Evening journal., 1898-05-25
ADMITS 1T.
Says Cervera Is at Santiago.
American Ships Outside.
NINETEEN WARSHIPS OFF HAVANA.
"InefTective" Blockade Seems 20 he In
Good HeaIth-spain Proposes to Issue
Paper Money-Almodoras de RIO
Accepts Foreign Portfolio.

MADRID, May 25.-It is officially an
nounced that the squadron of Admiral
Cervera was still at Santiago de Cuba
Monday.
A dispatch received here from Ha-
vana says:
Secret orders have been given 20 Ad-
miral Cervera as 70 what course to pur-
sue in the event OF the Americans at
| tempting 10 cut communications be-
tween Cuba and Spain.
American warships continue to oocu-
py stat i0ns outside OF Havana, Cienfue-
! Cos. Cardenas and Santiago de Cuba.
/ There are now 10 American warships
/ before Havana"
1t Is reported that the Spanish gov
! eminent has purchased another vessel.
! Go be used as an armed cruiser
La Correspondence Espania observes:
AN unexplained feeling Of despond
ency is noticeable. AS no bad news has
been received we can only suggest that
this feeling IS caused by fears Of a pro-
Fongation of the war"
In the chamber Of deputies yesterday
Senior Puigcerver, minister Of finance,
| replying TO the criticisms of Marquis
| de Villaverde, Conservative. with re-
| spect TO the financial policy OF the gov
| Of foresight and asserted that Spain's
finances were in a satisfactory condi-
ton, assuring the payment Of all the ex-
| penses Of the war"
Senior Puigcerver said that in view OF
the impossibility OF negotiating loans
abroad there was no means of raising
funds to continue the war except by an
extension of the Bank OF Spain's note
issue, which, however, did not imply a
forced paper currency. He proposed, he
said. 70 convert the treasury's floating
debt. now nearly 5OO.OO0,000 pesetas. into
small denomination treasury bonds. lie
explained the proposed conversion of
the external debt but avoided any allu-
sion to the proposed tax on the national
debt. Senor puigcerver affirmed the
necessity of a 20 per cent Increase In all
taxation, including that on agriculture
Duke Almodovar de Rio has accepted
the portfolio Of minister for foreign af-
fairs, offered to but declined by SenoI
Leon J Castillo. the Spanish ambassador
at Paris. The duke IS well known In
England, where he was educated and
, where he often visits. during the hunt
ing season. He IS as years of age. very
active. we'll informed and highly edu-
Gated.
After taking the oath as minister FOL
foreign affairs he had a long conver
| sation with Senor Leon y Castillo. th'
/ Spanish ambassador to France. NJ
. | Schovitch the Russian ambassador (,
Spain, was the first member of the dip
lomatic corps to call on the new min
/ ! lister.
He has held various official positions
[ ( including tho vico presidency of tn
{ / chamber OF deputiee. Though he ha
s had nc experience of the foreign oflce
a ne "a thoroughly versed In financial an
comm, rcial matters, the work of treat
p negotiation and the like. and he "a eS
n kpecteC TO show initiative energy in hi
II FRew post.
" Among the bearers OF the dukes titl
. was IA eminent diplomatist. Pedr
+. fGlmenoz Gongora, the sixth duke who's
. 1 valuable services in Russia, Englan
~ and Portugal procured the dukedor
and raised him to the rank of a grande'
q II IS a strange coincidence that Con
4 | CORA published a work entitled, 9TH
II I History of the Colonial Establishment
:, Of European Nations" People are ash
ing whether the present duke IS destln
ed TO witness the end Of European es
y tablishments In the new world.
In the chamber n motion signed b
| Senores Romero y Robledo. Gasset, Sal
/, gron and Ojeda a las Llorens was pre-
J. sented in favor of constructing barraels
! at Algeclras and San Rogue and pre-
~ paring for an encampment at Gibralta
/, near the neutral grounds"