The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-06-17
Departure of Skaters Army, and
Especially It's Landing, Held to
flake a Vast Difference
OF A SENTIMENTAL KIND
But None the Less Determining the War Toward
Spain's Utter Ruin and Surrender, Which
Alone Can Stop 1t.

Washington. June 15.-A high diplomatic
official said today that the departure of
General Skaters first army OF invasion
to Cuba put an end to all prospects OF
peace While none OF the foreign repre-
sentatives here has ever made peace
overtures to the United States govern
ment, yet peaceful solution has always
seemed to members of the diplomatic fra
ternity as within the bounds of possibii-
ity, even probability. so long as the Unit
ed States troops remained at Tampa and
Key West Now. however, with I5.ooO
American soldiers about TO take posi-
ton on Spanish soil, it is said that the
conditions opportune for peace have IN
dergone material change. as 1t commits
the United States 10 an aggressive land
campaign and also makes IL impossible
for Spain to adopt any other course than
that of defending her soil against inva-
sion. The presence OF our ships at Ma
Mia, Havana and Santiago have not. this
diplomatic official stated, constituted an
actual inavsion. although the ships have
wrought much damage. The ships could
have been withdrawn at any time. But
with 1900 troops landed on Cuban soil a
new and more serious phase of the con-
fict ives presented. Instead OF blockad-
ingand beleaguering a few Spanish cities.
the American army has entered Span
ish territory. and that advanced the cam
pa.gn from a passive to an active and
offensive condition. The ships had sim
ply surrounded Spanish territory. but the
troops would cross the line and enter
Spanish territory. For this reason. he
said, the hopes of a peaceful solution OF
the conflict had passed away and he be-
leved they could not be revived until the
result of the first Cuban invasion was
determined. This would take some
months. probably all summer, for this
aggressive land movement would be fol
lowed by others, each one making the
prospect OF peace more remote. II peace
proposition had come before General
Shafter sailed diplomatic officials are in
clined to behteveil acknowledgements
clined to believe that it would have been
eagerly accepted by Spain and would
have stood seem chance OF consideration
by the United States While II IS not
doubted that this country intends to push
the war TO a finish, yet the belief is en-
tertained in diplomatic circles that the
authorities were 10th TO send a large In
vading army into Cuba during the rainy
season, when yellow fever, heat and pes
thence combined TO make such a move
ment extremely hazardous, even If no
enemy was on hand capable OF an effect
i've defense.
The cabinet crisis in France may exert
other indirect influences on the present
war. NJ. Hanotaux minister OF fereign
affairs in the present French cabinet has
been foremost in overcoming the anti
American spirit shown by part OF the
French people and the rench press. He
has. moreover. exercised a strong re-
pressive influence on Spain. He was able
10 do this through his peculiarly close
intimacy with the Spanish ambassador
at Paris, Senior Castillo. and through him,
70 have a considerable part in shaping
the policy OF the Spanish government j.
was through Castillo that Spain hoped &c
induce France 20 come 10 the rescue but
Hanotaux would not entertain the propo-
sition. and on the consrtry urged that
Spainmust make the concessions neces-
sary TO secure peace. Il was this atti-
tude Of France. shaped by Hanotaux. that