The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1898-07-14
MORE PEACE TALK.
A Report In Circulation That the United
states Was Sounded in the Interests Of
Peace Condition at Santiago.

ASHINGTON, July 1-lnere was
continuation of peace talk Friday and
other evidences in this line than those
of Thursday are coming to the sur
face. Such, for instance, was the con-
firmation by the state department of
the re port that the Cadiz fleet was re-
turning to Spain, since it is scarcely
conceivable that the Spanish govern
inent would doom this last remnant of
their fl ct to destruction at the hands
OF Watson's squadron, which in all
probability could head it off before it
reached Cadiz, it's home port There
fore. the assumption is that the Spanish
government calculates that at least an |
armistice precedent to peace will be
obta. ned before the ships reach Spain. |
An unusually definite report was in |
circulation that the United States had |
been sounded in the interest of peace
by the British ambassador, but when
it was brought to Sir Julian Paunce-
fote's attention he authorized an ex-
plicit denial and said he had not COM
municated with the government in
any way regarding the termination of
the war;
Conditions at Satiago also are re.
garded as favorable just now accord
ing to Gen. Skaters dispatch received
during the forenoon. Nothing more
came from him during the day, but the
impression prevails that the Spanish
are in a desperate llight within the
lines of the city. and Gen. Skaters
:clion in allowing Linares to COM
municate freely with Madrid is an inn
plication that ther,, is at least q rea-
sonable hope that the Spanish general
contemplates a surrender.
However that may be every prepara-
tion is MAXIM for a great engage
m mt. the final one at Santa 20 it is
hoped, which may begin even as early
as Saturday if Skaters reinforcements
arc on hand. The department has not
heard so far of the arrival of these
soldiers but believes they have reached
Shafter. The greatest difficulty that
has been encountered is in the land.
ing of troops and supplies.
This being the hurricane season,
and the wind setting straight on the
southern coast, the masters of the
the transports have become alarmed
and taken their ships many miles out
to sea necessitating long journeys by
! the ships boats, which make their
| landings through the surf with the
greatest difficulty and danger. So
slow and tedious has been the service
| under these conditions that Secretary
| Alger has order Gen. ,Shafter to seize
the transports. one and all, and
| place them as near the coast
| as he chooses without regard to
the fears of their masters. Ten days
ago lighters were started down from
Mobile to Tampa, but so far Gen.
Shafter has received only one. These
lighters have been nightmare to the
department ever since. The captains
tie up IN creeks at the slightest sign of
bad weather, while the charter rate of
500 day runs on. Orders have been
sent forward to terminate this state OF
things even if it is necessary to lose a
few lighters in the effort to reach
Shafter.
The government has not yet deter.
mined how to dispose of Adm. Ger
vera. A feeling of the highest admira'
ton prevails here at the gallantry dis
played by the old warrior and the
noble spirit exhibited by him under
misfortune. The disposition is to
treat him with as great liberality as
conditions will permit. 1t has been
proposed that he be released on
parole, not to engage in hostil.
tiles against the United States un'
til the end of the war, but it has
not yet been decided whether tC
do this or to confine the admiral tech
nically within the limits of the nava
academy reservation at Annapolis
All the other captured Spanish nava
officers will be confined there save the
surgeons, who will be allowed to re
main with the enlisted men at tn,
prison station at Seavy's island. Ports
mouth harbor, n. II. The ST. Louis il
due there Friday night or Saturda.
with the first lot of prisoners, whil'
the Harvard is just about to star
from off Santiago with the remainder
The report of the appearance of {
Spanish privateer off the coast o
British Columbia, which appears t.
have created such a commotion on tn
northwestern coast, came from one O
the government agents in that section
of the world. Moreover, the sam
person said that two vessels were TAX
ing on coal at British Columbian
port, which, it was presumed, was in
tended for the Spanish feet should i
t have made its way into the Pacifi
ocean through the Suez canal.
The failure OF congress to act On tn