The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-12
LITTLE PROSPECT OF PEACE
SPANISH GOVERNMENT HAS DECID-
ED TO CONTINUE THE WAR.
No Cessation of HostiIitieS Unless
Negotiations Imply Return to
the Status Quo Ante BeIIum.

MADRID, June IL. p. m.-An official dis
patch from Havana to-day says: The Span
ish war ships Conde de venadito. Nueva
Espana and Ligera have made sortie from
Havana for the purpose of attacking the
blockading squadron. but the Americans re-
fused to fight and retired"
A later dispatch from Havana says:
Eleven American merchantmen have ar
rived before Santiago de Cuba. 1t is be-
lieved they are transports conveying troops
which it is intended to disembark. Precau-
tions are being taken to prevent them from
effecting a landing"
The campaign inaugurated by some of the
foreign newspapers in favor of peace be-
tween Spain and the United States is not
approved here. According to the opinion
of several generals, Spain is capable of con-
tinling the war in Cuba for two years. even
under the most unfavorable circumstances.
Therefore, they add. it is useless to talk OF
peace unless it implies a return to the status
quo ante bellum. The government, it is
added, has not received any suggestions Of
peace from the powers and in political cir
I
were received, the government would polite
ly decline to entertain it on the ground that
Spain has decided to pursue the war to the
bitter end.
In the Chamber of Deputies to-day, the
government was interrogated as to whether
the United States had notified the powers
of the blockade of Cuba and whether the
powers recognized the blockade as effective.
T)l1I Al0nO6OVar dQ
lister. replied that since the Paris confer
ence conditions had radically changed, and
the powers had not yet decided whether the
blockade is effective. The government. he
said was resolved to uphold Spain's rights,
and he added that he did not believe ii was
legitimate for the United States to encour-
age the Philippine insurgents as belliger-
ent power.
Many of the newspapers advocate the
keeping at home of Admiral Camaras feet
for the purpose of defending the coast
Captain Aunon, the minister of marine,
has made arrangements with the Spanish
Transatlantic Steamship Company for the
transportation of munitions and supplies
to the Antilles.
o. mat the sitting of the Senate to-
day the Chamber was crowded. Capt. Primo
de Rivera, former governor general of the
Philippine islands. made a long defense Of
his administration in the Philippines. He
said that in 1881 he asked that powerful
squadron be sent to the Philippines and that
the other defenses of the island be increased.
He later, during the critical relations with
the United States informed his government
that American squadron was about to
appear at Manila and again asked for sew
eral ironcIds and other war vessels. Tie
pOV Xuira i'm Ma th1t ha
need not fear war with the United States
and he could return to Spain, but on March
IL, 1898, he received another telegram an
nouncing that war was probable between
the United States and Spain and iEstructing
him to prepare for the defense of the Phil
ippines. But said the speaker what
means of defense had l when everything I
had requested since 1881 had been refused?
L know l ought not to dvulge these matters,
in the interest of Spain.''
At this point Senator cried: 1.-THE mo-
ment has come to say ALL.
General Rivera, continuing, declared that
the Spanish squadron in the Philippines ow-
ing to lack of means of defense, was re-
doomed to perish After declaring that a
native army in the Philippines was abso-
lutely necessary as Europeans could not sur
vive the climate and the attendant diseases,
he spoke of the agreement of the rebels with
him by which the chief, Aguinaldo, UNDER
took to submit If the government would give
a certain sum TO the widows and orphans CT
the insurgents. A tenth part of this sum
was given to Aguinaldo who undertook to
distribute 1t. General Rivera concluded by
declaring that he would give up the cross
with which he was decorated if the Chamber
did not think him worthy of it.
Senor Romero, minister Of the colonies,
made reply, praising Gen. Primo de Rivera's
service and at the same time assuring the
Chamber that the government was working
necessarily to prevent the country's woes
from increasing which was to be feared.
The debate then ended