The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-07-15

Spanish motives, and the intentional
misleading as to the course it intended
to pursue. At the same time he took
a hopeful view of the situation and
thought that the royal pronunciamentO
might in the exigency of the Spanish
case, prove to be the entering wedge in
&. peace movement.
Senator Cannon of Utah who had a
talk with the president does not take
an entirely rOseate view Of the out
look I hope for peace early, as ne
cessity,' he said, but not by the will
ling and voluntary action of the Span
ish ministry and royalty Whoever
makes the first proposition there ruins
himself
Pacific Tendency Grows.
Madrid, July 15.-The pacific tendency
is increasing. The general public take
a favorable view of the suggestion that
the powers should attempt the re-estab-
hshment of peace, but it is said, con-
trary to the reports current, France
has not taken the initiative.
Noon-The minister for war, General
Correa is quoted as saying in an inter
view that he thought that peace might
be arranged on the following terms:
The United States and Spain agree to
let the Cubans decide by plebescite,
whether they desire independence or
autonomy under the suzerainty Of
Spain.
The two governments to agree to
abide by the result of the plebescite.
In the event of the Cubans voting for
independence the United States to al
low Spain nine months in which to
withdraw her army, gradually and dig
niiedly from Cuba.
Terms Not Yet known.
Washington, July 15.-The cabinet
was In session almost two hours today.
There were several dispatches laid be-
fore the members but it is said none
were of any particular Importance save
one from Gen. Miles, who wired some
details as to what was wanted in the
way of movement of troops from here
and the shipment of some horses and
supplies.
The royal decree of suspension of in
dividual rights in Spain gave rise to
some discussion as to the outlook for
peace.
The cabinet adjourned without knowI-
edge of the details of the terms of sur
render which were to be made at San
tiagO by the commissioners referred to
by Gen. Shafter in his dispatch of yes
terday. Nothing further has been re-
ceived from the general on this subject
and the assumption is that the COM
missioners are still at work endeavOr-
ing to arrange the details of the Surren-
der. These are likely to be more COM
plex than are generally supposed, for
aside from matters of actual moment,
such as the methods of transportation
the carriage of arms by troops and the
transportation of the surrendered Span
ish officers, there are many smaller
matters to be attended to, some of them
growing out OF the fantaSJ1c Spanish
notions of honor, which are quite as
troublesome to deal with as matters of
vital Importance.
The French Gable company shut down
over night and that was supposed at
first to be the reason why further re-
ports were not forthcoming from Shaf-
ter or Miles. 1t was believed that the
cable operators, Frenchmen, have be-
come wearied from their prOtracted Ia
bors and refused to continue at work
last night. But with morning came a
renewal of communication though no
messages from Shafter were on file.
Many inquiries are coming to the war
department as to the condition of
wounded and sick American soldiers
near Santiago. The appearance of yel-
low fever among the troops was an ad
ditiOnal cause of apprehension and
doubled the number of queries. The
war department does not deem it pru-
dent just now to make any detailed
statement relative to the conditions in
the camp but Adjutant General Corbin
stated that he could say that so far as
the yellow fever was concerned the con-
ditions at last report were certainly
better than they were two days ago.
A Troublesome Problem.
Col. Hecker, who is in charge of the
transportation service of the war de-
partment, is now busy trying to ar
range for the conveyance home to
Spain of the Spanish soldiers who were
surrendered in Santiago. There is a
great steamship transportation lines to
make bids to carry these people. The
adoption of such a course would re-
lieve the government of a great respon-
sibi1ity. It would put the Spaniards
under a neutral flag, which would in
sure their reception without difficulty
at home and it would relieve our gov
ernment of the necessity of sending
with the prisoners the heavy guard
that would be required if they should
be conveyed on United States trans =
ports. Economically it was thought
that the proposition was a sound one.
Assuming that the companies
charged the usual passenger rates for
soldiers, the transfer could be effected
at a cost not to exceed $500, 900, a sum
which is pro bably less than would be
the cost of the service if undertaken di-
rectly by our government. But dis
agreeabl complication has arisen from
the fact that reports indicate that yell
low fever exists among the Spanish
troops as we'll as among our own, and
it is feared that if these reports are
we'll founded it may be difficult to in
duce transportation companies to un-
dertake the task of conveying sick SOL
diers and those who had been exposed
to infection There is also doubt
whether the Spanish authorities would
allow the men to land on Spanish soil
Adjutant General -COrbln said that
all the necessary ratiOnS to care for
the Spanish soldiers when they surren-
dered had been secured and were now
in place for immediate delivery at San
tiago. It is presumed that the quar-
termaster's officers will avoid the enOr-
nous undertaking of transporting
these supplies over the mountain trails
by sending them in vessels into the
harbor to the city of Santiago. This is
believed can be done safely as the
terms of surrender will doubtless re-
quire the Spanish to indicate the To-
cation of the mines in the harbor. It
is expected that the great body of ref
ugees that fed from the town on the
threat of bonn bardment will now re-
turn and great distress is expected to
result from the lack of food supplies.
Gen Shafter has been allowed to ex-
ercise his full discretion in dealing