The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-08-16

was not MADE nOoIfc. put AssiSIdut
Secretary Allen stated that, besides be-
ing put in possessionrcf the presidents
proclamation, he was ordered to cease
hostilities and raise the blockade OF
Manila.
In compliance with the orders sent
Admiral Sampson and Commodore
Remey will each send a vessel around
the coast OF Cuba to the blockading
squadron, that the blockade has been
raised Admiral Schley. being on the
Brooklyn and included in the orders
to that vessel, will come north with
her. =
Washington, August 13.-The sud-
den transition from war TO peace was
reflected today in a complete dullness
and stagnation through official quar-
ters. Instead of the hustle and activi-
ty which have prevailed for months
through the corridors of the war and
navy Departments. there was a calm
ness not apparent since the midsummer
vacations of last year. Most of the Of
ficials went home early in the day, en-
joying the first partial holiday since
the war began. There will be a large
amount of important detail to be work
ed out from this time forward, a grad
ual reduction of the army and the ma
Wy to peace footings, the establishment
of temporary and permanent admins
trations for our new colonial posses
sions. the caring for the wounded and
prisoners and the relief of the distress
in Cuba.
THE QUESTION OF PEACE COM
MIssIONERS.
The question of immediate attention
is the appointment of the peace COM
mission, which is to meet at Paris, and
of the military commissions to meet at
Havana and San Juan. The president
conferred with Secretary Day during
the day relative to the peace commits
sion, but it was said at the state de-
partment late that an announcement
of the commissioners might be defer
red for some days. It is understood
that the president has not fully de-
termined upon the personnel of the
! commission. Several of the public
men who saw him today We're salts
fed that the commission would be
made up of Secretary Day, Senators
Allison and German, either Joseph II.
Choate or Elihu Root, of New York,
and probably prominent army ofncer.
General Corbin is spoken Of favorably
in connection with the army appoint
ment on the commission. The military
commissioners for Cuba and Porto Rico
are not receiving any attention from
the state department, as the military
authorities will have entire charge OF
these branches of the peace settle
ment.
| During the day the state department
received a call from M. Thiebaut, sec
f, retary of the French embassy, for the
purpose Of leaving a letter explaining
the authority given by cable to the
, French ambassador to sign the peace
protocol. These assurances already
/, had been given verbally, but the letter
gives them in a more definite form,
and in the course of few days the
| Madrid will be filed with the state de-
' partment.
Many congratulations kept coming to
ts.e state.department and to the. White
house on the establishment of
peace.
TO TAKE EARLY POSSESSION OF
! MANILA.
! 1t is expected that the occupation of
Manila under the terms Of the proto-
col will occur within the next few
hours. 1t was at first thought the ma
Wy department had a dispatch boat at
Hong Kong ready to carry forward the
orders to Admiral Dewey and General
Merritt, but the department learned to-
day that no dispatch boat was at Hong
Kong, although one was likely to reach
there today or tomorrow. Meanwhile,
it is possible that Consul Wildman
may. charter a steamer and send the
orders forward. He has general in
structions as dispatch agent and it was
! said at the state department today that
! these instructions govern the present
; case. General Greedy is satisfied no
! use can be made of the cable connec-
| ing Hong Kong with Manila, as there
! are no cable operators at the Manila
| end.
ARRANGING MINOR PEACE DE-
! TAILS.
| Acting Secretary Allen said today
| that the matter Of establishing coaling
stations, the disposition Of Admiral
| Cervera and other Spanish prisoners
and like questions brought up by the
| peace settlement would receive consid-
! GRAFTON in due time, but that there
was no Immediate necessity for pass
, ing upon them.
! Preparations are making to receive
! the battleships and armored cruisers
| now under orders to come north. Dry
| docks No / and at the New York ma
| Wy yard are avilable for the big cruis-
| ers New York and Brooklyn, but not
! for the battleships. Drydock No. 5
will receive the battleships. but will
| not be in condition before September
| 1st, as it has just gone through long
| period of. repair. Captain Bartlett, in
| charge of the auxiliary fleet, is ar
| ranging to get these craft back into
L
| reted monitors will be returned to the
| League Island navy yard. Some of
| the auxiliaries are still needed to look
/ after mine fields established along the
! coast.
f; The war department was busy all
| day with matters pertaining TO the ces-
| sation of hostilities. Secretary Alger
consulted the president for some time.
! but when he returned said that the
| military commissioners for Cuba and
| Porto Rico would not be announced
| today. There was no need Of haste, he
| said, as by the terms of the protocol
| ten days We're allowed for the selec-
| ton of the commission. There has
been some speculation as to who will
| be commissioners and nearly all of
| the more prominent officers of the army
! have been canvassed, both volunteer
| and regular.
GENERAL LEE TO BE ONE OF
/