The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-08-07
RUM0RS IN WASHINGTON.
Reported That the Reply VIII BE Re
ceiyed Monday.

ceiyed Monday.
Washington, Aug. 6.-Just a week
ago to-day Ambassador Cambon re-
ceived from the president the terms Of
peace which would be granted by the
United States. When the state de-
partment closed its doors this after
noon the Spanish government had not
sgnified whether or not it was pre-
pared to accept these conditions.
Every day during the past week an
answer has been expected, and that
same feeling of expectancy prevailed
at the close of the week. 1t is signifi-
cant that all responsible government
officials are satisfied the reply will be
an acceptance of our terms when it
does come. About 2:30 o'clock Secretary
Thiebault of the French embassy called
at the state department, thus giving
rise to the supposition that he was
seeking to make an appointment for
the ambassador to meet the president
to deliver the Spanish answer. This,
however, turned out to be erroneous,
NJ. Thiebaults business being connected
with some of the recent seizures of
French merchant vessels by the block
aiding fleet and relating in no way to
the Spanish peace negotiations.
The fact that Secretary Day, who
had contemplated a trip to Atlantic
City this afternoon, did not leave town
was also the basis for. another guess
that he had notice the Spanish note
was coming at once and that his pres-
ence would be required here. As a
matter of fact. the secretary was de-
tained past his train time by his re-
ception of the Italian ambassador, who
had a long conference with him over
the Cerruti case. Altogether, though
the expectation of an early answer is
cherished, it was the belief of the Of
ficials when the day closed that there
is now little likelihood or its receipt by
the president before Monday. 1t was
rumored in some quarters that the
Spanish government had sent a long
notice that ii had accepted the principal
American terms and would be prepared
to make a formal answer Monday, but
the French embassy. which would be
the only recipient of any such notice,
gave a very quick and effective denial
of this story.
While all this delay is deprecated, ii
is realized that Sagasta probably is
making the struggle of his life to bring
the Spanish party leaders to the point
where they will agree to stand by him
in his acceptance of the terms of
peace. This fact tends to secure the in
diligence of our government in some
degree and this is more readily eX-
tended in consideration of the fact
that so far from having surrendered
any advantage in agreeing to discuss
the terms of peace, we are gaining
something substantial every day in the
prosecution of the campaign as re-
vealed by the reports from Porto Rico.
The naval plans of operations are also
moving steadily forward, and notwith-
standing the statements to the effect
that the projected cruise against the
Spanish coast by the Eastern squadron
has been abandoned, Secretary Long
stated this afternoon that no change
had been made i'm the plans of the de-
partment respecting that squadron.
Up to this point not the slightest COM
plant has reached the department re-
specting the movement of the Porto
Rican campaign. tribute to General
Miles ability. No word has come of
soldiers without food or ammunition OF
of sick men without doctors or medi-
cine nor is the inward movement of the
American army delayed for lack of
artillery, owing to General Miles in
sistance upon keeping up his artillery
in the very vanguard and giving per-
sonal attention TO the commissary and
quartermaster departments.
The war department officials now say
that Skaters army will begin embark
Ing in earnest tomorrow. the trans
porst which are arriving being obliged
to take on stores for the homeward
trip. These, however. will be limited in
quantity in order 10 avoid unnecessary
delay, and only 10 days rations will be
placed aboard ship. Colonel Hecker in
charge of the transportation, said he