Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1898-07-20
which a powerful naval demonstration
would have on the Spanish mind.


WILL HUNT SMALL GAME.
Pending the beginning of the Porto
Rico campaign, 1t is probable that some
of SIMPSONS fleet will be detailed to
ferret out and destroy some OF the small
Spanish gunboats which are lurking in
Cuban ports.
The United States has all necessary in
formation concerning these boats and
their ornaments. There are more than
fifty of these in all, including four tor
pedo gunboats, eight cruisers, thirty gun
boats and number OF small yachts and
tugs. Singly these boats are insigniti-
cant, but modified, they might be able
to cause trouble to some OF the smaller
vessels OF he American fleet.
A report by way of Spain, not yet con-
firmed, to the effect that seven American
warship bomb arded Manzanilla Monday
morning, burned three steamers and de-
stroyed several gunboats, is accepted as
an indication hat this work has already
begun.
THE SITUATION IN SPAIN.
royal decree has been issued in Spain
suspending the rights OF individuals.
This is accepted as an indication that
Spain is preparing for peace negotiations,
and is to be prepared for emergencies.
The preamble OF the decree contains the
following significant words:
"The government would have maintained
con -titutional rights were it not for fear of
grave events necessitating the strengthening of
pablic authority 80 that it may act speedily in
any emergency. The government Will apply
the new regime with moderation, but viii be
memorable in anything touching the conduct of
the war and the maintenance of the public
peace"
The arguments which the Spanish gov
eminent is now using in order to get the
populsce to contemplate calmly prop
ostion to sue for peace are expressed in
the following statements attributed to
Prime Minister Sagasta:
I'VE are now making it our duty to ascertain
the conditions that the United s,Ates will grant
| am convinced that II only the war could be
prolonged our heroic Cuban army would finally
triumph, but, alas, we have no fleet left. Moth
ing but famine stares our soldiers in the face.
'Thc Americans have no need to fight. They
have only to sit down and patiently wait until
starvation forces our brave men to surrender
Had we Il fleet the situation would be quite dit
terent. As ii Is there is nothing to do but treat
for peace. The army wodld resist to the last,
but the government. cannot consent to such
useless sacrifice"
Still it is evident that the terms which
the United States will accept and those
which Spain considers compatible with
her honor, are so widely separated that
there is no likelihood of ending the war
Immediately. 1t will be weeks, perhaps
months, before Spain will realize that she
must sue for peace at any price. The APP
pearance Of Watson's fleet off the coast Of
Spain is expected to have a powerful in
tiuence in opening SPANS eyes to this
fact.
In the meantime the Carlists are grow
ing restless, and are assuming more ar
rogant tone. In some provinces it is re-
ported they are already arming and pre-
pairing for war.
THE SITUATION AT MANILA.
For long time rumors have been rife
of contemplated interference of Germany
in the Philippines. This government and
Germany still insist that there can be no
serious complications in regard to the
Philippine Islands, but nevertheless press |
reports from Manila indicate an inclina-
ton on the part of the German vessels |
there to go as far as policy will admit in
aiding the Spaniards as against the In
surgents, at least, il not against the |
Americans.
The despatch received from Admiral |
Dewey last week concerning the Sublg |
bay incident see war news" may be |
taken as a very conservative statement OF
the matter, but it indicates that the pre-
vious press reports are not without foun-
dation. But it indicates also that the
Germans at Manila, when it comes to the
pinch, recognize that Dewey is master OF |
the situation there, and will brook no in
reference.
No official notice will be taken of the /
incident by this government. Techni- |
caily the government has no quarrel with |
Germany because of it. The insurgents /
are not allies of this country, but are
simply taking advantage OF circum-
stances to advance their own interests.
The United States believes it thoroughly
understands the position taken by
Germany in the Philippines. Germany |
has strong objections to the Insurgents
gaining control of the islands, but has no
intention to interfere with the United |
States.
The firm yet conservative and diplo-
matte course pursued by Dewey at Manila |
is a matter of great qualification to he
administration, which has perfect conf
dence that he will be ready to act prompt
ly and effectively when the proper time |
comes, and without friction with the |
other powers, or Will the insurgents.
WILL SEIZE THE cARoLINEs.
The navy department has practically |
admitted that the monitor IN onterey', |
on her way to Manila, will stop at the |
Caroline islands long enough to raise the |
American flag over them as the CHARLES
ton" did at the Ladrones. The fortitica-
lions at the Carolines are somew hat
stronger than those at Guam, but the |
Monterey" will have little trouble.
The Caroline Islands, or New Philip |
pines. are II group of islands in the Pa
citic between he Philippines and the La
drones. They have an are! OF about 900 |
square miles, and include several hundred
small islands: The climate is mild and
agreeable. The population is about
10000, mostly of the Malay race.
The islands are included in the Philip
pine government. Germany has long
been anxious to annex them, and several
years ago attempted to do so. The ques-
ton Of their ownership was submitted to
the arbitration of the pope, who decided
it in favor OF Spain.