The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1898-11-10
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our regular correspondent

WASHINGTON, d. c., Nov. Ito break
off the Peace negotiations is the very thing
that Spain does not desire to do. That
was made fully apparent in the answer OF
the Spanish Commissioners, declining to
consent to our demand for the whole Of
The Philippines. Spain wishes to get as
much money as it possibly can from us,
for the Philippines, and if the negotiations
are broken off, it would not get cent,
while we would get the Philippines just as
surely as we would if the treaty was regu
larly concluded There are good reasons
for the belief that Spain would object
most decidedly if our Commissioners
should withdraw their demand for the
Philippines. which they are not likely to
do, and substitute n proposition that the
islands should he returned to Spanish
control. One of them is that return to
Spanish control would be a physical i'm
possibility, owing to the strong insurgent
uFmy of Aguinaldo, which would be in
absolute control of the entire group of
islands within week after the withdrawal
of the American forces. Spain knows
that the islands are lost to her, and, even
if it did not expect to get money indem-
nifty from us, would doubtless prefer see
ing them controlled by tie U. S. to seeing |
Al LII L., 10 - O.. e.
as can he judged by appearances, the
President and the members OF his Cabinet,
are perfectly satisfied with the situation
in Paris. In fact, members of the Cabinet
have said as much, and added their ex-
pectat;on that the treaty would soon he
concluded upon our terms.
Lieut.. Hobson, who is in Washington,
could scarcely restrain his tears when he
eceived the news of the sinking during a
storm, of the Maria Teresa, the Spanish
cruiser he raised, while on its way to New
York. Many regrets have been expressed
10y others, especially Naval Officers.
There is pointer in a portion of the
testimony of General LawtOn that should
net he overlooked by those who seek for
reasonable explanations of numerous
things connected with the campaign
against Santiago. 1t will be remem bered
that it had already been stated in the
testimony of the Naval Officer who had
charge of the del arkation of Shafter's
army, that the troops never would have
been landed from the transports had the
Navy not gone to the assistance of the
lrmy officers in command. Nearly every {
naval officer who has expressed an opinion S
On the subject, has declared that the
transports should be under the navy, as
hey are under the British system. Col.
)enby, of the Investigating Commission,
Who conducted the examination Of Gen. +
4awton, asked him whether lie thought v
he Navy should have control of the trans
,Orts. mo. indeed" was his prompt and
mphatic reply. "Then you think the
rmy should have control of them?" asked
,Ol. DENLY. "Absolutely," was the h
nswer. While they are acting togeth-
~" queried Col. DENLY. "They won't t
ct together" answered Gen. Lawton,
that is where | make my point; two men o
aDnot command the same affair" Gen,
.owton's declaration that the army and =
ayy won't act together may be little too
weeping, but there is little doubt that Y
hey did fail to act together during the
antiago campaign. m
Fiity-seven cannon captured at Santiago
ave been ordered taken 10 the u. S. "
rsenal, at Watervliet, n. Y for examin-
ton. This order is merely form, as it
we'll understood that these cannon have
o other value than as trophies, and IT is =,
l