Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-07-09
CAMARA'S LATEST MOVE.
He Is Bringing His Squadron Back Through
the Suez Canal to Cadiz, Spain.

Rome. July 9.-Italie says that nego-
tiations have been opened among the
European powers with a view of ar
ranging peace. The best intentions, the
paper asserts. are manifested at Wash
ington, but the Madrid cabinet strongly
opposes any idea of peace.
Cairo, Egypt, July 9.-Admiral Ca
mara, the commander of the Spanish
fleet, which was bound for the Philip
pines, and which recently passed through
the Suez canal, has informed the Egyp-
tian government that ne has been or
dered to return to Spain. Therefore the
ships will go through the canal immedi-
ately and will proceed westward. The
Spanish warships will now be allowed
TO coal, as they are returning home.
Washington, July 9-There was a con-
unuation of peace talk yesterday, and
ether evidences in this line than those
| OF Thursday are coming to the surface
such, fer instance, was the confirma-
ton by the state department of the
report that the Cadiz fleet was return
ing to Spain, since it is scarcely con-
ceivab!e that the Spanish government
would doom this last remnant of it's
| fleet TO destruction at the hands Of
Watson's squadron, which in all prob
ability could head it eff before it
70 ,r,i.z
the assumption is that the Spanish gov
ernment calculates that at least an
armistice precedent to peace will be OBJ
tained before the ships reach Spain.
| Conditions at Santiago also are regard
ed as favorable just now, according to
General Skaters dispatches.
Peace Talk. but War Preparations.
The impression prevails that the
Spanish are in desperate plight within
the lines of the city, and General Shaf-
ter's action in allowing Linares to COM
municate freely with Madrid by cable
Is an implication that there is at least
a reasonable hope that the Spanish gen.
eral contemplates a surrender. How
| ever, that may be, every preparation
Is making fer great engagement
final one at Santiago, it is hoped-which
may begin even as early az today il
Shafters reinforcements are on hand.
| The department has not heard so far of
| the arrival of these soldiers. but be-
lieves they have reached Shafter. The
greatest difficulty that has been en-
countered is in the landing OF troops
and supplies. This being the hurricane
season. and the wind setting straight
on the southern coast. the masters Of
the transports have taken their ships
mary miles out to sea, making the trips
Of the small boats very long.
| Authorized To Seize the ships.
So slow and tedious has been the SER
| vice under these conditions that Secretary
Alger has ordered General Shafter to
seize the transports one and all and
place them as near the coast as he
chooses without regard TO the fears OF
their masters. Ten days ago lighters
We're started down from Mobile and
Tampa, but so far General Shafter has
received orly one. These lighters have
been a nightmare to the department
ever since they were chartered. The
captains tie up in creeks at the slightest
sign OF bad weather while the chartA.
92te of 800 day runs on. Of~S
have been sent forward to terminate
this state of things. even IL 1t is neces.
sary to lose few lighters in the efsor,
tn reach Shafter.