The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-08-16

" NaShlnTtOn. ID. e.. August l5.-Ihc
sudden transition from war to peace WAS
reelected day i'll Il complete dullncSs
and stagnatisn through official quarters
Instead Of the hustle and activity which
have prevailed for months through the
corridors Of the War Department and
corridors Of the War and Navy Dcpat-
parent since the midsummer vacations
Of last year. Most Of the officials went
homc early i'll the day enjoying the first
partial holiday since the war began.
There Will hc Il large amount Of import
ant details to be worked out from this
time forward Il gradual reduction of the
army and the navy to peace footngs
the establishment Of temporary and
permanent administrations for our new
colonial possessions the caring for the
wounded and prisoners and the rcIcf
of the distress III Cuba. The question of
Immediate attention is the appointment
Of the peace commission which is to meet
ut Paris and Of the military commissions
to meet ut Havana and San Juan.
The President conferred with Secretary
Day during thc day relative to the peace
commission. but it was said 1T the
State Department late that an an
nnuncoment Of the commissioners might
be deferred for some days. 1t is under
stood that the President has not fully
determined upon the personnel Of the
commission. Several Of the public men
who saw him to-day We're satisfied that
that commission would he made up Of
Secretary Day. Senators Allison and
4 i{I,.l I n,.
Elihu Root Of New York, and probably
Il prominent army officer. General Cor
bin is spoken Of favorabIy III connection
with the army appointment on the COM
mission. The military commissioners for
Cuba and Porto Rico are not receiving
any attention from the State Depart
mcnt as the military authorities Will have
entire charge of these branches of the
peace settlement. During the day the
State Department received a call from
Vi. IhicbaUt Secretary Of the French
Embassy. for the purpose of leaving Il
letter explaining the authority given by
cable to the French Ambassador 10 sign
the peace protocol. These assurances
already had been given verbally, but the
letter gives them III Il more definite form
and in the course Of Il few days the
compIetc written authorization from Ma
drid will be fled with the State Depart
mcnt. Many congratulations Kept com
ING to the State Department and to the
White House on the rc-cstablishment Of
peace.
1t is expected that the occupation Of
Manila under the terms of the protocol
Will occur within the next few hours.
It was at first thought the Navy De
partncnt had Il dispatch boat 1T Hong
Kong ready to carry forward the orders
to Admiral Dewey and General Merritt,
but the Department learned to-day that
no dispatch boat was ut Hong Kong
although one was likely to reach there
to-day or tomorrow. Meanwhile it is
possible that Consul Wildman may char
ter Il steamer and send the orders for
ward. He has general instructions as
dispatch agent. and it was said at the
State Department to-day that these in
structions govern the present case Gen
eral Greedy is satisfied no use can be
made Of the cable connecting Hong
Kong with Manila. az there are no cable
operators at the Manila end.
Acting Secretary .Alcn said today that
the matter Of establishn~ coalin- sta
tions. the disposition Of ADMIRAL Gcrv"ra
and other Spanish prisoners. and like
questions brought up by the peace set
Element. would receive consideration in
due time. but that there was no i'm
mediate necessity for passing upon them.
Preparations are making to receive the
battieShipS and armorcd cruisers now
under orders to come North. Dry docks
Nos. | ana , at the New York navy
yard are available for the big cruisers
New York and Brooklyn. but not for 1Ie
battleships. Dry dock No. ; viii re-
ceive the battleships. but will not be in
condition before September ist. as it has
just gone through a long period of re-
pair. Captain Bartlett. in charge Of the
auxiliary fleet is arranging TO get these
craft back into their old cnanneiS. The
old singleturreted monitors Will be re-
turned to the League Island navy yard.
Some Of the auXiliarieS are still needed
to look after mine fields established along
the coast.
The War Department was busy all day
with matters pertaining to the cessation
Of histilities. Secretary Alger consulted