The record-union., 1898-07-09
Report That the United States Has
Been Sounded on the Subject.
Meantime Every Preparation is Being Made
for a Final Engagement at San
iiago, Which May Begin
at Any Moment.


a continuation of peace talk to-day
and other evidences in this line are
coming to the surface. Such, for in
stance. was the confirmation by the
State Department of the report that
the Cadiz fleet was returning to Spain,
since it is scarcely conceivable that the
Spanish Government would doom this
last remnant Of their fleet to destruc-
ton at the hands of Watson's squad
ron, which in all probability could head
it off before it reached Cadiz, its nome
port Therefore the assumption is that
the Spanish Government calculates that
at least an armistice precedent to peace
will be obtained before the ships reach
Spain.
An unusually definite report was in
circulation that the United States had
been sounded in the interest ofSpeace
by the British ambassador, but when
it was brought to Sir Julian Paunce-
fote's attention he authorized an ex-
plicit denial, and said he had not COM
municated with the Government in any
way regarding the termination of the
war.
Conditions at Santiago also are re-
garded as favorable just now, accord
ing to General Skaters dispatch re-
ceived during the forenoon. The i'm
preston prevails that the Spanish are
in desperate plight within the lines
Of the city, and General Skaters ac-
ton in allowing Linares to communl-
cate freely with Madrid is - implica-
tion that there is at least reasonable
hope that the Spanish General contem-
plates surrender.
However that may be, every prep
aration is making for great engage
ment. the final one at Santiago, II IS
hoped. which may begin even as early
as tomorrow, if Skaters reinforce
nents are on hand. The department
has not heard so far of the arrival OF
these soldiers, but believes they nave
reached Shafter The greatest clffi-
Guilty that has been encountered is in
the landing Of troops and supplies. This
being the hurricane season, the masters
of the transports have taken their ships
MANY miles out to sea, necessltaung
long Journeys by the ships boats, when
make their landing through the SURF
with the greatest difficulty and danger.
So slow and tedious has been the ser
vice under these conditions that Secre-
tary Alger has ordered General Smarter
to seize the transports, one and all, ana
place them as near the coast as ne
chooses. without regard 10 the fears
of their masters
Ten days ago lighters were started
down from Mobile and Tampa. but so
far General Shafter has received only
one. These lighters have been night
mare to the department ever since
The Captains tie up in creeks al the
slightest sign Of bad weather, While
the charter rate of 500 day runs on
terminate this state of things, even II
II is necessary to lose few lighters
in the effort TO reach Shafter.
The Government has not yet deter
mined how to dispose of Admiral Ger
vera A feeling of the highest admira-
ton prevails here at the gallantry dis
nIaved by the old warrior. and the
noble spirit exhibited by him under
misfortune The disposition Is TO treat
him with as great liberality as condi-
tions will permit 1t has been proposed
that he be released on parole, not &c
engage ir, hostilities against the United
States until the end of the war, but
IL has not vet been decided whether to
do this or to confine the Admiral tech
n,ca,,v within the limits Of the Nava
Academy Reservation at Annapolis
An the other captured Spanish nava
officers will be confined there save the
sureeons. who will be allowed TO re-
main with the enlisted men at the
nrison station at Seavys Island, Ports
mouth harbor, N. III. The ST. Louis Is
due there tonight or tomorrow w1tf
the first lot of prisoners, while tne
Harvard is just about to start from
Santiago with the remainder
The report of the appearance or
Spanish privateer off the coast of Brit
ish Columbia, which appears to have
created such a commotion on tbs
Northwestern Coast, came from one
Of the Governments agents in that Sec