The age-herald., 1898-08-12
PROTOCOL HAS
 NOT BEEN SIGNED Great Care Taken in Translation and
 Transmission. AN ABSOLUTE DENIAL MADE
That Miles Had Been Ordered to With
 hold Operations.
HE WILL PUSH ON MORE RAPIDLY
Towards San Juan, While Merritt Will Conduct an Active Campaign Against Manila in the Philippines-Wait-
 ing For the Monadnock.


 ing For the Monadnock.
 Washington, Aug. 1O.-The protocol has not been signed and probably will not be until tomorrow ofternoon some time. The French ambassador said this evening that the delay was due to the great care which has to be exercised in the translation into cipher and the transmission.
 Absolute denial was made today that orders had been sent for General Miles to withhold hostile operations in Porto Rico pending settlement. It was stated that no word had been sent either to him or to General Merritt and none would be sent until the armistice had actually been de- clared. Even this would not prevent the advance of General Miles, but he would push on more rapidly towards San Juan, that would be all. It would be his duty to at once garrison the cities and raise the American flag in every part of the island.
 The interest in government circles cen tered today in the press dispatches from Madrid, as the first news of the decision of the Spanish government would be made public there, and there was no likelihood ofsanything being made known in Wash ington during the day as respecting Soains negotia lions of the protocol. After the close of office hours Secretary Day drove over to the white house and had half an hours conference with the president. He stated that no further word had been re- ceiNed from Amba ssador Cambon but ad- mitted that he expected call from that gehtleman tomorrow. Certain members or tho cabinet expressed the opinion that the president would have some news for that body when 1t meets tomorrow which was construed into an intimation that Nthe an- bassador's call would probably be made In the morning. Officials show no loss of confidence in their original opinion that the Spanish government will authorize M Cainbon to sign the protocol just as 1t was transmitted from Washington to Madrid last evening. g-y-@z. 4, Too Late for Changes
 The naval war board, led by Acting Sec. retary Allen, called on Judge Day about noon. It is believed their purpose was. to impress upon the secretary the importance of making the surrender of impor. .ant strategic points at the entrance of the har- bors, such as Morro Castle at Havana har- bor, a condition for the cessation of hos tilties. It is questionable, however, wheth- CT it is not now too late to amend the protocol in its substance as proposed by the war board.
 
 the effect that Secretary Alger in anticipa- tion of the beginning of the formal peace negotiations had cabled General Miles and General Merritt in Porto Rico and the Phil ippines, respectively, orders that looked toward a cessation of hostilities. When his attention was directed to this rumor Secretary Alger promptly pronounced it to be without foundation and as absurd and his words were practically repeated with emphasis by Adjutant General Corbin. through whose hands any such messages must pass. The publication of such sto- ries moreover was deprecated as tending to encourage the Spanish government to fur ther delay and passive resistance. As matter of fact General Miles seems to be pressing forward with the greatest ergy and a cablegram received 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.
 Merritt's Campaign
 Ernest's brigade is also advancing pidly along the road to Aibonoto and made what Miles described as very important capture at Coamo yesterday. Merritt un- douhtedly is pursuing his campaign in Lu- zon. It is stated positively that he is under no restraining order from the war department, but it is left entirely to his own discretion when and how to attack Manila. Inasmuch as 1t has been report ed from Cavite that he was simply await ing the arrival there Of the double-turreted monitor Monadnock 1t is presumed his at- tack will soon follow if it had not been made already, for according to the calcula- ton of the navy department the Monad- mock is about due now at Cavite. While not quite clear as to General Merritt's pur- pose in deferring his attack until the ves- sel arrives, it is the opinion of the mili- tary officers that his plan is to plant the two monitors, the Monterey and Monad- mock, directly within range of the Manila batteries and If a demand for surrender is refused, to batter down these defenses.
 Only fully armored vessels can be safely in such work, hence the delay on account of the non-arrival of the Mon adnock.
 Secretary Alger today 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 ex- tending the American system of tariffs as rapidly as possible over captured territory.
 Referred to Commission T,he settlement of the details of the evac- nation of Cuba and Porto Rico is already the earnest attention of the off, cials Some provision is to be made for the treatment of the Spanish prisoners and for the disposition of the small arms and artillery and war stores. There Is also some naval property of value remaining in Cuba and Porto Rican ports and it is a. question whether or not this should be by us or be allowed to remain In Spanish possession. The conclusion has i, been reached by Secretary Alger to refer these matters to military commission and 1 Acknowledgement Corbin is now looking up | precedents for the guidance of such Possibly this commission would meet the question raised by the naval hoard as to the propriety of holding Moro Castle as pledge until the formal sigma ture of treaty of peace. The ordnance department of the army has succeeded at last in securing a smoke- less powder adapted for use in the Spring. Held rifle. with which nearly all the volun-