The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-09-18
OONNED HIS BEST TOGS
General Macias Resplendent in a
Blue Coat and Red Brooches.
YARDS OF GOLF A
General Brooke and His Staff Were In
Fatigue Uniform. as They Left Their
Dress Suits Behind Them-Set-
Ting Down to Work.

San Juan, Porto Rico, Sept. 17.-when
Colonel Hunter. Colonel Goethal and the
remainder of his staff drove up to join
the Spanish commissioners, II was dis
covered that Brooke and staff were in
fatigue uniform. Their dress uniforms
they had left behind them when they
started to the field. AS 1t would have
been a manifest improperly under the
circumstances for the admiral and his
STAFF to wear full dress, they donned IA
tigues. The party were driven to the
palace between lines of people. from
wall to curb. The interview took place
i'm the grand salon of the palace. under
a massive gold-framed portrait of the
queen regent, n the youth for the pro-
lection of whose crown this war SO dis
astrous to Spain had been waged. The
call lasted scarcely 10 minutes, most of
the time being occupied in introduc-
tons. Admiral Schley, who speaks
Spanish luently. engaged the captain
general in conversation after the intro
auctions were completed and the prin-
cipals had settled themselves with the
members of their stats ranged behind
them. General Brooke spoke through
the official interpreter, Notwithstanding
the suspicion that he Is a Spanish
scholar of 10 mean ability.
The panish uniforms are much more
snowy thar ours. The captain general
was arrayed in a dark blue coat. re-
%splendent with gold braid, sparkling
with orders and insignia of rank. His
trousers were deep crimson. A polished
gentleman of kindly countenance in a
most trying position, he placed every
one at his ease by the grace and suav-
ity with which he greeted those who
practically came as ~conquerors to claim
a prize won. The captain general with
his staff rode to-day to the Hotel In
gleterra, at which Admiral Schley is
stopping, and returned the admiral's
visit. Later he called upon General
Brooke at Rio Pedras. This does not
complete the list of official visits. The
Spanish commissioners must return the
visit before the first preliminary of the
work in hand can be entered upon.
Pending our assumption of posses
sion here the daily progress of this
highly interesting old Spanish town
goes droning on. Everyone appreciates
the fact hat the curtain is about to
rise upo a new era, but nothing yet is
changed.
General diego, who is in active
command of the Spanish troops, makes
his daily tour of inspection of the
forts, batteries and barracks as IL
Spain is to continue in control forever.
The sentries at the forts still decline
TO allow Americans or others entrance,
just as they have for years. wen the
censorship of the cable is still vigorous
ly enforced and American correspond
ents must take all their dispatches to
the palace. where they must receive the
Endorsement of the secretary of the
captain general before they will be ac-
cepted by the cable company.
Rear Admiral SIMPSONS lombard
aanf 90 Gnn IVVa - - H. a.2 Wv~a1E
the war, although II dismounted no
guns at MORO castle, against which the
principal fire was directed, and killed
and wounded less than so people, bears
testimony to the remarkable gunner Of
our jackies. The MORO and the build
fngs on the high ground in its rear and
the high scarp, which is built from the
sea, are simply riddled. Great craters
are blown out in places by the II n
13-inch shells, and the walls are pitted
by the hail Of smaller shells. One en-
tire building was blown TO pieces and a
whole section of the Quartet lies in ruins.
There were very few modern guns
either in MORO or the more pretentious
Qualifications known as San Cristobal.
A few Krupp guns comprised their
equipment, the remainder being muzzle-
leaders of ancient pattern. Most of the
latter were mounted owe parapets of
masonry. In fact. the defenses of the
town are in opposition to every theory
of modern military science. They might
have been considered impregnable 80
years ago. To-day they are not inn
pregnable. And yet, in what would be
considered a desperate fashion if ii were
not so manifestly hopeless, Captain Ben
eral Macias had prepared to make a
show Of resistance, even after his whole
army had been driven back into the
capital. The two bridges owe which
one must pass to reach the city. which
is situated upon a rocky island, had been
mined, and probably would have been
blown up.
NaciaS would have left himself and
$1,000 starving men on a rock in the sea.
The water of San Juan comes from Rio
piedrie, eight miles away. If the main
was cut the city would not AVE a drop
of water, say such as could be caught
on the rocks.