The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1898-11-08
THE SPANIARDS DECLINE.
They VIII Not Accede to Amtr.ca's De-
mand In Reference to the Philippine
Islands-Meet Again Tuesday.

ASAanOS-meeC again tuesday.
PARIS, Nov. 5.-The joint session OF
the peace commissions Friday lasted
two hours. The Spaniards refused the
proposition made by the Americans on
Monday last, but the negotiations were
not broken off. While it is believed
that no formal counter proposition was
made, there was a discussion of tbs
Philippine question outside the lines
of the American propositions. The
commissions then adjourned until
Tuesday next.
MADRID, via Biarritz, France, Nov. ).
Premier Sagasta, after long con-
sultation with the queen regent Friday,
spontaneously declared to a number
of newspaper correspondents, that he
hardly expected that the Americans
would abandon their pretentions in the
matter of the Philippines. The gov.
eminent, he said, had instructed Senior
MOnterO Rios, the head of the Spanish
peace commission, to defend SPANS
all possible concessions. The Span
ish commissioners, Senior Sagasta said,
would in no case retire, because such a
step would be equivalent to a rupture
and renewal of hostilities, in which
case he fears that the Americans would
lombard the Canaries, the African
colonies and the Spanish ports, Spain
being unable to resist.
The newspapers are indignant at the
Americans declaring that they regard
it as impossible to obtain Justice from
Spain.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 5.-The admin
;stratiOn is awaiting results from the
peace commission with equanimity, in
the realization that the government is
perfectly well prepared for any turn
the negotiations may take.
The navy especially is in a state of
preparedness, should it come to re-
sumption of hOstilities, far in advance
of its condition at the outbreak of the
war. One by one all of the splendid
fighting machines of the North Allan
tic squadron. which had been brought
north at the earliest moment, were
locked. cleaned and thoroughly refit-
ted at the New York and Norfolk navy
yards. Their ammunition supplies
were replenished. and they are now.
with possibly one or two exceptions,
ready for instant service in almost any
quarter of the globe. Adm. Dewey has
taken considerable precautions in the
cases of his own vessels, having dis
patched them one by one to the big
British docks at Hong Kong. where
they have leen placed in as
good condition as possible out
side of our home ports. Secretary
Long has prudently declined to part
with the new numerous fleet of auxil-
larry vessels acquired by the govern
ment just prior to and during the war
These were all inspected by technical
board which found that a number of
them were not particularly well
adapted to navy uses but the secretary
concluded that these vessels were still
sufficiently serviceable for emergency
uses and accordingly kept them in con-
dition to be commissioned at short no
tice.
AS far as the army is concerned,
while the original force of nearly a
quarter of a million men called into
service by the president has been
largely diminished by the mastering
out of many regiments and Organiza-
tons, it is the opinion of expert mill
tary officers that the army as a whole is
than it was at any period dnring the
war. This apparently paradOXical
statement is explained by the fact that
such of the troops as are now in the
service have had the discipline of sew
eral months hard training. The men
have steadily improved in efficiency
and their officers know how to take
care of them as well as to fight
battles. The staff corps have cured
many of the evils from which
they suffered during the war, and are
prepared to move troops with rapidity,
with due care for their health and for
their adequate rationing during any
campaign that might be expected. IL
fact, all branches of the military SER
vice provided by the experience of the
war. and are now, as previously stat
ed. in better shape than ever before.