Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1898-08-12
OPINIONS AT WASHINGTON,
Little Hope OF Quick Reply to Cam
bons Message.

| bons Message.
Washington, Aug. 12.-Little expecta-
ton is entertained of speedy receipt
Of the Spanish answer to the latest
proposition. Because the negotiations
have narrowed down to a point where
the Spanish answer, If affirmative, as
expected, would simply bestow upon the
French ambassador the authority to
sign the protocol can be returned in
very few words it was thought by some
an answer might come soon. The note
itself. embodying the agreement reach
ed by Secretary Day and ambassador
Cambon. was all filed with the telegraph
companies before midnight Wednesday,
but being in cipher and subject to
many delays owing to numerous trans
lations, 1t could scarcely have been
placed in the hands Of the Madrid au-
thorities for some hours, allowing for
difference in time between Washington
and Madrid.
If any one phase of the campaign
could influence the Spanish government
to speedy action in the contamination
OF this protocol, it would be the attitude
Of the Cubans under Gomez, in the
northern part Of Santiago province. lust
ry conceded to the United States in To-
rails surrendere The officials here have
known that the Spanish garrisons in
Holguin and some of the smaller towns
on the north coast and interior were in
desperate straits for food and war sup
plies and had suffered an enormous
percentage of loss from disease, and had
not our own forces under Shafter been
Charkad in their l,,<
demic OF fever a strong column would
have been thrown out to the northward
and have forced surrender of all these
scattered attachments Of Spanish |
troops. Now. however the Cubans un-
der Gomez apparently have determined |
to forestall the American commanders
In this movement and. it ia reported. |
have occupied several small towns evac- |
uated by the Spanish and are pressing
at the doors Of Holguin
The matter has given some concern
to our military commanders as this Gu
ban effort, il successful, may result in
soon bringing our government to a mass
where 1t must find itself obliged to rec
ognize the government set up by Gomez
n his march or come to an open issue
with the insurgents and forbid them
rom conducting further operations ex-
'ept where sanctioned by the managers
" our own campaign.
AS Is the case at Manila, so it Is be.
ieved at Holguin, the Spanish COM
nander would much prefer to surren-
Ter, II obliged to surrender at all, to the
United States authorities and not to the
cubans. There are political reasons
Why the Spanish government should
impress this course upon its military
commanders, seeking as 1t has done to
induce the United States to assume SOW.
refgnty over Cuba instead OF erecting
. Cuban government. Therefore this
at Holguin, If known to Blan.
o, may induce him to take steps to
urrender the place to any authorized
Imerican officer.
1t Is intimated that the surrenders on
his basis would not cease at Holguin.
nd the rumor was af1oat that Havana
self has surrendered, but this failed of
onfirmation at all points where such !,
ews naturally would find its way. If
lese conditions are known to the Span
n government at Madrid, the fact NAV
ave an important bearing in Fastening
lie action OF the Sagasta ministry I'M =
he pending proposition from the Unit
States government.