Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-06-02
WEARY OF THE WAR
Spain Said to Be Willing to Accept
Mediation Of the Great Powers
TO TAKE SANTIAGO and san JUAN.



TO the fact that the Spaniards are
weary Of the war. Senior Sagasta's al.
lusions In congress 10 an honorable
peace have been taken as implying
SPANS willingness to accept the me.
diation Of the great powers Senior
Romero y Robledo promptly snapped
out: people in state Of war do not
talk Of peace, honorable or otherwise,
unless they ore bent that way. Seek
ing peace means carrying on a half
hearted war"
Monday night the correspondent Of
the Associated press had converse.
ton with distinguished member Of
the Silvela party, who very candidly
admitted that it would be good thing
for Spain If she were free from Cuba
Cuba" he said, has always been
drag on Spanish resources We get
nothing as nation from it. but 1t has
on the contrary drained us Of our best
blood and money. True, IN the old
civil days individuals made large for
tunes out there, but their rapacity,
greed, bad government and cruelty
have brought nothing but shame on
the mother country. 1t will, there.
fore, be good for Spain when the last
connecting link Is broken"
1t Is believed that should the powers
now intervene Spain will. under pro-
test TO save her face, consent to Cuban
INDEPENDENCE provided the powers
guarantee that islands Independence
from the United States Should this
come about the new Sagasta ministry,
composed, as 1t Is, Of very discordsnt
elements, will dissolve Of itself, II not
assisted In that operation BY the
sham as well as by the real indigns-
ton Of different sections Of the popu.
lation. The way will thus be cleared
for Silvela ministry, pledged 10 Q
policy Of international reform and re-
construction.
TO TAKE SANTIAGO AND SAN JUAN.
WASHINGTON, June When the
cabinet meeting adjourned yesterday
the best information obtainsble
strongly indicated that the important
military movement now In progress
would be directed against Santiago
and In cooperation with the feet un.
der Commodore Schley and the allied
insurgent forces. Our forces are ex.
pected TO speedily capture the city Of
Santiago and the feet or destroy both.
II is also intimated from high sources
that the landing expedition now en-
barking at Key West may be divided
and one division sent to cooperate
with Admiral Sampson against Porto
Rico 1t Is believed that the govern
ment now has sufficient number OF
regulars and seasoned volunteers to
carry out both of these plans to sue
cessful issue.
To few congressional friends the
president has disclosed the fact that
he has made up his mind as to the
terms which Spain must accede TO
before she can negotiate for peace.
He has determined that first Of all she
must consent to relinquish all possess
sions In the western hemisphere; Cuba
must be turned over to the men who
have been fighting for their freedom
for over three years; Porto Rico must
be turned over to the United States to
indemnify this country in part for the
expense Of war and for the loss of the
Maine and her sailors. The island is
TO be used by the United States
for an outlying naval base in southern
waters and as terminus for the At
lantic end Of the Nicaragua canal. As
to the future Of the Philippines the
president Is still in doubt He will
probably ask congress to aid in reach.
ing conclusion as to what is TO be
done with the islands The president
is hopeful that when Santiago is
taken, Spain's entire squadron will be
disposed Of Porto Rico subjugated
and Capt Gen. Blanco reduced to
actual starvation without the posi-
bility Of help from home, that Spain
Ill ...1 L.