The Portland daily press., 1898-08-12
WARS STATUS.
Department Awaits Word From
( Spain.

8 Warrington, August 1.-THE interest
in government circles conferred today IN
the press dispatches from Madrid, as one
first news of the decision of the Spanish
government would be made public there
and there was no likelihood OF anything
being known officially in Washington
during the day as to SPANS decision re-
specting signatures to the peace protocol.
After the close of office hours Secretary
Day drove to the White House and had
half hours conference with the President.
He stated that no further word had been
received from Ambassador Cambon but
adm tilted that he expected call from
that gentleman tomorrow. Certain MEM
bers of the cabinet expressed the opinion
that the President would have some news
for that body when it met tomorrow,
which was construed into an intimation
that the Am bassador's call probably
would be made in the morning. Officials
show no loss of confidence in their original
opinion that the Spanish government will
authorize NJ. Cambon to sign the protocol
Just as it was transmitted from Washing :
ton to Madrid last evening. The naval
war board led by Acting Secretary Allen,
called on Judge Day about noon. 1t is
believed their purpose was to impress up
on the Secretary the importance Of
making the surrender of important
strategic points at the entrance of harbors
such as Moro Castle at Havana harbor,
condition for the cessation of
hostilitles. f,-
1t is questionable, however, whether it
is not now too late to amend the protocol
in its substance as proposed by the war
board.
A rumor was put afoat this afternoon
tothe effect that Secretary Alger, in an
ticlpation of the beginning of the formal
peace negotiations had cabled General
. Miles in Porto Rico and General Merritt
in the Philippines orders that looked to-
ward cessation of hostilities. When his
attention was directed to this rumor,
= Secretary Alger pronounced it to be with
nut foundation and 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 stories,
moreover, was deprecated as tending to
encourage the Spanish government to
further and passive resistance. AS a
matter of fact General Miles seems to be
pressing forward with the greatest energy
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. Ernst S
brigade is also advancing rapidly along
the road to Aibonito and made what
might be described as very important
capture at Coaom Tuesday.
Merritt undoubtedly is pursuing his
campaign in Luzon. i is stated positive
ly that be is under no restraining orders
from the war department, but that it is
left entirely to his own discretion when
and how to attack Manila. AS it has been
reported from Cavite that he was simply
waiting the arrival there of the monitor
Monadnock, it is presumed this attack
will soon follow, If it has not been made
already, for according to the calculation
of the navy department, the Monadnock
is about due now at Cavite. While nj
quite clear as to General Merritt's pur-
pose in deferring his attack until the YES
sells arrives, it is the opinion of the mill
tary officials that his plans to plant the
two monitors, Monterey and Monadnock,
directly within range of the Manila bat
teries and, if demand for surrender is
10 H.
Only fully armored vessels can be safely
employed in such work.
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 extending the American system of
. tariffs asErapidly as possible over captured
territory. The settlement of the details Of
the evacuation of Cuba and Porto Rico is
already receiving the earnest attention
of the officials. Some provision is to be
made for the treatment of the Spanish
prisoners and for the disposition of the
small arms and tho artillery and war
stores. There is also some naval property
of value remaining in Cuban and Porto
Rican ports, and 1t is question whether
or not this should be demanded by us or
ne allowed to remain in Spanish possess
sioa. The conclusion has been reached by
Secretary AlgeI to refer these matters to
military commission and Adjdtant
General Corbin is now looking up
presidents for the guidance of such a
com mission. Possibly this commission
would meet the question raised by the
naval war board as to the propriety of
hol ding MORO Castle as pledge until
The formal signature Of treaty of peace.
A CARD.