The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-12-30
ScovEL's VISIT TO GOMEZ.
PRESENTED Letter From Mckinley to In
surgent Chief.

AFesented Letter From Mckinley to In
surgent Chief.
havana, December 29.-Many friends
Oh Senor Canalejas and Mr.. Sylvester
ooovel, correspondent of the New York
world, went to the railroad station today
70 meet them and were disappointed with
their non arrival. News has arrived here
mat Mr.. Scovel is back from the field
aitsr having presented President MoKin-
Icy letter to Maxine Gomez. The rumor
that Mr. Scovel had been sentenced to
death appears to be we'll founded. The
lnsurgent scouts sent word to Cen.
5omez camp that two Americans, Senior
Madrlgal and Mr.. Scovel, were on their
way to the headquarters to induce Gen.
Oolnez to surrender. Gen. Gomez, en-
ragged, directed that both be court mar
tIaled on the spot; but on learning that
tsln1ey were special ENJOYS from Secretary
sherman, acting under orders of Presi
dent Mckinley, he instructed that they
| be released.
Senior Madrigal Gu. S. consul at Sancti
Splritus) explained to Gen. Gomez, that
PRESIDENT Mckinley in accordance to a
promise to Spain to use his influence
With the insurgents to bring the war to
| MT. Scovel to carry out their mission. He
| then presented Secretary Sherman's letter
TO Gen. Gomez. The latter had the same
translated and ordered that the commits
sioners should be treated with all con-
slderation. He fixed an appointment for
the following day, promising to confer
With the Cuban government with refer
ence to the action to be taken.
| The following morning, Gen. Gomez
| assured Senior Madrigal and Mr.. Scovel
| that he was much pleased with the in
terest shown by the American govern
went in the welfare OF Cuba and that he
would reply to President Mckinley
through the representative of thei Cuban
| government at Washington as he was not
allowed to correspond directly with
| foreign powers.
| 1t is understood that Senior Canalejas is
| returning to Havana for good, having
given up his proposed visit to eastern
Cuba.
ASSUMES SUPREME COMMAND.
| Havana, via Key West, December 30 -
| Gen. Blanco in his edict assumes supreme
command of all branches of the govern
ment as the delegate of the crown minis
| fers OF state, war, navy and foreign
affairs, who reside in Madrid and who
win continue to dictate to Gen Blanco
what he shall do in carrying out his func-
tions.
PEACE PROGRAMME FAILED.
| New York, December ga special to
| the Tribune from Havana says: Gen.
1 Blareo on his arrival two months ago
| probably anticipated less need of vigor-
/ Gus military campaign than he now feels.
I 1t was unreasonable to hope for a policy
| of conciliation and persuasion. Though
| on9 article of the programme, the succor
| of the reconcentrados, has failed as a
| g1ssrnraent measure of relief, the promise
of amnesty has been kept. The prisons
are really being vacated by the unwilling
tenants with whom Gen. Weyler peopleti
them. But the directintention of pressing
active military measures is an admission
of the failure to win the insurgents back
from the field. A record has been made up
purporting to show what Gen. Blanoo has
taCcom plished in the way of adherents. 1t
| purp0rts to give a list of insurgents who
have surrendered and includes a dozen
chiefs, one with the rank of captain.
AS in all official reports the majority of
the persons presenting themselves turn
out to be reooncentradoes and children.
VIRTUALLY ACCEPTS INTERVIEW
TION.
New York, December Ex-Governor
General Blanco's acceptance Of President
McKinley's request that the American
people be permitted to relieve the suffer
ings of the cOnoentrados in Cuba, is
tantamount TO acceptance of the offer Of
Intervention by the United States in the
conflict SO long in progress between the
people Of Cuba and the Spanish govern
ment, said Thomas Estrada Palma, chief
of the Cuban Junta in this city to an AS
sociated Press reporter today.
Let the American people know that
the best plan is to intervene for peace
They should intervene Immediately. Spain
is willing that Americans should aid the
concentrates by the present plan, because
it will relieve Spain of the responsibility
for calamity that 1t has brought about
Spain is trying to shake off the ignominy
OF Weylersim in Cuba, but it cannot sue
ceed. 1t Is necessary that the worlt
should know the results of that work il
Cuba and the world is learning fast"
BROUGHT FORTH A MOUSE.
London, December 29.-The Madrid
correspondent of the Daily Mail snys
Gen. Weyler's memorial TO the Queer
Regent respecting President Mckinley
memorial is mild protest, signed BY
himself alone. He was unable to per-
suade other officers to sign it.
| SEDGWICK CAPTAIN IN CUBA.
Sedgwick, December 29.-H. W. Morse
a Sedgwick sea captain, had rather ex
citing taste of the Cuban war. Will
discharging cargo at Cuban port OF
December z, band Of insurgents raide,
the town, and the wharf where his vesse
lay. shooting the Spanish guard and car
rying off $4,000 of spices which were II
boxes on the wharf. Mr.. Morse write
that he las no.doubu there is war il
Cuba.
NEW MINISTER TO SPAIN.
Madrid, December 29.-The Queen Re
gent today received M. jules Patenotre
the new French ambassador to Spain
with great ceremonies. seated on the thron
cabinet and the dignitaries of her court
The palace guard rendered military hon