Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1898-07-13

sted Press: / have not come dowr
here to command and shall probabl,
remain but few days. 1t is too late tc
mako any changes in the plan of the
campaign, eYen IL / desired to dc
So But have no complaint to make
Things seem to be moving in good
shape. l intend to leok over our lines
and positions and study the situation
thoroughly, but will not interfere in
the conduct of the campaign. This Is
likely to be the only trip 1 shall make
to the front.
IMPORTANT SPATCgES.
WASHINGTON, July ia special
meeting of the Cabinet has been called.
A war conference with Secretaries Day,
Alger and Long and Admiral Sicard
and Captain. Mahan participating, has
been In continuous session all the fore
noon. Important dispatches are being
considered.
Rumors of disquieting news from
General Miles are current, and feeling
of depression seems to pervade the
White House. 1t was defiRitely learned
that there are fourteen suspicious cases
OF fever among the employees in the
quartermaster's department near San
tiago. Pending the determination OF
the exact character of the fever, these
men have been isolated in a valley
near Siboney, and placed under the
care of immune doctors and nurses.
WON'T WAIT ANY LONGER.
WASHINGTON, July l3.-It was near
ly o'clock when the war conference at
the White House broke up. The mem
bers of the Cabinet, when questioned,
said the meeting was called TO discuss
the general situation at Santiago. Gen
raj Shafter and his advisers have come
t the conclusion that the enemy has
no idea Of coming to our terms, and the
repeated hoisting of q flag of truce is
done with the single purpose of delay
ing the decisive engagement. 1t is be-
lieved that at today's conference it was
decided that orders be sent to Generals
Niles and Shafter to make general
assault upon the enemy's work as soon
as the weather permits. 1t is under
stood that this assault must necessarily
cost many lives, and 1t seems equally
certain that to keep the men much
longer in the trenches under present
weather conditions
WOULD BEALMosT AS DISASTROUS
to our forces as a general engagement.
1t is also believed that, without material
improvement in the climatic condi
tions, the fall of Santiago and the sur
render of the Spanish army there will
close the campaign against Cuba un-
til the rainy season shall have passed.
The presumption is that with the fall
of Santiago the army will be reembark-
ed on transports and sent to the United
States, where the troops will remain
until October or even later before
making general movement on Puerto
Rico or Havana. In the meantime our
fleets will maintain strong blockade
off all important Cuban ports, and thus
render their occupation much easier
than now.
HIS OCCUPATION WOULD BE GONE.
LONDON, July "A special from
Madrid says: Captain General Blanco
has replied to the Spanish governments
reiterated representations in regard to
peace by energetically protesting
against the idea of peace. Blanco says:
The army has only just come into ac-
tion, and thus far cannot be said to
have suffered a reverse, although 0p-
posed numerically to far stronger
force. Spain cannot talk for peace
without dishonoring the army in the
eyes of the world. Cuban volunteers
declare they will not recognize any
agreement concluded under the present
conditions, and. even if deserted by
Spain, will continue the war themselves.
TRUCE EXTENDED TO MORROW.
War n-WASHINGToN, July
13.-The War Department has given
out the following from General Shafter:
Headquarters near Santiago, July 3D.
Your telegram saying no modification
of orders allowed, just received. Have
had an interview of an hour and half
with General Teral and extended the
truce until noon tomorrow. | told him
his surrender only would be considered,
that he was without hope of escape
and had no right to continue the fight.
| think it made a strong impression on
him and hope for his surrender. If he
refuses, | will open upon him tomorrow
with every gun l have, and will have
the assistance of the navy, who are
readyto lombard the city with l3-inch
shells.
TO SEND THEM TO SPAIN. y
War Bulletin. WASHINGTON, July
13.-Secretary Alger received the fol-
lowing dispatch from General Miles:
Playe de Este, July bat a meeting
between the lines at which General
Shafter and General Wheeler and the
Spanish General Toral were present,
the latter claimed he was unable to act
without authority of his government,
but that he has received authority to
withdraw and surrender the harbor, the
forts, the munitions Of war and the
eastern portion of Cuba. He urgently
requests until tomorrow noon to re-
ceive answer from his government re-
garding the offer of our government to
send his forces to Spain, which delay
was granted. Signed. MILES,
Major General Commanding.
On the bulletin giving General Miles
dispatch was written underneath the
following: Permission to withdraw
was declined nv tha war denartmpnt