The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, July 10, 1898, Page 1

- The Tall VOLUME LXXXIV.—NO. 40. SAN FRANCISCO, S DAY, JULY 10, 1898—THIRTY-TWO PAGES. ALGER EXPECTS IMMEDIATE VATICAN MAKING STRONG EFFORT TO INFLUENCE SPAIN Would Secure a Ten Days’ Armis- tice in Which for P The United States Wiiling to Accept Honorable Terms, but the Castilians Must Make Direct Overtures, special to the Herald that the Vatican is - to influence the Unit Beyond this I was authorita- tively told to-day that nothing | had been done looking to a set- | tlement of the differences United States be- | tween the and | At the State Department the | statement was made that any peace propositions must emanate from Madrid. There is no inten- | tion on the part of the President | it any third power to in- rfere in the negotiations which will be necessary to terminate the | war, official with whom I talked | told that the President would be willing to grant an honorable peace, but that Spain must ask | | for it, and that this Government | would not respond to the pres-| sure of European power re- | arding terms. Terms would | ave to be negotiated directly. | The result of an armistice might be the formation of a com- mission or at least the discussion of the best means by which peace preparations could be considered. | In any event, it would enable both parties to look over the ground and could not possibly injure the position of this Gov- ernment. For this reason it is not im- | probable our Government wou xl'} be willing to enter into an armis- tice, providing Spain should ask for it. Embassador Draper, who is in Washington on leave of ab- sence from his post in Rome, be- lieves that Germany is the only power which should be sharply watched. Interference from her to come, he thinks, when sposition of the Philippines lly made. The authorities have not failed to give consideration > the terms of peace to be demanded of Spain should she desire to re- ceive them. In the first place the Spanish troops must be with- drawn from Cuba, Porto Rico and the Philippines; the indepen- dence of Cuba must be acknowl- edged; Porto Rico must be a possession of the United States and a coaling station, and Gua- han Island shall be made Ameri- can territory. NEWSPAPERS CAUSE SPAIN TO PROTEST WASHINGTON, July 9.—As was an- ticipated by the authorities here, the conduct of some newspaper in crediting Lieutenant Colwell, United States na- val attache at London, with certain statements relative to the probability of peace being declared, has resulted in disagreeable action. The Spanish NEW YORK, July 9.—A Washington Kinley received official information to-day effort to induce Spain to consent to an armistice to last ten days, during which time peace negotiations may be initiated. The Pope will depend on the great powers an armistice, provided he should find Spain willing to ask for it. | Spain holds many elements of defense, to Negotiate eace. says: President Mc- making an earnest ed States to agree to Embassador at London has lodged with the British Foreign Office an officlal brotest against the continuance in Lon- don of Lieutenant Colwell and the con- duct by him of & secret news system. It is not doubted the matter will be explained satisfactorily by the State Department, but some indignation has been expressed at the publication by some American newspaper, such as this, calculated to dangerously inter- rupt our special service abroad. SEPARATED BY AN UNFATHOMABLE GAP Speclal cable to The Call and the New York Hlerald CopyTighted, 156, by James Gor- MADRID, July 9.—Sir Henry Drum- mond-Wolff absolutely denies that any overtures for peace, formal or informal, were made to him by the Spanish Gov- ernment. Simultaneously Premier Sa- gasta denles there is any question of peace negotiations or an armistice. Af- ter the successful resistance offered by the Spanish troops at Santiago it would be impossitle for any Ministry here to propose peace, knowing that the United States would make terms very hard. To-day I hear General Weyler talked of as a possible member of a future Ministry. To-day Senor Romero Rob- ledo was two hours at the palace. This adds another significent item to the course of events. I am able to give Senor Romero’s views on the present situation as follows: “Above all things we must defend the honor of ‘he army and Spanish in- terests in Cuba. If that prolongs the war, what of it? ‘We are not gullty. and in a desperate situation is capable of prolonged resistance. We believe the army could not remain indifferent in the face of dishonor of giving way to an enemy who is unable to defeat it. However, the superiority of the Ameri- can resources are so great/we cannot help being beaten. Therefore it is well for us to consider possible means of peace, but it Is totally impossible to deal with the present Government.” All this brings us back to the point I called attention to yesterday, that the idea of peace and propositions for the same are occupying the minds of polit- ical leaders; but an almost unfathom- able gap separates the terms which Srain and the United States think pos- sible as a basis of negotiations. CABINET DIVIDED AS TO PEACE QUESTION MADRID, July 9.