Mesa free press., 1898-08-12
LATEST WAR NEWS.
Resume Of Events on Land and


The Spaniards have sunk a vessel at
the entrance to San Juan harbor, eff
fectually closing the channel.
There are now 1000 cases of fever
among the troops at Santiago. Five
hundred are yellow fever patients.
Capt. Aunon the Spanish Minister
of Marine has received dispatch from
Admiral Camara announcing that his
fleet has cast anchor at Cadiz.
Gen. Correo, the Spanish Minister of
War, says Gen. Macias, captain-gen-
eral Of Porto Rico, reports the Porto
Ricans as Indifferent to the result of
the American invasion.
The Spanish authorities have de-
cided to reilluminate the light houses
in the Balearic Islands, which were or
dered TO be extinguished shortly after
the outbreak of the war.
The Port of Ponce, Island Of Porto
Rico has surrendered to Commander
Davis of the auxiliary gunboat Dixie.
There was no resistance and the
Americans were welcomed with en-
thusiasm.
The Philippines is the greatest
problem in the peace proposition, and
over this, Is 1t said, the Cabinet Is
split. Secretary Wilson Is the only
Cabinet officer who would give his
opinion. He said: IT am for holding
the Philippines"
The government has taken formal
possession of 1000 troops at Guantan-
amo. This includes Linares' corps of
Eastern Cuba. The Spanish prisoners
now number 10000, with 1000 more at
Santiago. The health of the men in
the camps is improving.
The central cable office Of the
Western Union Telegraph company
at New York has been advised by the
West Indian and Panama Telegraph
company, Owners of the cables to
Porto Rico) to decline to accept busi-
ness for all stations in Porto Rico ex-
cept San Juan.
Whether or not the Spanish war
ship Colon will be foated depends
largely upon the expedition which has
left for Santiago. The Merritt &
Chapman Derrick and Wrecking COM
pany has sent out the German steamer
Senior under the German flag with a
crew Of forty divers and wreckers.
A Savannah, Ca, dispatch says the
British ship Adula, captured off Guam
| tanamo Bay by the Marblehead, has
| been declared a lawful prize of war by
Judge Emery Spear. She was charter
ed by a Spaniard and was on the way
| to Guantanamo to take out refugees.
An appeal to the Supreme Court will
| be taken.
1t Is regarded as certain that the
United States will retain control of
the Philippines. While they may not
| be annexed, President Mckinley feels
| that as the war is made on humani-
| tartan grounds and for the purpose of
affording relief to those suffering un-
der the tyrannical yoke Of Spain, the
colonies of which we have taken pos.
| session should not be restored to their
former unsatisfactory footing.
A Victoria, B. c., dispatch says the
War Department is quietly, but with
| all possible speed, pushing arrange
ments for increasing the Notifications
at Esquimalt, the ultimate intention
being the absorption of the entire
peninsula upon which the fort is To-
Gated, and, according to a naval au-
thority, to make at the southern cor
ner Of Vancouver Island supply de-
pot as impregnable as Gibraltar.
Dispatches received at Berlin say
that independence has been declared
by the Porto Rico Parliament. The
newly adopted constitution uses forci-
BILE language against the invasion by
| the Americans. If this proves to be
true it will embarrass the United States,
| for further prosecution of the cam
paign against Porto Rico would not be
against Spain, but against the natives
of the island, who are not at war with
the Americans.
| A Paris cablegram says that at the
Cabinet council. M. VOlcaSse, Minister
of Foreign Affairs, submitted to his
colleagues certain questions arising
out of SPANS overtures for peace. It
| is believed that the discussion turned
mainly on the critical situation Of
Frenchmen in Cuba, arising out of the
stagnation of business since the war
began. The Council Of State will issue
a decree opening an extraordinary
credit for the assistance Of French
subjects in Cuba.
The Madrid correspondent of the
London Daily Mail, remarking on the
feeling of satisfaction and relief the
| peace overtures have produced, says
| that there is little probability of pop
ular discomfort, and none at all If
| Spain is allowed to retain the Philip
pines and is not compelled to pay in
demnity. The attitude of the people
makes the chances of Don Carlos
small. Moreover, the Carlists are said
to disagree about the advisability of
| rising.
! The total bids for the war loan of
5000 100000 on per cent. bonds foot
ed up $1,325, 100000, or nearly seven
times the amount. This includes syn
dictate bids. The subscriptions, as rep
resented by checks and other modes Of
payment, footed up $750,OOO,OOO, or