Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1898-07-13
THE WAR.
NEWS AND RUMORS OF ARMY
AND NAVY.
A WEEK OF TRUCE-SANTIAG MUST
SOON FALL-THEN TO PORTO
RICO AND SPAIN.

There has been a surprising lack OF
official information from the front given
to the public in the last few days. There
has been little fighting during the past
week, and news has been confined largely
to rumors OF peace, and negotiations for
the surrender of Santiago.
The truce which began Sunday, July 3,
following the destruction of Cervera's
fleet, was extended from time to time to
allow the Spanish commander at Santiago
ment regarding the surrender OF Santiago.
The delay has not been wholly to the ad-
vantage OF the Spaniards in Santiago, as
it has afforded time for the American
army to place its siege guns, the landing
OF which has been greatly delayed by the
loss Of lighters. During the truce nom
com batants have been fleeing from San
army are also reported.
The Spaniards In Santiago evidently
realize the futility OF a defence, but the
governments has steadily refused to allow
the surrender OF the city.
Sunday afternoon the truce expired,
and for few hours the city was bonn
barded by the field artillery and by the
ships, the latter firing at range of five
miles over a ridge OF hills. Monday
morning the ombardment was renewed,
but ceased at noon, when another truce
was granted. Unofficial reports intimate
that the bombardment Will be resumed
to-day unless the unconditional surrender
Of the city is received before that time.
The fall OF Santiago must soon come,
Spanish coast will soon follow. Gen.
Miles is now at the front, and will direct
in person the Porto Rico campaign.
SPAIN LOOKS FOR TROUBLE.
The expedition to Spain under Com
modore Watson will start this week, it is
said, whethe The capture OF Santiago is
effected before that time or not. Several
changes have been made in tn fleet as
first assigned.
The fighting strength will consist of
the battleships "Oregon" and "Massa-
chusetts" and cruiser "Newarkn, which
will be Watson's flagship.
In the early days OF the war-only
twelve weeks ago, though it seems longer
Spanish warships were headed toward
the United States, and we were wonder
ing, rather uneasily, where they would
strike. Now conditions are reversed. For
two weeks or more Spaniards have been
mementarily expecting the arrival of
American warships, and have shown the
greatest concern in spite of their boosted
contempt Of American fighting ships.
We had our little scare, and laid the
ghost. There is some satisfaction now in
returning the compliment; but Spain has
better grounds for her fears than ours
proved to be. Watson will not get caught
in a Santiago bottle.
The Spanish fleet under Camara, which
started ostensibly for Manila and sailed
through the Suez canal, has returned
through the canal and is on its way home
canal and back cost Spain $4,000 in
canal tolls alone.
Spain doubtless hopes,by ordering Cam
ara's return to Spain, to cause the United
States to alter its determination to send
Watson's feet to attack the Spanish
coast. The hope is a vain one. The re-
turn OF the Spanish feet will simply has
ten its destruction, and relieve Watson
from long stern chase to the Philip
pines.
As Camara, on reaching Spain, will
doubtless seek refuge in some strongly
fortified harbor, Watson may be COM
PEELED to resort to the original plan OF
bonn harding the coast towns to draw
Camara on to battle.
SPAIN WANTS PEACE.
Spain desires peace but is in the pecul
lar situation Of not knowing how to seek
it without danger to herself from dis
satisfied populace. Rumors OF peace have
been in the air since the destruction OF
Cervera's fleet.
Though denials are made both at Wash
ington and Madrid, London persistently
says that informal peace overtures have
been made by Spain through the British
am bassador at Madrid Onto whose hands
American interests were intrusted by
Minister Woodford when he left and
through him to the American ambassador
at London.
This report, it will be noticed, is to the
effect that informal overtures were made,
so that the denials are technically cor
rect. Spain has not yet officially begged
for peace for fear of internal complica-
tons, but seeks to know the terms on
which the United States would make
peace. This is significant as indicating
he feeling which prevails in the Spanish
cabinet, and as showing that Spain at
last realizes the hopelessness Of continu-
ing the war.
Close students of Spanish politics be-
lieve it is Prime Minister Sagasta's in
tention to carry the informal peace nego-
tiations to such a point that it will be
difficult for Spain to retract, and then
resign the government into military
hands, trusting to martial law and Sc