Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-07-09
TALKING OF PEACE.
CONTINUED from page ~
as he chooses without regard to thu

as he chooses without regard to the
fears of the masters.
Ten days ago, lighters were started
down from Mobile and Tampa, but so far
Gen. Shafter has received only one.
These lighters have ever since been a
nightmare to the department The cap
tains tie up in creeks at the slightest
sign of bad weather. while the charter
rate of 800 day runs on. Orders have
been sent forward to terminate this state
Of things. even il it is necessary to lose
a few lighters in the effort to reach
Shafter.
The government has not yet determined
how to dispose of Admiral Cervera. A
feeling OF the highest admiration prevails
here at the galantry displayed by the old
warrior ami the noble spirit exhibited by
him under misfortune. The disposition
is to treat him with as great liberalty as
the conditions will permit 1t has been
proposed that he be released on parole
not to engage in hostilties against the
United States until the end of the war.
but it has not been decided whether to do
this or confine the admiral technically
within the limits of the naval academy
reservation at Annapolis.
All the other captured Spanish naval
officers will be confined there save the
surgeons, who will be allowed to remain
with the enlisted men at the prison sta
ton at Seavy's Island. Kittery, Maine
The st. Louis is due there, tonight or to-
morrow, with the first lot of prisoners,
while the Harvard has started from on
Santiago with the remainder
The report of the appearance of a Span
ish privateer off the coast of British Co
lumbia, which appears to have created
such a commotion on the northern coast.
came from one of the government agents
in that section Moreover the same per-
son said that two vessels were taking on
coal at a British Columbian port, which
it was presumed was intended for the
Spanish fleet should it have made its way
into the Pacific ocean through the Suez
canal.
When the secretary of the navy was
asked, today. about Sampson and Sehley,
he said that the public might rest as
sured that no injustice would be done
either of these gallant men. Meanwhile.
he said. no official report has yet been
received.
The failure of Congress to act on the
naval advancement special acts may after
all be beneficial, as enabling the Presi-
dent to arrange with more elaboration
and justice a scale of reward for merito-
rious officers.
Gen. Shafter reported all quiet, yester-
day, in the camp before Santiago, and the
belief of the officials here is that the
Of aiv. ,bt "a
army is losing nothing by its rest and
according to the generals account, is
gathering strength More renforcements
are due at Santiago, today or tomorrow
and when they arrive it is expected that
the assault on the city will be resumed
1t is hoped that this will be tomorrow
though it is gathered from Gen. Shafter' :
report that an advance will not be or
dered before achievements arrive unless
in order to repel q counter attack from
the Spaniards Gen. Shafter and Admira
Sampson had a conference. day before
yesterday and as a result the feet is go
ing to make another assault on the fortt
fications at the mouth of the harbor, to
morrow.
If the army is ready this will partake %
the nature of a general attack; if not
then the navys action will be simply II
the line of execution of a policy Of re
ducing Santiago by stages according t.
regular siege methods
While cooperating far as possible
with the army the navy is not to be sac
rficed in this attack upon the Spanish
forts. The dropping of a G-inch shell
from on high through the deck of the In
diana, three days ago, during the trtlin'
engagement with the forts when thu
Mercedes was sunk, strikngly verified
the prediction of naval experts as to tn
danger of elevated fire upon warships Il
close range. 1t was more by good luel
than by good management that the Indi
ana escaped destruction or an awful los
of life from this one shell.
The President is determined that tn
navy shall not be sacrificed for a small
stake. such as Santiago To his cabinc
officers he has pointed out the eXtrcmcl
dangerous position that the United State
would occupy among nations by the los
of it's navy. the arm of the service whc
has evoked the unwilling admiration AM
respect of the greatest powers of Europe
The function of the navy in tomorrow
attack will be to help the army in tn
assault when it shall come to the iina
stage by entering the harbor, but thi
will be done only after the fertilization
at the entrance have been reduced an
= the way cleared.
The war department. today, announce
the purchase of the steamer City of Der
lin, owned by the International Naviga
ton Co., for use as a transport She ca
accommodate a regiment OF infantry an
the horses of officers of two regiments.
FOR ACTIVE SERVICE.