New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-09

CERVERA AND HIS MEN MAY RETURN
HOME WHEN SPAIN SENDS
FOR THEM.
fny TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE. ]

Washington Aug s-The United states has
magnanimously offered II parole the LOO Span
ish naval prisoners taken at the destruction or
Admiral Cervera's fleet whenever Spain is ready
10 reratriate them. With the exception or the
officers. who are enjoying American hospitality
within the limits Of Annapolis. the bulk OF these
prisoners are confined to the naval station AT
Portsmouth, where they have the liberty or
large picturesque island and are comfortably
ouartered and fed III temporary buildings
erected especially for their use.
The offer Of this Government was mace re-
gardess of the approaching elimination OF peace
negotiations and simply with a view or sending
home a large number of National guests VINO nad
considerably overstayed their welcome ana De-
come burdensome upon the host. These span
iards have suffered scarcely any OF the restraints
usually imposed upon prisoners OF war; out
have been cared for tenderly as II they hdo
been American sailors Most Of them were ter
ribly debilitated from the deprivations tney had
suffered and large percentage nave nau 10 oe
nursed and cared for In hospitals Instead OF
turning them over to Spain in the pitiaole con-
dition they presented when they sought reiuse
from their burning ships and from the Cuodhs
aboard the American naval vessels they nave
been fully restored to health and vigor anu the
offer of the United States contempiates giving
them back to Spain more Ie-bodied than they
were when they left the peninsula SIX mon'hs
ago Although this striking instance OF Ameri-
can generosity to a helpless enemy was orlc'aiy
laid before the Madrid authorities through the
representative of neutral nation some days
ago no response whatever has been received
beyond the simple Acknowledgement, with the
statement that II would receive consideration.
NAGNANIMOUS OFFER TO SPAIN.
,rhoro uos every reason to believe that Spain
would eagerly embrace the opportunity to Sc
cure these prisoners. constituting' as tney do'
the flower of her naval force. an important
source Of strength to the Government az tnis
time in case domestic dissatisfaction assumed
dimensions which could be controlled ohiy
with great difficulty. The offer however. dld not
contemplate the gratuitous transporting OF the
men 70 Spanish territory. as in the case OF 10
rails garrison at Santiago, but proVlded oniy
for their delivery on neutral Hessris' un"4
guarantees OF security in the ports or the uhited
states. and perhaps the Spanish delay Is caused
by the difficuty Of securing single transport
at the present tyne.
During the next two or three months the prls-
oners will be a source Of little or no concern
10 the United States. the trouble ana cost OF
,,aintainiue them being confined 10 the fur-
nishing Of food and clothing. but as winter ap-
proaches il will be- necessary as early as NO.
vember to erect more substantial buildings
for keeping them warm, or IL may De heces-
sary % transfer them TO the south IL IL
remarkah BILE fact that Spain does not possess a
single American prisoner to offer in exchange
FOR the number OF Spanlards who nave peeh
captured by the United States Navy IN the
Philippines as well as in the West Indies. and
this inequality makes the present oHer ot parole
all the more charitable on the part OF this Gov
ernment.