The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-08-07
SPAIN'S REPLY NOT HERE YET.
ExPECTED TO BE AN ACCEPTANCE
WHEN 1T DOES COME.

the Day to Reports That the EN-
Dected Answer Had Arrived - All
Prove to BE UnfOunded - Gen.
Miles Appears to De Managing His
Expedition Admirably and No
Complaint of Any Kind Yet RE-
ceived Concerning 1t.
Washington, Aug. 6.-Just week ago
to-day Ambassador Cambon received from
the President the terms Of peace that
would be granted by the United states.
When the state department closed its
doors this afternoon the Spanish govern
ment had not signifed whether or not it
was prepared TO accept these conditions.
Every day during the past week an
answer has been expected, and that same
feeling of expectancy prevailed at the
close of the week.
1t is significant that all responsible gov
ernment officials are satisfied the reply
will be an acceptance of our terms when
it does come.
About 2:3O o'clock Secretary Thlebaut OF
the French embassy called at the state
department, thus giving rise to the sup
position that he was seeking to make an
appointment for the ambassador to meet
the President to deliver the Spanish an
swer. This, however, turned out to be
erroneous, NJ. Thiebauts business being
connected with some of the recent seiz-
ures Of French merchant vessels by the
blockadug fleet, and relating in no way
to the Spanish peace negotiations.
The fact that Secretary Day, who had
contemplated a trip to Atlantic City this
afternoon, did not leave town was also
the basis for another guess that he had
notice the Spanish note was coming imme-
diately and that his presence would be re-
quired here As matter of fact the sec
retary was detained beyond his train by
his reception of the italian ambassador,
who had a long conference over the Ger
ruth case.
| Although the expectation Of an early
| answer is still cherished, 1t was the be-
lief of the officials when the day closed
! that there is no likelihood Of its receipt
/ by the President before Monday.
It was rumored in some quarters that
the Spanish government had sent along a
notice that It had accepted the principal
! American terms and would be prepared
to make final answer Monday, but the
| French embassy, which would be the only
recipient of any such notice, gave quick
/ and effective denial Of this story.
While all this delay Is deprecated, II IS
realized that Premier Sagasta probably Is
/ making the struggle of his life to bring
| the Spanish party leaders to the point
| where they will agree to stand by him
| in his acceptance of the terms of peace.
| This fact tends to secure the Indulgence
f Of N degree
this is more readily extended in consider
alton of the fact that so far from having
| surrendered any advantage In agreeing TO
discuss terms of peace, we are gaining
something substantial every day in the
| prosecution Of the campaign as revealed
by the reports from Porto Rico
The naval plans of operations are also
| moving steadily forward and notwith-
standing statements to the effect that the
| projected cruise against the Spanish
coast by the eastern squadron has been
| abandoned, Secretary Long stated this af-
ternoon that no change had been made in
the plans of the department respecting
this squadron.
I'd to this point not the slightest com
| plant has reached the department respect
| ing the management of the Porto Rico
| campaign a tribute to Gen. Miles ability.
| No word has come of soldiers without
| food or any sick men without medicine,
nor is the inward movement of the Ameri-
| can army delayed for the lack of artil-
| lerv, owing to Gen. Niles insistence on
keeping his artillery in the very vanguard
| and giving personal attention 10 the COM
| missary and quartermaster departments.
The war department officials now say
that Gen. Skaters army will begin en-
barking tomorrow I'm earnest, the trans
ports which are now arriving being
obliged to take on stores for the home
ward trip. These, however will be limit
ed in quantity to avoid unnecessary delay
| and only ten days rations will be placed
| aboard each ship.
Col. Hecker, in charge of transportation,
said that he believed It would be scarcely
| necessary for the transports to make two
| trips. for in addition to the ships already
at Santiago there will be available for
! transport purposes the steamers which
are carrying to Santiago the immune reg
iments which are to replace the Fifth
Army Corps at that point
The Merritt-Chapman Wrecking Com
| pany has informed the navy department
that the wreckers have succeeded in float
ing the Spanish cruiser Maria Teresa, and
| are about to start her under her own
steam, to Norfolk The navy has nothing
to 90 with this voyage. the wreckers hay-
| ing contracted to deliver any Of the YES
sells Of Cervera s fleet that might be rec
| commended at Norfolk. It is expected that
the battle-scarred ship will attract thou
| sands of curious visitors when she reaches
| Hampton Roads
II Is fully expected at the navy depart
1 ment that the Maria Teresa will require
very extensive repairs having suffered not
only from shot, shell and fire. but also
| from a months submersion In the quickly
| fouling water Of South Cuba. However,
the repairs will certainly be made, for the
sentimental reason alone is strong enough
to warrant the expenditure of money
enough to put this ship into seryiceable
| condition.
sKIRMISH AT GUAYAMO.