Evening journal., 1898-07-25
PROSPECTSOF PEACE
Duke Almodovar de Rio In
Diplomatic Exploration.
CARLOS STARTS FOR SWITZERLAND
Less Fear, However, of CarIist or Re-
publican Outbreak spanlards
Would Prefer American to
Cuban Supremacy.

LONDON, July 25.-The Madrid COR
respondent Of Tho Times says:
Peace prospects have greatly i'm
proved during the last As hours. The
diplomatic exploration Of Duke Almodo-
var de Rio, the foreign minister has
been more practical than was supposed,
and II is now tolerably certain that the
governments efforts are entering a new
phase, which may gradually lead to
tangible results.
The precise nature OF the change Is
secret, but there Is little doubt that 1t
tends to direct negotiations between
Spain and the United States, there be-
ing no inclination to seek the mediation
Of any neutral power. The moment has
arrived when America, having reached
the parting OF the ways must cho9se
between war with a specific object and
on indehnable war OF conquest.
"The present, pGuse In hosUlities is
held 10 prove that the United States Is
reluctant to plunge into a wider sphere
OF action. and It. may be confidently
predicted that II direct negotiations are
opened without delay both countries
will find their views on the main point
the future Of Cuba-far from irreconcil-
able.
THE growing dissenslons between the
Cuban insurgents and the American au-
thorities are noted here with great sat
lsfactlon, and on all sides l hear II said,
If we must lose Cofba, II is better that
the islands should be annexed by Amer
lea, because the traitors would thereby
be punished and the enormous Spanish
interests in the island would be pro-
tected'
The French embassy at Washington
seems the most likely channel for OPEN
ing negotiations, and the seniofiicial
statement that America intends to re-
tain Porto Rico Is regarded here as a
hint to Spain 10 hurry up.
There Is still much talk about Carl
ist intrigues and preparations. but the
government, though vigilant and ready
TO act energetically II necessary, seems
20 think chat at present there is ne Sc
rious danger. Tho danger of Repub-
lean movements Is still less. Senor
Emilio CASTELAR, has just rendered a
service TO the CAUSE Of order by pub
listing a long letter In which he i'm
presses upon all good Spaniards the
necessity Of sinking party differences
and remaining firmly united at the pres
ent critical moment.
Patriotism, like the church. says
SenOr Castelar,, imposes unity on us,
and If unity does not exist let us be
silent upon the subject The project
Of presenting him with an GCs,uss OF
confidence signed by 100000 Of his ad-
miring fellow citizens has been indeh-
nitely postponed"
Don Carlos. the Spanish pretender &C.
cording 20 a dispatch from Brussels to
The Daily Mail. has hurriedly started
for Switzerland
A dispatch TO tho Central News from
Havana says that the insurgents have
captured the town OF Gibara. on the
north coast OF Santiago province. The
Spaniards made a heroic defense, bu
were finally compelled 60 evacuate th'
place. Six SpaniarJis were killed and l:
/ wounded. Many cubans were killed.
! The dispatch adds that the Americans
have landed at Taiabacoa, where, IN
combination with the insurgents, they
destroyed Fort Espana.
The insurgents attacked Tinajas, but
were repulsed.
The Americans are occupying strong
position at Tunas.