Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1898-11-05
The DOns Decline to Accede to
the Demands of the American
Commissioners at Paris.
NO COUNTER PROPOSITION REPORTED.
The Negotiations Are Not Broken Of
as was Predicted and They Will
Meet Again Tuesday.
There was a Discussion of the Philippines
Outside the Lines of the American
Proposition - Senior Sagasta
Talks Openly at Madrid.

PARIS, Nov. 4.-The joint session OF
the peace commissions Friday lasted
two hours. The Spaniards refused the
proposition made by the Americans on
Monday last but the negotiations were
not broken off While it is believed
that no formal counter proposition was
made, there was a discussion of the
Philippine question outside the lines
of the American propositions. The
commissions then adjourned until
Tuesday next.
MADRID, via Biarritz, France, Nov. f.
Premier Sagasta. after a long con-
sultation with the queen regent Friday
spontaneously declared to a number
of newspaper correspondents that he
hardly expected that the Americans
would abandon their pretentions in the
matter of the Philippines. The gov
ernment, he said. had instructed Seno1
Montero Rios, the head of the Spanish
peace commission, to defend Spain's
just claims to the utmost, obtaining
all possible concessions. The Span
ish commissioners, Senor Sagasta said,
would in no case retire, because such a
step would be equivalent to a rupture
and a renewal of hostilities, in which
case he fears that the Americans would
lombard the Canaries, the African
colonies and the Spanish ports, Spain
being unable to resist.
The newspapers are indignant at the
Americans declaring that they regard
it as impossible to obtain justice from
Spain.
A cabinet council has been called fol-
Friday night to hear news from Senor
Montero Rios, which is expected to ar.
rive from Paris.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 4.-The admin
istration is awaiting results from the
peace commission with equanimity, in
the realization that the government is
perfectly well prepared for any turn
the negotiations may take.
The navy especially is in state OF
preparedness, should it come to re-
sumption of hostilities, far in advance
of its condition at the outbreak of the
war. One by one all of the splendid
fighting machines of the North Allan.
tic squadron. which had been brought
north at the earliest moment were
| docked, cleaned and thoroughly reft.
ted at the New York and Norfolk navy
wards. Their ammunition supplies
We're replenished, and they are now,
with possibly one or two exceptions
ready for instant service in almost any
quarter of the globe. Adm. Dewey has
taken considerable precautions in the
cases of his own vessels, having dis
patched them one by one to the big
| British docks at Hong Kong, where
they have been placed in as
good condition as possible out
side of our home ports. Secretary
Long has prudently declined to part
with the new numerous fleet of auxil
iary vessels acquired by the govern
ment just prior to and during the war
These were all inspected by a technica
board which found that a number o.
them were not particularly wei
adapted to navy uses, but the secretary
concluded that these vessels were still
sufficiently serviceable for emergency
uses and accordingly kept them in con
dition to be commissioned at short no.
tice.
AS far as the army is concerned
while the original force of nearly ;
quarter of million men called int
service by the president has beel
largely diminished by the mastering
out OF many regiments and organiza
tions, it is the opinion of expert mill
tary officers that the army as whole
really a more formidable weapon nov
than it was at any period dnring tn
war, This apparently paradoxica
statement is explained by the fact tina
such of the troops as are now in tn
service have had the discipline of Sc,
eral months hard training. The me
have steadily improved in efficienc
and their officers know how to TAX
care of them as we'll as to figh
battles. The staff corps have cure
many of the evils from whic
they suffered during the war, and al
prepared to move troops with rapidity
with due care for their health and fo
their adequate rationing during an
campaign that might be expected.
fact, all branches of the military Sc
vice provided by the experience OF tn
war, and are now, as previously sta
ed, in better shape than ever before.
Eve Persons Drowned
VINEYARD HAVEN, Mass, Nov. A.
Capt. Hale and number of the ere
and passengers of the Clyde line stean
| ~. C,oatan Nauy Xnrlx for Wilmi m OtOl