The record-union., 1898-08-12


to recognize the government set up by
Gomez in his march, or come to an
open issue with the insurgents and for
bid them from conducting further op-
erations, except where sanctioned by
the managers of our own campaign.
AS is the case at Manila, so il is
believed to be at Holguin, the Spanish
commander would much prefer to sur
render, if obliged to surrender at all,
to the United States authorities, and
not to the Cubans. There are political
reasons why the Spanish Government
should impress this course upon its
military commanders, seeking, as it h:s
done, to induce the United States to
assume sovereignty over Cuba, instead
of erecting a Cuban Government
Therefore, this condition at Holguin if
known to Bianco, may induce him to
take steps to surrender the place to
any authorized American officer. 1t is
intimated that the surrender on this
basis would not cease at Holguin, and
the rumor was afioat to-day that Ha-
vana itself has surrendered, but this
failed of confirmation at all points
where such news naturally would find
its way. If these conditions are known
to the Spanish Government at Madrid
the fact may have an important bear
ing tn fastening the action of the Sa-
gasta Ministry upon the pending prop
osition from the United States Govern
ment.
A rumor was afloat this afternoon to
the effect that Secretary Alger, in an
ticipation of the beginning of the for
NAL peace negotiations, had cabled Gen
eral Miles and General Merritt in Porto
Rico and the Philippines, respectively
orders that looked toward a cessation
of hostilites When his attention was
directed to this rumor Secretary AL
ger promptly pronounced it to be with
out foundation, and as absurd, and his
words We're practically repeated with
emphasis by Adjutant General Corbin
through whose hands any such mes
sages must pass. The publication of
such stories, moreover, was deprecated
as tending to encourage the Spanish
Government to further delay and pas
sive resistance
AS matter of act, General Miles
seems to be pressing forward with the
greatest energy, and a cablegram re-
ceived from him late in the afternoon
reported the forward movement of
General Schwan, in charge of one of the
divisions of the American army and the
ensuing skirmish. Ernsts brigade is
also advancing rapidly along the road
to Aibonito, and made what Miles de-
scribed as a very important capture
at Coamo day before yesterday.
Merritt undoubtedly is pursuing his
campaign in Luzon. 1t is said positive
ly that he is under no restraining order
from the War Department, but that it
is left entirely to his own discretion
when and how to attack Manila. In
asmuch as it has been reported from
Cavite that he was simply awaiting the
arrival there of the double -turreted
monitor Monadnock, it is presumed that
this attack will soon follow if it has not
been already made, for, according to
the calculation of the Navy Depart
ment the Monadnock is about due now
at Cavite. While not quite clear as to
General Merritts purpose in deferring
his attack until the vessel arrives, it
is the opinion of the military officials
that his plan is to plant the two mon
itors. Monterey and Monadnock, di-
rectly within range of the Manila bat
teries, and, if a demand for surrender
is refused, to batter. down these de-
fense1. Only fully armored vessels can
be safely employed on such work, hence
the delay on account of the non-arri-
val of the Monadnock.
Secretary Alger to-day cabled to
General Miles to apply Immediately to
the Porto Rican ports captured by him
the tariff drawn up by the Government
for Santiago and other Cuban ports.
This is in line with the policy of the War
Department of extending the American
system of tariffs as rapidly as possible
| over captured territory.
The settlement of the details of the
evacuation of Cuba and Porto Rico is
already receiving the earnest attention
| of the officials. Some provision is to
| be made for the treatment of the
| Spanish prisoners, and for the disposi-
| ton of the small arms and the artil-
| lery and war stores. There is also
some naval property of value remaining
| in Cuban and Porto Rican ports, and iti
question whether or not this should he
! demanded by US or be allowed to re-
main in Spanish possession. The con-
1 clusion has been reached by Secretary
Alger to refer these matters to a mill
1 tary commission and Adjutant Gen
4 eral Corbin is now looking up prece-
dents for the guidance of such a com
mission. Possibly this commission
would meet the question raised by the
Naval War Board as TO the propriety
| of holding MORO Castle as a pledge un-
til the formal signature of the treaty
of peace.
| The ordnance department of the army
| has succeeded at last in securing q
| smokeless powder adapted for use ir
the Springfield rifle, with which nearly
all the volunteer troops are armed The
| powder used with the small bore and re-
/ peating rifles was too powerful and q
special powder had to be procured. This
is now coming in from the manufact'
urers. and being turned into fixed am
| muniton in such quantities as to war
rant the belief that even should the wal
continue. our soldiers would not bt
again exposed to the danger encoun-
tered at the battle Of El Caney throuSf
the betrayal of their presence by the
binding smoke of the Springfields.