The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1898-08-12
APPROVAL OF PROTOCOL
Belief That the Signatures Will Be
Affixed Today.
NO ORDER TO CEASE H0sTILITIEs.

In Porto IbCO-lne Evacuation OF
Cuba and Porto Rico.
Washington, Aug. 12.-The announce
ment that the Spanish cabinet had APP
proved the peace protocol, and that
the French ambassador would receive
instructions to sign it, was very graft
flying to the administration. 1t is
confidently expected that the sigma
lures will be affixed to this document
today, and Immediately both govern
ments viii begin carrying out It's pro-
visions. 1t is believed that there viii
be a delay in the evacuation of Ha-
vana, Matanzas and other Spanish
stronghOlds in Cuba, as some difficult
ties are anticipated in arranging for a
proper form of government of Cuba,
and because there is no desire to hurry
American troops into the island at the
present time, the preference being to
wait for cooler weather.
The near approach to the signing of
the protocol has required the discussion
of the personnel of the peace commits
sion. There is good authority for the
statement that Secretary Day will be
at the head of the commission and that
two United States senators will be
members of It. Senator Allison, of Iowa,
and Senator German, of Maryland,
have been prominently mentioned for
places on the commission, and it is
known that they have been under con-
sideratiOn by the president.
1t is not believed by members OF the
administration that the commission
can complete its work in time to cause
an extra session of congress to consider
legislation which the treaty of peace
will necessltate, although there is a
prospect that an extra session Of the
senate might he called in November
to consider the treaty of peace.
Acting Secretary Allen, of the war
board, called on Judge Day yesterday. 1t
Is believed their purpose was to impress
upon the secretary the Importance of
making the surrender of important
strategic points at the entrance of har-
bors, such. as MORO Castle at Havana
harbor, a condition for the cessation
of hostilities 1T Is questionable, how
ever, whether II is not now too late
to amend the protocol in it's substance
as proposed by the war Board.
A rumor was put afioat yesterday
afternoon to the effect that Secretary
Alger, in anticipation of the beginning
Of the formal peace negotiations, had
cabled General Miles and General Mer-
ritt, in Porto Rico and the Philippines
respectively, orders that looked tOwarG
a cessation of hostilities. When his
attention was directed to this rumor
Secretary Alger promptly pronounced
it to be without foundation, and as
absurd, and his words We're practically
repeated with emphasis by Adjutan'
General Corbin, through whose hands
any such messages must pass. TIL,
publication of such stories, moreover
was deprecated as tending to encOurag,
the Spanish government to further de
lay and passive resistance.
General Merritt undoubtedly is pur.
suing his campaign in LuzOn. 1t Is
stated positively that he is under nc
restraining order from the war depart
ment, but that 1t is left entirely at his
own discretion when and how to at
tack Manila. Inasmuch as it has been
reported from Cavite that he was
simply waiting the arrival there of the
double turreted monitor MOnadnOck, II
Is presumed this attack will soon fol-
low, II It has not been made already
for according to the calculation Of the
navy department the Monadnock Is
about due at Cavite. While not quite
clear as to General Merritt's purpose
in deferring his attack until the YES
! sci arrives, It is the opinion of the mill
tary officials that his plan Is to plan
the two monitOrs-Monterey and Mo
nadnock-directly within range of tn
| Manila batteries and if demand 70
surrender is refused to batter dow
those defenses. Only fully armoret
vessels can be safely employed in sucl
work, hence the delay on account o
the non-arrival Of the Monadnock.
Secretary Alger yesterday cabled I
General Miles to apply Immediately {
the Porto Rican ports captured by hin
| the tariff drawn up by the governmen
for Santiago and other Cuban ports
This is in line with the policy of th'
war department of extending tn
American system of tariffs as rapid!
as possible over the captured terri
tory.
The settlement of the details OF tn
evacuation Of Cuba and Porto Ric
| is already receiving the earnest at
tention of the officials. Some provisio
is to be made for the treatment of tn
Spanish prisoners and for the dispo
| sition of the small arms and the artil
lery and war stores. There is also som
! naval property of value remaining
| Cuban and Porto Rican ports and ii
| a question whether or not this shoul
be demanded by US or be allowed to re
main in Spanish possession. The con
clusion has been reached by Secretar
Alger to refer these matters to a mill
tary commission, and Adjuant Genera
| Corbin Is now looking up precedent
for the guidance of such a commits
| sion. Possibly this commission woul
meet the question raised by the nava
war board as TO the propriety of hold
ing Morro Castle as pledge until tn
formal signature of a treaty Of peac,
The ordnance department of tn
army has succeeded at last in seCurin
a smokeless powder adapted for use /
the Springfield rife with which nearl
all the volunteer troops are armed. Th
powder used with the small bore re
peating rifles was too powerful and
special powder had to be procure,
This Is now coming in from the mani
, facturers and being turned into fiXe
ammunition in such quantities as
warrant the belief that even shou
the war continue our soldiers wou
not be again exposed to the dang
encountered at the battle of El Cane
through the betrayal Of their presen,
by the binding smoke of the Sprinl
fields.
For broken surfaces, sores. insect bit,
! in 1isaa aud asnaaia11,y nil . Il,