The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-08-05


gunboat Helana. Ensign MacFarlane
says that the reports from Trinidad,
Cape Cruz, ManZanillo and Cienfue-
gos indicate great suffering and star
walton throughout the whole section
where the blockade is doing its work
with much expedition.
L is believed that Manzanillo will
have to surrender on demand TO the
navy before many weeks. A move
ment in force against these places has
so far been rendered impossible by the
necessity, of keeping ships here TO nj
out probably also TO the weakening
Of the force in consequence of the Por-
to Rico expedition. On the whole,
however, our ships have been doing
excellent work. The fleet has COM
pleted all it's preparations and is now
only awaiting the arrival of the bat
tleship Massachusetts from Ponce.
The Massachusetts is expected tomor-
row and she will probably have TO
coal. All the ships are deep in the
water with coal. The provisions are
in good order, but several vessels
would have been better if dry docked.
Washington, August 2.-Although
this was the third day since the preSl-
dent delivered to NJ. Cambon, the terms
offered by the United States to Spain
as a basis of peace, no answer came
from Madrid, and, in fact, was scarce
ly expected.
The press reports of the long cabinet
meetings held in the Spanish capital
yesterday indicated that the Spanish
cabinet was unprepared, at least, to ac-
cept the terms offered at once and
without appearing to attempt to secure
some modification in the interest of
Spain. 1t is felt that such a course is
absolutely imposed upon the SagaSta
ministry by the existing conditions in
Madrid. Nevertheless, it is not to be
seen that the president cheriSheS the
slightest intention of consenting to any
special modification of the conditions,
and the slight delay that has occurred
in making answer is not believed to be
dScouraging, nor to be taken as sign
of the purpose of the Spanish cabinet
ultimately to reject the proposition.
When the doors Of the state depart
ment closed this afternoon it was real
lied that, owing to the difference of
time between Washington and Madrid,
there was little chance of receiving the
expected answer before tomorrow, and
indeed should it come tonight, the
French ambassador would not be able
to deliver it because the time required
for it's transmission would make the
hour too late and the announcement
could not be made until tomorrow.
OFFICIAL STATEMENTS OF OUR
PROPOSALS TO SPAIN.
The following is the official statement
given out by authority of the president
at the state department as to the terms
of peace offered by the United States:
II ought to remove any apprehen-
sion in regard to peace between this
country and Spain and it is deemed
proper to say that the terms offered
by the United States in the note hand
ed to the French ambassador on Satu1'-
day last are in substance as follows:
THE president does not now put for
ward any claim for pecuniary indem-
nifty, but requires the REIMBURSEMENT
of all claim of sovereignty over or title
to the island of Cuba as we'll as the
immediate evacuation by Spain of the
island; the cessation to the United
States and immediate evacuation of
Porto Rico and other islands under
Spanish sovereignty in the West
Indies and the like cession Of an island
in the Ladrones. The United States
will occupy and hold the city, bay and
harbor of Manila pending the conclu
sion of a treaty of peace, which shall
determine the control, disposition and
government of the Philippines. If
these terms are accepted by Spain in
their entirety, it is stated that COM
missioners will be named by the United
States to meet commissioners on the
part of Spain for the purpose Of con-
Guiding a treaty Of peace on the basis
above Indicated"
SERIOUS TROUBLE IN THE PHIL
IPPINES FEARED.
The officials here make no conceal
ment of their apprehension of serious
trouble to follow the acceptation Of our
programme in regard to the Philip
pines. The reports of the military and
naval n
tanned warnings of expected conflicts
with the insurgents, and no surprise
will be felt at the receipt of news of
an outbreak at any moment. The
| United States government feels that it
has assumed a moral obligation, not
only toward the foreign residents at
Manila, but towards the unprotected
classes of the Spanish community,
women, children, nuns and priests.
Therefore, when intimation came that
the insurgents were threatening the
lives of some helpless monks, orders
were sent to the American military
commander to look into the matter and
act in the interest of civilization and
humanity. AS according to reports,
the insurgents have shown particular
hostility towards the monks, it is rea-
sonable expectation that before long
collision will have occurred between
themselves and the American troops
if the latter undertake to interfere in
the execution of the vengeance of the
insurgents.
SLIGHT OPPOSITION IN PORTO
RICO EXPECTED.
Some reports, which have been re-
ceived from Porto Rico, but which for
polite reason cannot be made public,
have given great satisfaction to the
officials of the war department, since
they go to show that the resistance
which can be made by the Spanish
troops will be very little. and it is even
possible that General Miles will achieve
an almost bloodless victory. In fact
it has been suggested with some plaus-
ibility that the Madrid government. re-
alizing the impendency of peace and
the lack of loyalty towards the mon
archy of the mass of Porto Ricans,
has allowed the Spanish garrison of the
ISLAND to understand that they are not
expected to sacrifice their lives in use
less resistance to superior force, SO
that all that is to be expected Is TO be
a rather formal opposition to the pro-