The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-07-13
He viii Be Allowed to Accept Only
Unconditional Surrender.
SANTIAGO WILL SOON FAIL.
But Many Fear That spanish Troops
VIII Leave Before Our Forces Can
Reach the City--No Overtures
for Peace Have Emanated
from Our Government.
Must Come from spain

WASHINGTON, July 12.-The impress
sion prevailed In official circles when
publio business closed for the day thar
the flag of truce set In the Spanish nnes
at Santiago at 2 o'clock yesterday after@
noon, was still flying, and that negotia-
tions continued looking 10 a surrender.
The basis for these negotiations naturai-
ly could not be verified in View OF the
Injunction laid upon General Shafter 10
accept nothing lesa than unconditional
surrender, but 1t is supposed that timS
may be consumed through the indulgence
OF General Shafter In allowing tho Span
ish commander TO communicate by capts
with Captain-General Blanco. In the ef-
fort to obtain his assent 10 the sur
render. General Toral undoubtedly mas
before his eyes the vindicatiys ABUSE
heaped upon the unfortunata naval COM
mander Cervera, for surrendering at ALI
so that he probably will be bound by the
direction OF Blanco IN his own case.
BLANCo REBUKED HIM.
1t Is not generally known that in re-
sponse TO the manly and pathetic report
by cable to Blanco. announcing the loss
OF his squadron. Cervera received moss
harsh and unsympahetic reply. but SUCH
is the case. Blancos purpose In this may
have ben to dissuade other Spanish cora-
manders, military and naval. from sur
rendering under any conditions. and i'm
the case OF Toral It appears that he has
made a strong Impression Nevertheless.
confidence was in the speedy fall OF
Santiago, though many officers fear that
the nest will be- found empty and the
birds flown when the American trooEN
make their entry into the town. Stiit
should this be tho case 10 may be ftly
claimed that the prime object Of tho
movement on Santiago, namely, the de-
struction Of the spanish squadron. hav-
Ing been achieved. the campaign, as
whole, has been successful
TO REMOVE THE MINES.
The most important result of the Cabi-
net deliberations to-day was an order TO
remove the mines which guard all the
coast ports.
This will be done by exploding them.
Many military men were opposed 20 YIELD
ing to the pressure OF the commercial in~
terests and some OF them are predicting
that not a few OF the communities which
have been 80 earnest in their demand for
the removal OF the mines will be franti-
cally clamoring for protection at the very
first rumor OF the presence or a hostile
gunboat or cruiser off their coast.
The order of removal, IL is said. Is TO
apply TO localities where the interests OF
commerce demand the same. In cases
where II is safe. an effort will b. made
to remove the mines instead OF exploding
them. Whenever there is> any doubt
they will be exploded.
DANGEROUS WORK.
The action OF the sea in some instances
causes the dynamite I'm the iron ellipsold-
al vessels to ooze through the screw
threads where the plug Is inserted and
unless the greatest care is taken the re-
moval of the plug may cause an explo-
sion. IL may be some days before tho
dctual work Of removing or exploding the
mines can be put In operation and the
question az 10 what the interests or
commerce demand will be left TO the
discretion of the engineer officers having
Jurisdiction over the various districts OF
the United States.
Orders for carrying into effect the de-
cison OF the cabinet will be sent 10 them
Immediately. Great care will be exercised
by these officers. While the mines prop
er are TO be removed all the incidental
attachments necessary to their instalia-
tion and operation will be retained such
as the easements. anchors. the cablo
connections and the switch boxes so thas
IL &c is found necessary 10 replace tno
mines IL may he done on the shortest
notice.
COAL AT sr. THOMAS
Before the war began our government
accumulated a stock pf coal al ST. Thorn
as West Indies. Most of it was ashore.
but thousand tons were on a schooner
lying In the harbor Twice stree war
broke out the United States has ayailed
themselves OF this coal once TO supply
the Minneapolis and once the Montgom-
cry, but as each was bound for the near
est home port and took only enough Goa!
TO carry them there II war fairly assumed
there had been no breach OF neutrality.
However. II appears that there Is now
disposition exhibited by the Danish au-
thorities 10 prevent the United States
ships from using this coal, and as there
Is no question OF their right 10 lay down
such a rule the coal Itself probably will
be- let alone. Fortunately there II no
particular need for II as there are other
means Of coaling a feet now In use. The
incident is one which will bs used as a
strong argument for the establishment NJ
coallng stations In various parts OF the
globe for the benefit of the United states
Navy.
NO OvERTURES FROM US.
Although the statement has BEEN re-
peated day after day that no oyertures
have yet been made 10 our government
for peace II may bear repetition once
more In view OF the express denial given
at the State Department 10 so much or
the stories emanating from European
sources as seek 10 create the impression
that the United States or any OF its re-
personalities so far has made any move
in this direction. The fact Is to-day AZ
n has been from the first that overtures
In the direction OF peace must come from
Spain directly or indirectly.
fas,.,.t<y, uoaf 11aa bIexl.