The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-07-21
AUGUSTUS ASSURANCE.
Spanish Commander of the Philippines De-
clarcs That the Garrison Is "Ready
to Fight to the Death,

to Fight to the Death.
Madrid, July M.-senor sagasta and
General Correa, minister of war, de-
clare that the latest news from the
Philippines is of the most favorable
character General Correas advices In.
dicate that the insurgents are now dis
playing "only lukewarm hostility to-
wards the Spanish troops"
Captain General Augusti sends an
official dispatch asserting. under date
of July IA, that while the blockade Is
becoming very strict. the enemy han
lost heavily in several recent engage
mcnts. "by which the morale of the
American forces has Eeen weakened
and the Spanards have been greatly
encouraged
The dispatch alleges also that "the
garrison is ready to fight to the DEATH"
and that General Monet and several
officers who had escaped. from Mata-
sbebe, have-arrived there.
Il Captain General AugustIn concludes
as follows:
"Modestiy and without exaggeration,
which is contrary to my character, I
have described with loyal candor the
situation, to which ! am consccrating
all my efforts for my country and my
king"
An official dispatch from Captain
General BlancO announces that the
greatest enthusiasm prevails there, and
that the feeling in favor Of resisting
the Yankee Is universal. It further as
serts that the commanders of the vol
unteer forces, at a conference under
the presidency of General Arolas mil
itary governor of Havana, resolved to
Exhaust their resources and die rather
than surrender"
The American warships the dispatch
says, are off Manzanillo. apparently
awaiting instructions, but the bonn
bardment has not been resumed.
A semi-offlcial note has been pub
lished here. explaining the circum.
stances. from Spanish standpoint. OF
the surrender of Santiago de Cuba It
declares that the letter which General
Toral "is alleged to have written to
General Shafter," Is apocryphal, as the
telegraph version contains state
ment which 1t was impossible for Cen
eral Toral to have made. because it Is
untrue that his government authorized
him to capituate."
The note continues: What happened
was that the war minister received two
kilograms from Captain General
Blanco. The first described General |
Toral's position, which was most pitt
full, because of the want of provisions
and ammunition. 1t also detailed the
enemys proposals.
"In the second telegram Captain
General Blanco gave the terms of the
and requested instruc-
tions. The war minister replied to both
by telling Captain General Blanco to
leave every initiative to General To-
raj. for 1t was impossible to recon-
mend any other line Of conduct Gem
eral Toral accordingly acted as he
thought advisable, and would explain
before a court martial the motives
which induced him to captulate."
The ministers maintain absolute re-
serve on the question Of peace 1t Is
certain that up to yesterday no nego-
-iations were opened. Nevertheless
public opinion favors peace.
The military code prescrbes life Inn
orisonment for any officer who includes
n the capitulation of his own forces
'ther posts which. though dependent
ipon his command. are not troops or
places included In the action which
aused the captulation 1t is doubted,
However. whether General Toral will be
hus punished