—Duke Almodovar de Rlo, upon leaving the Cabinet coun- cil to-day, denied that peace negotia- tions had been opened, adding: ‘“At the present moment we must talk only of war.” It is the general impression that the Cablnet is divided as to the peace ques- tion. A dispatch from Santiago de Cuba announces that the American rein- forcements have arrived there and the Refna Mercedes was sunk in order to block the entrance to Santiago. CONSIDERING TEN DAYS’ ARMISTICE MADRID, July 8.—The Liberal says the Cabinet is considering the signing of a ten days’ armistice to facilitate the peace negotiations. The Rome correspondent of the Im- parcial telegraphs that a ten days’ armistice is coming, but he adds that he thinks the powers, with the Vati- can, are engineering the movement and are consldering the proper form which the armistice should assume. Senor Sagasta, however, declared af- ter Cabinet meeting that the rumors of an armistice were without founda- tion, and that the Government is only discussing the methods of prosecuting the war. [CXONOROXONOXORONOROXOXONONONOROXC up shortly after midnight. nor of action. at once?” WASHINGTON, July 9. — A cablegram was received from General Shafter at the War Department to-night which is understood to make certain recommenda- tions as to the action on the Spanish proposals for conditional capitulation. Imme- diately after its receipt Secretary Alger, Secretary Long and Adjutant General Cor- bin went to the White House to confer with the President. The ¢onference broke Secretary Alger said there had been no reports of firing “But,” he added, “there has been some talk of surrender. A propo- | sition has been made which will not be considered, and things, 1 think, will go on about as they were intended.” “Do you mean by that,” he was asked, “that the bombardment will be made “I can’t say definitely, but that is very probable,” he replied. MARSHAL BLANCO, CAPTAIN GENERAL OF CUBA. NEW YORK, July 9—The Wash- ington correspondent of the Herald telegraphs: I have to-day authentic information that the expedition to Porto Rico will get off even earlier than has hitherto been expected. It is absolutely certain that at the present time the administration is count- ing upon the almost immediate fall of Santiago—this to be followed at once by the departure of General Miles for Porto Rico with the later volunteer troops that have been sent to Santiago. PORTO RICO TO BE INVADED AS SOON AS SANTIAGO IS TAKEN Few Days. 1 asked a member of the administra- tion, who to-day gave me this informa- tion, if, immediately after the fall of Santiago General Shafter and the greater part of his army would be left in Santiago province while General Miles with the recent - re-enforcements and some of the regulars would go to Porto Rico. He replied that he thought this would be a safe statement, The fleet of Admiral Sampson is ex- pected to blockade the island completely and make way for the landing of the General Miles Will Have Personal Charge of the Expedition, Which Will Sail From the United States Within a ‘army at a point not yet ascertained, probably on the northern side of the island, west of San Juan. . General Miles will put. his main dependence upon the United States regulars, to whom, he said, belonged the greater part of the glory achieved by the army before Santiago. General Miles considered the fighting there practically a test of the regular army and did not seem to consider se- riously the volunteers in connection with the work of the regular United States troops. CADIZ SENTIMENT UNFAVORABLE TO PEACE Speclal cable to The Call and the New York Herald. Copyrighted, 153, by James Gor- don Bennett. . CADIZ, July 9.-—~Work at Sierra Cor- bonera, and the road to San Roque are suspended owing to lack of money. En- gineers-are standing idle, although all appllances are there with splendid > quarries and lime denosits—another in- | stance of official bungling. . ¢ Admiral Cevera is severely criticized for leaving Santiago harbor, especially as . the enemy’s ‘land ' forces were awkwardly placed.