The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-05-13

that he now does from his headquarters
in Washington.
TO URGE SPAIN TO SUE FOR
PEACE
AS a result of the Spanish reverse
at Manila, leading members of the dip
lOmatic corps, representing some Of the
most influential of the great powers of
Europe have unofficially exchanged
views on the oppOrtuneness of a move
ment, dictated by the most friendly
spirit and in the interest of peace, to-
wards urging upon Spain the futility
of further prosecuting the war, and
inducing her to sue for peace on the
basis of the REIMBURSEMENT Of Cuba.
the promise of a war indemnity and
the occupation of Manila by Admiral
Dewey until the war indemnity is
paid. 1t was stated tonight by one of
the most influential members of the
diplomatic corps, an EN- bassadOr, that
such a step by Spain was the logical
result of the crushing Spanish defeat
at Manila. With Spanish politics in
their present disOrdered state and a
revolution impending, he did not know
whether the men at the head of the
government We're strong enough and
brave enough to save Spain by a heroic
sacrifice of her pride. Unless they did,
he said, the disaster of Manila would
be repeated, for it was now patent to
the world that Spain's military and
naval strength was greatly inadequate
to cope with the forces of the United
States. While expressing this view
with much positiveness, it was put for
ward only as tentative and now as
move which the European powers mad
actually begun.
1t was stated with positiveness at
several of the embassies and the lega-
tions today that Intervention, in the
sense Of staying the course of the Unit
ed States, was no longer being dus-
cussed.
The military authorities connected
with the foreign establishments here
say that admiral Montejo and his en-
tire staff of officers ought to be, and
undoubtedly will be- court martialed for
allowing themselves to he surprised by
Admiral Dewey's fleet.
There was some discussion by the
senate in executive session today be-
cause none of nominations for staff Off
GERS in the army sent in by the presi-
dent yesterday were from the south.
| Senator Money raised the question
| when the reference of the nominations
were made and he and Senators Bate,
Bacon and Lindsay all commented up
| on the fact. Their speeches were not
| in the nature Of fault-finding, but the
omission Inoy Sdlu was patent 10 jill.
| They also called attention to the fact
| that the south had comparatively few
| officers in the regular army and none
of high rank, owing to the effect in this
respect of the civil war and said that
while southern states would be just as
loyal in present war, whether or not
| they received any of presidents favors
| they would prefer to be treated in this
| matter as were other sections of the
country All the nominations for staff
| officers were referred to the military
committee.
Reports received at Adjutant General
Corbin's office show that "a ,354 men
have been mustered into the volunteer
| army of the United States.
Washington, May 1.-THE army
movement on Cuba is now fairly
| launched and todays news developed
a concentrated effort all along the line
| to begin aggressive operations on a big
| scale for the ejectment of the Spanish
| troops and government from the pearl
| of the Antilles" An order given this
afternoon by the war department for
| the purchase of 5000 600 rationS is an
| earnest of the scale on which prepara-
| tionS are making for invasion Of Spain's
territory OF this vast quantity one
| fourth is to go to the Philippines, by
| way Of San Francisco, and the balance
| to Cuba. For some reason that was
not diScOverable, there appeared to be
! a temporary check in the practical
| working out of the plans of the war
department for this Cuban movement.
! After everything had been made ready
| for lis departure last night. General
Miles was detained and for some time
/ today the rather gloomy prospect OF
an indefinite poStponeanent OF the frSt
military expedition was presented.
| Later on, however, the obstacle, what
| ever it was, was removed, and il was
again announced that the comm mand-
| ing general with a numerous stan
would leave Washington tomorrow, di-
rect for Tampa, The department has
made great number Of changes in the
| original programme laid down for the
| concentration Of troops and as lndi-
Gated in these dispatches yesterday
many bodies of volunteer that were
originally slated for one OF the great
] concentration camps have found them
, selves suddenly under orders to pro-
ceed direct to southern points 50 that
soon volunteers from the east and mid
die west will be moving swiftly to
Florida and the gulf while from the
far west the cars will be carrying
troops to San Francisco. Today's news
in connection with the renewal of Gen.
eral Miles order to Tampa is pretty
substantial evidence of a very early
movement of troops in strong force for
Cuba, while the Philippine programme
has been definitely fixed for some days.
NO NEWS FROM ADMIRAL SANP-
SON.
Contrary to the expectations the day