The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-07-29

united states Will OIIeT OF accept. %
far as this country is concerned, it is
the general impression hat the COM
plete Spanish evacuation of Cuba and
Porto Rico will be insisted upon as a
sine qua non. There is not the same
certainty as to the Philippines, La
drones and Carolines, although the be
lief is growing that the terms OF the
United States will include coaling sta
tons in these groups. On the part of
Spain. it is believed that she now has
reached a realization Of her misfor-
tune: thai she viii readily consent to
the terms for the rracuation of Cuba
and probably Porto Rico. The Spanish
desire is apparently very strong for
the retention of the Philippines al
though there is little doubt that coal
ing stations there and at other points
would be conceded. The matter of war
indemnity is for future consideration,
although there does not appear to be
a. disposition among the officials here
to pile up a heavy war
against Spain in her present elpleSS
condition.
The news OF the landing Of General
Miles 1t Guanica, on the southwest
shore Of Porto Rico, came as a genu-
inc surprise to the war department.
1t a been all carefully planned that
he was to make his landing at anoth-
er point, as remote as possible from
the place where he actually landed.
Just why General Miles made this
wide departure from the plans of the
department is not knClvn. but it is
supposed hat he gathered some in
formation since he left Siboney that
induced him to make the change. The
result, however, has been to perplex
the department officials deeply and to
considerably derange their carefully
prepared programme for the remainder
of the expedition. It will now be nee
essary to intercept the sections of the
expedition already at sea, heading for
a certain selected point on the coast
of Porto Rico and to advise them of
the change in the plans.
1t is another exhibition of the reli-
ance placed by the government in the
dispatches of the Associated Press
that it proceeded to act at once in
the direction indicated and to TAX
steps to notify the sections afiOat with
out waiting for news from General
Miles himself The only approach to an
official communication on the subject
came from st. Thomas and was hardly
more comprehensive than the brief
statement received last night by the
newspapers, announcing that the re-
port had come TO st. Thomas that the
American troops were landing, but
without naming the place of debarka-
ton. General Wilson's brigade is now
approaching the island, being due
there today or tomorrow, and rein
fOrcements will follow at intervals of
one or two days until the whole force
of 80, 900 men is landed, unless ven
connected with the peace negotiations
make it exDedient to stop further
movements. However, it is a matter
for cOngratulatiOn to the war depart
ment hat General Miles has managed
to set foot on Porto Rico before the
first overtures Of peace, and thus to
place the island in the anne position
as Cuba and the Philippines; namely,
as territory at least partially in pos
session of the United States at the
beginning of negotiations.
The details today brought a corrected
list from General Shafter of his casual
ties, but little else of interest save a
short report from General Lawton,
telling of the difficulties of the fight
ing before Santiago. Secretary Alger
is distressed at the Number of missing
carried on the rolls and today tele-
graphed General Shafter to hire all ne
cessary help n send men through the
jungles to hunt up the remains of the
| poor fellows, for he does not doubt
that the missing in this a means
death under the cactus or other
| brushes and an undiscovered body.
The Havanese are still making des-
| perate efforts to get supplies in through
| the blockade and TWO steamers are re-
| ported to have cleared Vera Cruz, Mex
| leo, loaded with food, bent on reach
| ing Sagua at least, whence the supplies
may be shipped overland to Havana.
| The navy department will give the
! matter attention.
| SKATERS HOSPITAL REPORT.
The war department at 1890 o'clock
| tonight posted the ~following:
Santiago, via Hayti, July 26.
"Adjutant General, Washington, D. c.:
THE following is the sanitary con-
dition for July 25th: Total sick 10Th
err than fever) 287; total fever 2,13S;
new cases of fever 495; cases of fever
returned to duty ALP.
Private Ward Mars, Company E,
Thirty-third Michigan, died of yellow
fever, July oath. SHAFTER."
DISCUSSING SPANISH PROPOSE
TON.
During the late afternoon and even
ing the president conferred with most
of the members of his cabinet and the
Spanish proposition was thoroughly
canvassed. Secretaries Day, Alger and
Long were at the White house during
the afternoon and in the evening the
president was Joined by Secretaries
Bliss and Wilson and Postmaster Gen
eral Smith. There was no cabinet
meeting in the ordinary sense, but
these ak with individual members
served about the same purpose as a
formal meeting. In case peace negoti-
atoms are opened the means by which
they will be carried on are not deter
mined, nor have they been officially
considered. 1t is understood, however
that one means likely to be propos
ed is to authorize direct negotiations
etwee Spain and this country, Spain
being represented by Senior Leon Cas-
tillo, the Spanish ambassador at Paris
and the United States by General Hor.
ace Porter, our ambassador to France
This plan is quite tentative, however
and it is rather doubtful whether the
United States government would con.
sent to lave such important negotia.
ions removed far from Washington
and conducted in a European capita
where the atmosphere might not be