-The prevailing note 1= somplete ‘discouragementand specu- lation as to what will happen nexr, but generally it is unfavorable to peace. ey Governor McCord a Colonel. PHOENIX, July 9.—Governor McCord has announced that be has recelved indefinite leave of absence from his .dutles as the executive of Arizona and that he will take command as colonel of the regiment of infantry now being recruited in the four Territories. S Have Reached Santiago. WASHINGTON, July 9.—The War Department is advised that Randolph’s six batterles of artillery, the District of Columbia regiment and a regiment of Illinofs infantry which left Tampa sev- eral days ago have Seutiago. NOT ACC Surrender of Sa Cond Spanish Troops Must 0600000 It was this refusal, coupled with the tenor of the General Shafter indicating that the commander of the enemy’s forces had made his final proposition for surren- der, that forced Secretary Alger to conclude that the bombardment of San- tiago is inevitable. The authorities, however, do not anticipate that the final attack on Santiago will be of long duration. In fact, they are confidently looking for the fall of the city by to- morrow night. Rear Admiral Sampson has informed the Navy Department that he has made arrangements to co-operate with the hills with a view of demoralizing the enemy. The fortifications defend- ing the harbor will also be bombarded. It continues to be Rear Admiral Samp- son’s policy not to enter the channel until the mines have been removed, and this will necessitate the capture of Morro Castle by the army and the removal of the electrical mines by | small boats, after which the ships can | enter the harbor in safety. WASHINGTON, July 9.—The great battle expected to-day did not take place, although the armistice expired | at noon, with the forces on both sides | at Santiago lined up for battle. The reason was that the Spanish com- mander, who had been in correspon- dence by telegraph with his home Gov- ernment, was seeking to make terms with General Shafter by which he was willing to give up Santiago with- out resistance if allowed to retreat with all of his men and arms across the island, but this idea was not enter- tained for a moment by our Govern- ment. On the contrary, every effort will be put forth to seal up all avenues of es- cape from Santiago and to compel the final surrender of the Spanish army. To have allowed them to make their way unmolested into the Interior would have amounted simply to re-enforce- ment of the garrison of Havana by these thousands of trained soldiers who have proven their courage as worthy foemen in the fighting in the trenches. On the other hand, to com- pel them to surrender, it is believed, moral effect, both in Havana and in Spain itself and thus tend to the early conclusion of the war. Secretary 'Alger and Adjutant Gen- eral Corbin were in quick communica- tion with General Shafter at Santiago during the day. Both officials, how- ever, declined positively to give out for publication any dispatches relating to the negotiations that are going on be- tween Getieral Shafter and General Li- nares, or to confirm any of the excit- ing rumors that were flying through the corridors all day. Nevertheless, it was evident from their manner that a crisis had been reached so far as San- tlago was concerned, and that as mat- ters stood at the close of the day there was no reason to be dissatisfied with the outlook, as it is known that Gen- eral Shafter has lost nothing by the armistice, his men are rested, the com- missary has improved, the roads have been cleared and his artillery is now almost completely placed in a most ef- fective manner. None of these things existed at the begnning of the armis- tice. On the other hand, the Spanish forces have largely diminished their slender stock of provisions and have steadily lost confidence. As soon as they are convinced that they will be humanely treated and fed and will not be subjected to inhuman treatment (and the War Department proposes that they shall be thus protected) it is expected there will be many deser- tions from the Spanish lines. Thereis the strongest indisposition on the part of the strategists to enter- tain favorably the proposition said to be under consideration at Madrid look- ing to an armistice of ten days in or- der to consider terms of peace. They believe that the United States has everything to lose and rothing to gain by accepting such a proposition. Dur- ing that time Camara's squadron might find safe lodgment in some strongly fortified coast town like Fer- rol and thus elude Watson's pursuit. ‘Naval officlals feel that another change may have to be made in the make-up of the Bastern squadron NEW YORK, July 9.