The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1898-08-12
Rumor That Havana Itself Had
Capitulated Could Not Be
Confirmed.
Cubans Evidently Trying to Fore.
stall Americans in Capturing
Some Cities.

WASHINGTON, Aug. l2.-Little expec.
tation is entertained of the receipt of
the Spanish answer to the latest prop.
osition during the day. The note, it.
self embodying the agreement reached
by Secretary Day and Ambassador NJ.
Cambon, was all filed with the tele-
graph companies before midnight, but,
being in cipher and subject to many
delays owing to numerous translations,
1t could scarcely have been placed in
the hands Of the Madrid authorities
before noon, allowing for the differ.
ence IN time between Washington and
Madrid.
One Thing Might Influence Them.
II any n phase of the campaign
would influence the Spanish govern.
ment to speedy action in the consum.
nation of this protocol it would be the
attitude Of the Cubans under Garcia in
the northern part Of Santiago province
just outside Of the line marking the
territory conceded to the United States
III Toral's surrender. The officials here
have known that the Spanish garris ons
in Holguin and some of the smaller
towns on the north coast and interior
were in desperate straits tor food and
war supplies and had suffered an enor.
nous percentage of loss from disease,
and had not our own forces under
Shafter been checked in their opera.
tons by the epidemic Of fever, a strong
column would have been thrown out to
the northward and have forced a sur.
render OF all these sea tered detach.
ments of Spanish troops.
Trying to ForestalI Americans.
Now, how ever, the Cubans under
Garcia apparently have determined to
forestall he American commanders il
this movement and, it is reported, have
occupied several towns evacuated by
the Spanish, and are pressing at the
doors of Holguln. The matter has given
some concern to our military COM.
manders, as this Cuban effort, if sue.
cessful, may result in soon bringing
III government to a pass where it
must find itself obliged to recognize the
government set up by Gomez in his
march, or come to an open issue with
the insurgents and forbid them from
conducting further operations except
where sanctioned by the managers of
our own campaign. AS is the case at
Manila, so it is believed at Holguin,
the Spanish commander would
much prefer to surrender, if
obliged to surrender at all, to the
United States authorities and
not to the Cubans There are political
reasons why the Spanish government
should impress this course upon its
military commanders, seeking, as it
has done, to induce the United States
to assume sovereignty over Cuba in.
stead OF erecting a Cuban government.
Might Order Surrender to Americans.
Therefore this condition at Holguin,
if known to Blanco, may induce him
to take steps to surrender the place to
any authorized American officer. 1t is
lntlmated that the s~urrenders on this
basis would not cease at Holguin and
the vas afoat that Ha.
vana itself had surrendered.
but this failed of confirmation
at all points where such news naturally
would find its way. If these condi.
lions are known to the Spanish gov.
ernment at Madrid, the fact may have
an important bearing in fastening the
action OF the Sagasta ministry upon the
pending proposition from the United
States government.