Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-08-18

war and navy departments, there was
a calmness yesterday not apparent
since the midsummer vacations of last
year. Most of the officials went home
early in the day, enjoying the first
partial holiday since the war began.
There will be a large amount of
from this time forward-the gradual
reduc ion of the army and navy to
peace footings, the establishment Of
temporary and permanent admins
trations for our new colonial posses
prisoners and the relief of the
distress in Cuba The question OF
ment of the peace commission, which
is to meet at Paris and of the mil
litary commissions to meet at Havana
and San Juan. The president con-
ferred with Secretary Day during the
but it was said at the state depart
ment late in the day that the an
nouncement of the commissioners
might be deferred for some days. 1t
is understood that the president has
not fully determined upon the per-
sonnet of the commission. Several of
the public men who saw him Satur
day were satisfied that the commits
sion would be made up of Secretary
Day, Senators Allison and German
and either Joseph H Choate or Elihu
Root of New York, and probably a
prominent army officer. Gen. Corbin
is spoken of favorably in connection
with the army appointment Of the
commission. The military commits
sions for Cuba and Porto Rico are
not receiving any attention from the
state department, as the military au
thorlties Will have entire charge OF
these branches OF the peace settle
ment
During the day the state depart
ment received call from NJ. THE
baut, secretary of the French en-
baSsy, who called for the purpose of
leaving letter explaining the author
dty given by cable to the French en-
massador to sign the peace protocol.
These assurances already had been
given verbally, but the letter gives
them in more definite form, and in
the course of a few days the complete
written authorization from Madrid
will be filed with the state depart
ment.
Many congratulations keep coming
to the state department and to the
white house on the re-establishment
of peace. 1t is expected that occupa-
ton of Manila under the terms of
the protocol will occur within the
next few hours. 1t was at first
thought that the navy department ha,.
a dispatch boat at Hong Kong ready
to carry forward orders to Admiral
Dewey and Gen. Merritt, but the de-
partment learned Saturday that no
dispatch boat was at Hong Kong, al |
though one is likely to reach there |
today. Meanwhile it is possible that |
Consul Wildman may charter a steam
er and send the orders forward. He |
has general instructions as a dispatch |
agent and it was said at the state de- |
partment that these instructions gov
ern in the present case. Acting Sec
rotary Allen said Saturday that the !
matter Of establishing coaling stations, |
the disposition of Cevera and the |
other Spanish prisoners, and like ques- |
tions brought up by the peace settle !
ment, would receive consideration in |
due time, but that there is no imme- |
date necessity for passing upon them. |
Preparations are making to receive |
and dock the battleships and armored |
cruisers now under orders to come
north. Capt. Bartlett, in charge of |
the auxiliary fleet, is arranging to get |
back these craft into their old chan
nels. The old single-turreted mont |!