—The Washington correspond- ent of the Herald sends the following: eration-the President at a late hour to-night positively re- fused to permit the acceptance of anything short of an un- conditional surrender of Santiago. dispatch from | the army in the attack on the city. His { guns will fire at a high elevation over might save his#hrmy ffm capture. He | would certainly produce an enormous | " BOMBARDMENT OF SANTIAGO MADRID’S OFFER EPTABLE TO WASHINGTON ntiago Can Only Be Received Without itions. Not Be Withdrawn to Havana and Ten Days’ Armistice Is Refused. After mature delib- DQCQCCO0 which is to strike a blow agalnst the Spanish coast, as the battle-ship Iowa suffered some hard knocks during the recent naval battle with Cervera's squadron, and it may be nece: substitute one of the other battl pending repairs on the Iowa. cision on the subject has been reached thus far, as the department has not re- ceived the report showing the exact condition of our ships after the battle. In the meantime the Associated Press | interview with Captain Robley Evans of the Iowa leads naval officials to be- lieve that the Towa will require con- | siderable overhauling before she Is ready for a trip across the ocean. Ac- cording to Captain Evans’ story of the battle, the Iowa was struck twice by | Spanish shells and one shell exploded, while the other is embedded, unex- ploded, near the water line of the ship. This last shot may prove troublesome, as an unexploded shell near the water- line is not a desirable adjunct to a bat- tle-ship. From the light manner in Which Captain Evans speaks of the damage it is not regarded as very serious by the officials, yet it is prob- ably enough to keep the Iowa from ac- companying the eastern squadron to the coast of Spain. A decision as to whether she will be withdrawn will not be made until the report is received on the condition of the ship. Either the Massachusetts or the Indi- ana will be substituted for the Iowa it |it be found necessary to make a | change. Either of them is as formid- able as the Iowa. Their four large | guns are of the 13-inch type, while those | of the Towa are 12 inch. In other re- spects their batteries are similar to | the Towa. They are commonly re- garded as rather better seagoing ships than the Iowa. Camara’s only armored ships are the Pelayo and Carles V, the former of 9900, the latter 5090 tons. They are out- ranked in every point by the ships of the American squadron—armor, arma- ment, speed, size and number of guns and general effectiven ITALY FRIENDLY TOWARD UNCLE SAM WASHINGTON, July 9.— General Draper, the American Embassador to Italy, hag arrived in the city on leave of absence for sixty days. He had a talk with President McKinley to-day, having first been to the State Depart- ment, where he was in conference with Judge Day for a long time. It is absolutely known that General Draper’s visit has no connection with the talk of Spain making overtures for peace. He gave the administration to . understand the whole of Eurcpe Is anxious to see peace and is gradually puttiug pressure on Spain to ask for | honorable termsfrom the United States. General Draper’s opinion is that Italy | is more friendly to the United States | than any European power, except Eng- | land. | ~ General Draper’s understanding Is | that Italy will not interfere in anything | this Government may do in the Philip- | pine Islands. ‘It is said he has informed | the State Department that all the in- formation received by him in Rome was to the effect that Germany is likely to make more demands as to the Philip- pines than any European power. Eng- land, as he understands the drift in diplomatic circles, will be glad to see the United States permanently take possession of the island SPAIN HAS NOT MADE OVERTURES LONDON, July 9.—Although peaces rumors are numerous and there Is a general feeling that Spain may at any moment sue for peace, nothing definita on the subject is known in compsatent quarters. Both the officlals of the United States Embassy and the Brit- ish Foreign Office say the situation Is the same as yesterday, and at the For- eign Office it is declared that there is no truth in the story rrinted this morn- ing by a New York paper to the effect that Spain has made formal overtures for peace with the United States through Sir Henry Drummond-Wolff, the British Embassador at Madrid, and they ridicule the alleged concessions attributed to Spain in the story re- ferred to.