The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-09-27

Madrid. September 22.-Admiral
Cervera arrived here today. There
were no incidents worth noting in con-
nection with his arrival at the CAPT
tai. In an interview, the admiral said
he had a clear conscience regarding
Santiago. Nations, he said, grew
great by the victories and not by their
defeats, however glorious they might
be. Spain had lived in a dream and
she had now to face reality. The ad-
miraI added that his warships were
not destroyed in battle, but by fire.
General Toral, the Spanish COM
mander who surrendered his forces at
Santiago, has also arrived here. He
did so without attracting any atten-
ton. He is now sick in bed.
n marked GOODNESS of Admiral
Cervera and his officers toward the
minister of marine, Senior Aunon, is
much commented upon here. Senior
Aunon and his staff, in uniform, met
Admiral Cervera and his party at the
railroad depot. The admiral halted be-
fore the minister, saluted and said
stiffly: Il am at the orders of your
excellency. / shall present myself at
the ministry today, as is my duty"
AS the admiral then started to leave
after embracing Captain E'ulate, the
former commander Of the Vizcaya, and
his other comrades. The minister of
marine offered the use of his carriage
to Admiral Cervera, but the latter de-
clined to accept it and entered dnoth-
or carriage.
General Augustin, the former cap
tain general of the Philippine islands,
who has just arrived at Vittorla,
Spain, from Manila, in an interview,
is quoted as discussing the Philippine
question in an interesting manner. he
is alleged to have said:
Before | left Spain l knew the sit
uation in the Philippine islands was
grave. Senior Moret, the minister OF
the colonies in the last cabinet of Senior
Sagasta, remarked to me that II war
with the United States broke out there
would be a terrible state of things
Continuing, General Augustin de-
scribed Admiral Montejo's fleet as
"some old wooden Ships" and said
they came to Manila practically pur-
sued by Dewey" He then said.
Our batteries fired at the Ameri-
cans, but out guns were on
false plates, and after the first shots,
they became useless. At daybreak we
were in the power Of the Americans
and an hour afterward the Spanish
fleet had ceased to exist. Dewey sum-
moned me to surrender. 1 refused and
he threatened to raZe the town. l re-
piled: RAISE it, but, so long as L live
the Spanish flag will float over the
ruins of Manila Then began the
terrible time of the siege and the an
guish of the blockade. Famine stared
us in the face. In the meantime, nos
tilities were conducted throughout the
provinces, but save in isolated cases.,
humanity. Dewey repeated his sum-
mons to surrender and 1 again refus-
ed. Dewey then bombarded the town
and Manila surrendered. But, consld-
ering my presence no longer necessary,
I asked the government for permission
to go home, as my position had pc
come by no means easy. l think L
have m my duty as a soldier a
Spaniard." .
The ministerial newspapers protest
rains the SuppositiOn that the United
States will keep the Philippine islands.
They maintain that SPANS rights to
these islands are incontestible and that
she is "resolved to defend her rights
with the greatest energy
The government papers also contend
that the terms Of the peace protocol
confirm SPANS right 10 the lSldlu VI
Luzon and the rest of the Philippine
islands and they declare that If the
limited States bases it's claim on hui
manity and civilization, Spain Will
prove that there is no higher civiliza-
ton in any Of the Asiatic colonies than
in the Spanish colonies in Asia. The
rumor that the Rothschilds are to e
Spain a large sum Of money when the
treaty of peace is signed, is denied
here. Officials of h Spanish gov
eminent claim that the Bank of Spain
is able to supply the immediate de-
mands of the government.