New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-28


States in the Pacific Figaro" after predict
ing the speedy construction OF the Nicaragua
Canal. comes to the conclusion that the Pacific
ocean Is likely TO become an American Mediter-
ranean. in which some day must be decided once
for all the real Eastern question"
III not only navll experts, but the newspapers
as well, have nothing but praise for the Ameri-
can Navy. such IS by no means the case In re-
gard TO the American Army. General Saussier
ex-Commander-i in Chief Of the French Army
after reading the accounts OF the Santiago cam
paign, remarked Napoleon said it was with
the legs Of his army tina. he won his battles
hut nowadays the legs Of the army mean rapid
and efficient railroad transportation as we'll as
transportation in steamships: and these facts to-
Gether with any carefully thought out plan Of
general mobilization, so simple a matter in
country possessing the vast network OF rail-
roads that exist in the United States, seem to
have been utterly neglected by the American
military authorities" The Petit Journal" to-
day. referring TO the Cuban campaign. says:
The United States. with all its enormous
wealth. and after two months Of strenuous ef-
forts, only succeeded with the greatest difficulty
In landing eighteen thousand men in Cuba
Although unmolested by and protected on
shore by forty-fve hundred insurgents General
Skaters force would have been driven into the
sea ten times over had It not been for the weak
ness OF the Spanish Santiago garrison and the
defective tactics OF the Spanish generals. The
Cuban campaign can only be regarded as chill
dren's pastime in comparison with the opera
tons of real war as understood In Europe, where
black powder for rifles or for artillery is es OBJ
soete as bows and arrows. The war would have
lasted longer. but the result would have been
the same had the American Army not even been
in existence. The victory is solely due to the
excellent and carefully trained American Navy,
but an American Army has yet to be created
NJ. Delcasse. Minister OF Foreign Affairs. re-
turned 10 Paris this morning. refreshed by the
bracing air Of Arege, where ne managed 10 find
time TO devote few hours day 10 his favorte
exercise OF cycling.
President McKinley's selection Of Peace Com
missioners is received with unnxed satisfaction
at the QIai d'Orsay. but the opinion prevails
that Spain will prove more formidable In d.
plomacy than in war and there Is considerable
interest TO learn whether the negotiations will
be conducted in French or English, for senior
Leon Castillo. contrary 10 reports published
In NeWYork does not peak English. and In
referring to the matter the Spanish Ambassador
IS reported to have remarked in Jest: After all,
language doesn't make much difference. for NJ
Cannon. who does not speak English. got along
admirably with President Mckinley and Mr
Day. who l believe. do not speak French
Senior Sagasta has the reputation Of being a
past master in :he art OF entanslng his OPP
ponents in ineXtrcable verbal psrplexliies. ana
Is said 10 be drawing up long list Of obstacles
for discussion at the conference. II Is even as
serted that H. still retains vague hopes Of being
cit, fr ,h
way as to induce Germany. Russia and possibly
France-the same com oination. by the way.
that evicted Japan from Port Arthur-to In
sist on a share in settling the fate o! those isl
ands; but the conviction In diplomatic circles
here Is that any such attempt would be- doomed
to failure not only on account Of American
opposition. but because ii might lead 10 Eu-
ropcan war. and II Is now known that the
Emperor OF Russia IS prepared 10 make anv
sacrifice 10 avoid war until the Russian strategic
railway through Siberia IS completed.
The attention Of the musical world is attract
ed by the production at the little cathedral town
OF Beziers In Languedoc. OF Camille Saint
Sa2ns's tragic opera OF "Dejanira," work dedi-
Gated TO the Queen Regent Of Spain. and at the
Queens desire the excellent municipal string
band OF Barcelona came 20 Beziers 10 play the
orchestral accOmpanin under Saint -Saens's
personal direction. Those present at the rehear-
sal say "Detanira" is not pure Greek antique
tragedy, like the same composers "Antigone.
as was expected, but although on a classic Greek
basis is enlivened by modern surroundings. The
music is a compromise between antique restOra-
ton and modernism; the ancient Greek scales
are used with discretion; drums are replaced 10y
tmbales and all the soil have string instru-
ment Accomplishments. in which the harp pre-
dominates The superb ballet in "Dejanira.
with it's original and seductive music. promises
to be most effective the large stages Of Paris.
New-York or London. Certain passages Of the
opera are on a level with Saint Sacns's finest
compositions. and compel the admiration Of the
highly educated musical few. but the work az
whole is almost too elaborate and lacks the pas
sion and sympathy necessary for popular sue
cess The vocal parts well rendered by
NJ Due and Mile Bourgeois, and Queen Chris
tina who IL herself skilled musician. has
written the French composer an autograph let
ter congratuating him upon the classic purity
Of his composition
The social gayeties of the American Partisan
colony are pretty evenly divided between Baden
Baden, Homburg and Marenbad. Elaborate
entertainments have been given at Baden Baden
by Mrs. Clement A. Auirmordt, and on Friday
Miss Van Wart gave a dinner at the Stephanie
restaurant there for Mr. and Mrs. William
Roosevelt Prince Hermann OF Saxe-Weimar.
Countess Dordc. Mr.. and Mrs william Jay,
Mr. Louis Jay Mr.. Token, Mr. Gardiner +.
Macandess and others. Among the Americans
entertaining at Marienbad are Mrs. ii. B. Ham
inond Mrs Arthur X. Hogan. Mrs. Clark and
her daughter Countess Heininger. The dancing
contingent al Marienbad regrets the departure Of
Miss Amy Bend and Miss Amy Townsend. but
Miss Buckley remains. Lord Charles Beresford
accompanied Lady Beresford TO Marienbad en-
route to his special mission in China. There are
many Americans at Homburg. where Mrs. Og-