The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-08-07
WATSON EXPEDITION
NOT YET ABANDONED

Secretary Long Denies that any Change has
been Made in the Plans Respecting the Eas-
tern Squadron Not the Slightest Complaint
has Reached the Department Respecting the
Management Of the Porto Rico Campaign :
A Tribute to Gen. Miles Ability Sh .fter's
Army wi | Begin Embarking in Earnest To-
day--The Maria Teresa is About to Start Un-
der her Own Steam to Norfolk>-Samps S
Encouraging Health Report.
Washington, d. c., August 6.-Just 4
week ago today Ambassador Cambon re-
cpiyed from the President the terms of
peace that would be granted by the
United States. When the State Depart
menl closed it's doors this afternoon the
Spanish Government had not sgniici
whether or not it was prepared to accept
these conditions. Every day during the
past week an answer has been expected
and that same feeling of expectancy pre-
vailed at the close of the week. 1t X
significant that all responsible Govern
ment officials are satisfied the reply will
be an acceptance of our terms when it
does come. About half past two o'clock
Secretary Thiebeaut, of the French EN-
bassy, called at the State Department,
Al. - {h., n II
he was seeking to make an appointments
for the Ambassador to meet the Pres1-
dent to deliver the Spanish answer. This,
however. turned ont to be erroneous, NJ.
Thiebeaut's business being connected
with some of the recent seizures of
French merchant vessels by the block
aiding fleet, and relating in no way to the
Spanish peace negotiations. The fact
that Secretary Day, who had contem-
plated trip to Atlantic City this after
noon did not leave town was also the
basis for another guess that he had no.
tice that the Spanish note was coming
Immediately and that his presence would
be required here. As Il matter of fact,
the Secretary was detained beyond train
time by his reception of the Italian Am
bassador who had long conference
over the Cerruti case. Altogether. the
exDectation Of an early answer is still
cherished, it was the belief of the Off
cials when the day closed that there is
now likelihood Of its receipt by the Pres
ident before Monday. 1t was rumored in
some quarters that the Spanish GCv-
ernment had sent along n notice that X
had accented the principal American
terms and would be prepared to make
final answer Monday. but the French
Embassy. which would be the only re-
cipient of any such notice, gave a very
quick denial Of this story
While all this delay is deprecated. it is
seen that Sagasta is probably making the
struggle of his life to bring the Spanish
party leaders to the point where they will
agree to stand by him in his acceptance
of the terms of peace. This fact tends
to secure the indulgence or our Govern
ment i'm some degree and this is more
readily extended in consideration of the
fact that so far from having surren
dered any advantage in agreeing to dis
cuss terms of peace VT are gaining
something substantial every day in the
prosecution of the campaign as reveal
cd by the reports from Porto Rico. The
naval plans of operations are also NOV
ing forward, and Notwithstanding the
StaTemenIS 10 the cHecl tHdt tHe pro
jected cruise against the Spanish coast
by the Eastern squadron has been aban-
doned. Secretary Long started this after
noon that no change had been made in
the plans of the department respecting
this squadron.
Up to this point not the
slightest complaint has reached the De
partment respecting the management OF
the Porto Rico campaign, a tribute to
General Miles ability. No word has
come Of soldiers without food or ammuni-
ton or Of sick men without doctors OF
medicine, nor is the inward movement OF
the American army delayed for the lack
of artillery owing to General Miles insis
tance upon keeping his artillery in the
very vanguard and giving personal at