Abilene weekly reflector., 1898-07-07
MAY SUE FOR PEACE
Washington 0facials Believe Spain
VIII Soon Have to Quit.
PREMIER SACASTA IS INTERVIEWED.
The spanIard Thinks Americans VIII Take
Santiaso-A Paris Paper Says "spain
Has Not an Hour to Loae to Ne.
gotiats for Peace"

WASHINGTON, July 5-The destruc-
tion Of Cervera's fleet by Admiral
Sampson, the absolute certainty of
the early downfall Of Santiago, and
the wrestling of Porto Rico from Span.
ish control, incline the administration
officials to the belief that peace propo-
sitions will soon come from Spain.
With all her colonial possessions lost
except the Canaries and the Balearic
islands, and with an American feet
threatening her coast cities, Spain, 1t
would appear, is practically helpless.
But even with this desperate situation
staring her in the face, we'll posted
army and navy officers insist
that Spain will continue the hopeless
contest until Havana has been stormed
and taken by American troops. How
soon that may transpire is yet prob.
lematical, because the plans thus far
mapped out by the war board do not
contemplate an assault on Havana for
at least two months yet. This is sub
ject to modification, however, as the
annihilation Of Cervera's ships puts at
liberty q magnificent feet OF Ameri-
can warships, and the administration
may decide to turn them loose on the
fOrtifica tions OF Havana.
The changed naval situation will
bring no abatement in the activity of
the authorities here in carrying the
war directly home to Spain. There is
renewed determination to get Commo-
dore Watson's eastern squadron away
at the earliest moment, for the double
purpose Of striking blow at the
coast towns Of Spain and Of pursuing
Admiral Camara's feet, which has
halted at the entrance Of the Suez
canal.
Secretary Long made the official
statement yesterday that the fleet
would sail at the earliest possible mo-
ment, and although he did not 60 into
detail as to its purpose, 1t is we'll un-
derstood that it will devote its atten.
tion to the Spanish coast and to CANA
ra. The destruction of the Spanish
fleet at Santiago relieves Admiral
Sampson from surveillance Of this
squadron, and he can readily spare
the ships intended for the attack on
the Spanish coast.
PREMIER sAGAsTA INTERVIEWED.
LONDON, July 5.-A dispatch from
Madrid quotes Premier Sagasta as say
ing in an interview that he thought
the Americans would 'get the REIN
forcements they had required, which
would enable them to take Santiago
de Cuba" The premier is said to have
added: Though the American war.
ships may destroy our squadron in the
harbor, yet we will pursue the war.
There are in Cuba lOOO men ready
to die in Its defense, but they will not
yield"
A dispatch to the Paris Matin from
Madrid says: I'm spite Of the belli-
costly Of the official utterances, Senior
Sagasta is ardently desirous Of peace
and has already taken steps to arrange
for a cessation Of hostilities. The
general feeling of the cabinet yester-
day evening was that peace should be
Immediately sought if disaster over
takes Santiago de Cuba"
PARIS ADVISES SPAIN TO QUIT.
PARIS, July 5.-The Temps yester.
day afternoon says: "The capture of
Santiago de Cuba is an irreparable
blow for the Spaniards. The paper
concludes Its article by saying: Spain
has not an hour to lose to negotiate
for peace"