The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-08-26
the SPANISH PRISONERS
HOT LIKELY SOON TO SEE THEIR
HOMES
SPAIN DECLINES PAROLE
The Noble spaniard Is Easy Enough to
Catch but Awful Hard to Get
Rid OF

Associated Press Special Wire
NEW YORK. Aug. Pa Tribune Wash
lugton special says:
The Presidents magnanimous offer to
Spain through the good Offices Of the
British Ambassador at Madrid IN the first
week Of August. just after the Initiation
Of peace negotiations. to release all Of the
Spanish naval prisoners on parole for
prompt repatriation, which was declined
by Premier Sagasta. has had the indirect
result Of alternating most Of the ordinary
prisoners, as well as many of the officers
from their mother country. The Navy De-
partment may eventually be compelled to
abandon the comparatively luxurious
treatment it has accorded these men and
put them to work. There are 1900 prison.
ers at Seavey's Island in the Kittery,
Maine, navy yard, including nearly all
the ordinary seamen and petty officers who
were saved when Cervera's fleet was an
nihilated. At the naval hospital near
Norfolk. Va, the seriously wounded. 200
IN number, have been under treatment, and
most Of them are now convalescent., The
principal officers, numbering So. have been
quartered in Annapolis in buildings which
will be needed in a few weeks for the off,
GERS and professors attached to the naval
academy.
The men at Norfolk are q great burden
upon the naval medical authorities, but
the Navy Department is principally con-
cerned about the large force of men at
6eavey Island. They are quartered in COM
Portable, but temporary wooden structures
which do very well for summer. but which
win cause great suffering soon on account
Of the approaching cold weather to which
the apsniards are wholly unaccustomed
Some Of the Spanish officers have written
home that they hope the war will continue
another year In order that they may con-
tinue to enjoy the treatment they have
been receiving; but others, notably Cop
tain Concas who has been in this country
longer than any Of his colleagues. have
recently caused considerable pressure from
various sources, chiefly political. to be
brought to bear upon the Navy Depart
ment, to consent to the return of the off,
GERS to Spain.
Naval officials make no concealment of
their anxiety to get rid of Captain Concas
and all the other officers at Annapolis and
Norfolk who are now in parole, but there is
NO Intention to release the officers until
Spain makes some provision for the or
binary seamen. SPANS reply to the Presi-
dents original offer to surrender all the
prisoners on parole was as follows:
sowing to the existence of Spanish law
TO the effect that any Spanish sailor &C.
cepting parole In order to procure his
release Is liable to punishment, the govern
ment Is unable to act upon the suggestion
Of the United States and remove the prison
ers captured by the destruction Of Admiral
Cervera's fleet to SPAIN"
1t Is the impression in the Navy
Department, as Spain is more par
ticular about prohibiting ordinary
seamen to accept parole than she Is in the
case OF the superior officers, that some
Interior motive must be at the bottom of
the matter. and that possibly II her onicers
were returned home the Spanish govern
ment would take no further interest in
the sailors, but leave them as paupers, de-
pendent upon the charity of the United
States.
It Is certain, therefore, that the officers
will remain under restraint as long as the
men are confined, and If Spain continues to
be Indifferent It II possible that some Of
the luxuries win be taken from the officers
and that they will be made to feel in q
measure that they are In fact prisoners of
war.
Disguised Hidalgos
MADRID. August rs, p.m.-The news
papers say the general public display con-
siderable disgust at the hasty surrender of
Santiago since hearing the stories with
regard to the adequate defensive condition
prevailing there told by the returned Span
ish soldiers who arrived yesterday at Corn
ma by the Spanish steamer Alicante. There
have been six deaths among the returned
soldiers since their arrival and many others
are feared.
A special commission Is now meeting to
decide upon the question of quarantine. The
military authorities have begun the ddstri-