Show v e 4 S 1 y 1 r fr READY FOR THE CONFLICT Preparations at W liar Have Reached Mn aD Advanced Stage Stale Washington April 8 Good Good Friday passed in Washington with not a u. ripple ripple rip rip- pie on the surface either cither at the White WhiteHouse WhiteHouse House ouse or the capitol to show that the United States is on the brink of war Tar Both houses of congress had adjourned until Monday and at the tIu executive mansion there was Vat no rush rush of eager cager and excited public men IDen but a Sunday quiet atmosphere Only at the war and navy departments were there signs of an impending conflict in the rush of immediate immediato orders to a 0 host of naval noval officers to report at once for duty on vessels to which they were assigned and in conference among bureau chiefs chiefson on details of war preparations As yet the resolve was firmer than ever that unless ss Spain yielded to Cuban American-Cuban demands th the United States by force of arms would move moye on Havana avana It was the very recognition tion of the fixity of this purpose that caused the day to be in marked contrast contrast contrast con con- to the excitement of all its predecessors predecessors predecessors of late lote There was still some discussion of Cuban affairs but it only served to emphasize the fact that one forward step of Immense importance had been taken for the discussion was of an advanced stage and concerned not intervention and freedom of Cuba from Spain's dominion but the obligations obligations obligations obliga obliga- and duties that tha might be bo imposed upon the United States after we had fad expelled Spain from the island This discussion revolved around two propositions namely intervention without recognition of the Cuban ins insurgents in in- s and intervention with concurrent c concurrent con con- n- n current reco recognition of the independence ence of the present insurgent government government government govern govern- ment in Cuba The cabinet held held Its usual session but Its meeting brought no change in inthe inthe inthe the Spanish situation Indeed it was chiefly in establishing that no change had occurred that none was expected and that the program of action action ac ac- tion on the part of the United States government was already nade up The presidents president's ts t's message remains unaltered i indeed deed this being the last cabinet day before the message will go o to con conn gress alterations are unlikely between now and Monday barring altogether ther th- th er unexpected developments from fromI I Madrid After Ater the meeting cabinet officers stated that the message would be sent to congress on Monday 1 no change in that respect having been considered and all causes causes' for delay having been removed The calmness of the cabinet meeting which was one of or the most uneventful held In recent days was another r evidence evidence evi evi- dence dunce of the entertained by the administration that the case Is made up and that nothing now remains to tobe be bedone bedone done but to present the subject to congress and anel await the final outcome there |