3,520 3,970 17*5 370 1886 Eeina Mercedes 3,090 3,700 17*5 375 1687 Temorario ... 570 2,600 20-5 82 1889 Velasco 1,152 1,500 14-3 173 1881 Veloz ... 750 4,500 20 — Bldg Vincente Vanes Pinzon 571 2,600 19 80 1891 Villalobos 315 500 11*5 — 1896 UNITED STATES.—AHMOUEED SHIPS. Ajax 2,100 346(6 — 1864 Alabama ... 11,525 10,00016 520 Bldg Amphixrite ... M3,990 1,426 10-5 170 1883 Brooklyn 9,256 18,76921-9 SCO 1895 Camancbe ... 1,875 3506 — 1863 Cauouicus 2,100 3206 — 1864 Catsldll ... 1,875 8506 — 1863 Illinois ... 11,525 10,000 16 520 Bldg Indiana 10^288 9,738ll5-5 ■ 473 1893 Iowa 11,410 11,009 16*1 486 1895 Jason 1,875 350 — 1864 Katahdia (ex Ammen) 2,150 SJ)68J6*i — 1893 Kearearge ... 11,525 10,500 16 520 Bldg Kentucky 11,525 10,50016 520 Bldg Leligii 1,875 350 6 — 1864 Mabopac ... 2,10C 320 6 — 1865 Manhattan ... 2.X0C 320 6 ' — 1865 Massachusetts 10,28? 10,403116-2 473 1893 Miuntonomoh... ... 3.99C 1,426 10* 165 *1876 Monadnock „ 3,99( 3,000 ,12 171 *1883 Montauk 1,875 850 5-5 — 1864 Monterey ._ 4,08( 5,24413-6 191 1891 Habant... ... 4*. 1,875 35( 6 . — 1863 Nantucket „. 1,875 35( 5-6 ■ — 1863 New York 8J20< 17,40121 484 1891 Oregon 10,28? 11,110 167 473 1898 Passaic ... ... 1,875 3S0| 6 — 1863 Puritan 4*. 6,06( 3^001X2:4 220 *1884 Terror ... t _. 3,99( 1,60010 171 *1883 Texas ... „ 6,315 8,000,17 '392 1892 Wisconsin .11,525 10X0016 52£ Bldg Wyandotte „ - 2,100 320 6 1864 CRUISING SHIPS. Annapolis 1,000 850 12 144 1896 Atlanta 3,18£ 3^11116-3? 27( IS84 Baltimore .„ 4,60( 10.750,20-6 375 1888 Bancroft ... 44. 83i 1,213114-37 — 1892 Bennington 1,75( 3,533]l7*5 197 189 Boston _. ... ... 3,18( 3,780 15 27( 1884 Castino .1, .. J,22t 1.600I16-2 151892 Charleston .., 4,044 7,500187 30( 1888 Chicago-... d,50C 9,00018 325 1885 Cincinatti ... 3,181 10.00C 19 295 1892 Columbia 7,475 21.50C 22-8 477 1892 Concord ... 1,70( 3,515 17 191 1890 Detroit..., 2,00( S,40( 1871 187 1892 Dolphin 1,485 2|30( 15-5 — 1884 Helena ... 1,892 l,600jl3-0 17( 1896 Mach las 44. 1,220 1,600115-46 154 1892 Marblehead *4. 2,0< < 5,400 18-94 187 1892 Marietta „. 1,20( 850|l2 144 1896 Minneapolis 7,475 21,600(23 477 1893 Montgomery 2.WX 5,40018-87 187 1892 Nashville 444 1.371 1,79014 169 1895 Newark... 4,08? 8,869(19 30C 1890 Newport » >4 44. 1.00C 86012 144 1896 Olympia m. 444 5.80C 17,86321-69 412 1892 Petrel *44 89C 1,513137 132 1888 Philadelphia ... *44 4,41? 10,50019^5 385 1889 Princeton ... *4. KOOC 850(12 144 Bldg Baleigh... >M *4. 3^183 10,00019 312 1892 San Fraacisco .4. 4,08? 10,400 20-2 .38? 1889 Vesuvius (dynamite gun cruiser) 93C 4,450(21-6 —• 1888 Vicksburg ... l.OOfi 85012 144 1896 Wheeling ... 1,20C 850,12 144 Bldg Wilmington .„ 4.. 1,392 1,600(13 170 1895 York Town ... 1,703 3,660|17”2 193 1888