The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-07-13
WILL REMOVE MINES
The Commercial Interests
Demand Their Removal.
MILITARY MEN OPPOSE
WHAT NOW SHOULD A HOSTILE
FLEET APPEAR?
THE COAL QUESTION AT ST. THOMAS
The importance Of Owning Coal Stations Dem
onstrated- -Blanco's Harsh Response to
Geryera's Message Its Effect
linn General Inral
Upon General Toral.

Washington, ID. c., July 12.-The i'm
preston prevailed in official circles when
public business closed for the day that
the flag of truce set III the Spa nish lines
at Santiago ut o'clock yesterday af-
terno6n was still flying, and that nego-
tiationS continued looking to Il surrender
The basis for these negotiations natur-
all could not be very broad in view of the
injunction the President laid upon Gen
eral Shafter to accept nothing less than
unconditional surrender, but it is sup
posed that time may be consumed
through the Indulgence of General Shat
ter in allowing the Spanish commander
to communicate by cable with Captain
General Blanco in the effort to obtain
his assent to the surrender. General
Toral undoubtedly has before his eyes
the indicative abuse heaped upon the
unfortunate naval commander Cervera
for Surrendcring at all. 50 that he prob
ably will be bound by the direction Of
Blanco in his own case. 1t is not gen
orally known that in response to the
manly and pathetic report My cable to
Blanco announcing the loss of his squad
ron. Cervera received most harsh ana
unsympathetic reply. but such is the
ease Blanco's purpose in this way has
been to dssuade other Spanish com
manders, military and naval. from sur
rendering under any conditions. and in
the case Of Toral it appears that he has
made strong impression. Nevertheless
| confidence wakes in the speedy fall Cf
| Santiago. though many officers fear that
tie nest will he found empty and the
.rds flown when the American troons
make their entry into the town. Still.
| should this be the case. it may be fairly
| claimed that the prime object of the
movement on Santiago namely the de-
| struction of the Spanish squadron hav-
| ing been achieved. the campaign as a
| whole has been successful.
The most important result of the Cab-
| net deliberations today was an order TO
remove the mines which guard all the
| coast ports. This will he done by en-
| ploding them. Many military men were
| opposed to yielding to the pressure Of
| the commercial interests and some of
| them are predicting that not few of the
communities which have been so earnest
| in their demand for the removal of the
| mines will be frantcally clamouring for
| protection ut the very first rumorS of the
| presence of hostile gunboat or cruiser
| off their coast.
The order of removal. it is stated is
| to apply to localities where the inter
| eSts of commerce demand the same In
| cases where it is safe an effort will be
| made to remove the mines instead of
| exploding them. Wherever there is any
| doubt they will be exploded. The ac-
| tion of the sea in some instances causes
| the dynamite in the iron ellipsoidal YES
| sells to ooze through the screw threads
where the plug is inserted, and unless
| the greatest care is taken the removal
| of the plug may cause an explosion. It|
| will be some days before actual work
| Of removing or exploding the mines can
| be put in operation, and the question
as to what the interests of commerce
| demand will be left to the discretion of
| the engineer officers having jurisdiction
| over the various districts of the United
| States. Orders for carrying into effect
| the decision of the Cabinet will be sent
| to them Immediately Great care will
| be exercised by these officers. While
| the mines proper are to be removed, all
| the incidental attachments necessary to|
| their installation and operation will be
retained, such as the caSemates, anchors,
| the cable connections and the switch
| boxes. so that if it is found necessary to-
| replace the mines it may be done on the
| shortest notice.
Before war began our government ac-
| cumulated Il stock of coal at St Thomas,
West Indies. Most of it was ashore, but
| thousand tons were on Il schooner ly
| ing in the harbor. Twice since war broke
out the United States has availed them
| selves of this coal once to supply the
| Minneapolis and once the Montgomery
| but as each was bound for the nearest
| home port and took only enough coal to
carry them there it was fairly assumed
there had been no breach of neutrality
However. it appears that there is now II
disposition exhibited by the Danish au
thorties to prevent the United States
ships from using this coal, and as there
is no question of their rights To lay down
such 4 rule the coal itself probably will
be let alone. Fortunately there is no
particular need for it. as there are other
means of coaling a fleet now in use The
incident is one which will be used as n
strong argument for the establishment
of coaling stations in various parts of
the globe for the benefit of the United
States navy.
While the statement has been re-
neated day after day that no overtures
have yet been made to our government
for peace il may be also stated that
| neither the United States government
nor any of its representatives sol
far has made any move in this direction.
The fact is today as it has been:
The first Overtures in the direction of
| neace must come from Spain. directly or
indirectly.