Manamatu Herald. TUESDAY, MAY 31, 1898. Key West.

Manawatu Herald, 31 May 1898, Page 2

Manamatu Herald. TUESDAY, MAY 31, 1898. Key West.

Key West, the point of the United States nearest Cuba, appears to have become unsettled, but from what cause the cablegrams are silent. We hear that a great scarcity of water i exists there, and a scarcity of anything generally creates an ant ago niem, between those who have and those who have not, but we are disinclined to think that that is the cause of martial law being pro- \ claimed. We know that Cuba is Spanish, and until but comparatively a few years ago the State of Florida ' was also Spanish territory and to this day, as it also is with the South American Republics peopled by descendants of Spaniards. Key West has been the rendezvous of the American fleets operating against Cuba, and we have learnt that day by day, as the non success of the Americans against the Spaniards becomes more public» a very bitter feeling is being shown by the Ameri cans against Spaniards and Spanish products, and this feeling has pro bably, owing to the presence of the war-ships been more pronounoedly shown at Key West than elsewhere, ; and as the Spanish element of the population is greatly in excess, has occasioned the necessity to resort to the force of arms. We fear that this report, if true, again shadows further trouble for the Americans, as the outburst in favour of Spain is but a reflection of the feeliDg of all the country bordering on the Carribean sea, the present thealre of the naval manoeuvres. It is not surprising, however, to learn that water is scarce at Key West, as it is but a small island seven miles long by two to three miles wide, and is on a coral formation and is nowhere more than eleven feet above the level of the sea, and though the water storage may have proved ample in ordinary times, the demand the two American squadrons must have made upon the store has most likely exceeded all anticipation, as the American fleet has shown a great liking to remain close to home, and when their tanks wera getting dry they resorted to the reservoirs at Key West.