Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-05-03
Spain's Strength to Be Saved for a.
Supreme Effort.
FLEET FITTING OUT at CADIZ
Sagasta's Government VIII, Ii is
Said, Be Continued.
THE ATTACK ON MANILA


ing Of the warships Pelayo. Alfonso XIII
and vittoria, and a number OF smaller
ships. has nearly completed its prepara-
tions for active service. 1t is reported.
however, that great difficulty is expert
enced in fitting out the ships owing to lack
of money.
The British engineers have refused to
serve on board Of them, owing. II is said to
the belief that they are able to heavy pun.
ishment under the foreign enlistment act.
The Spanish auxiliary cruiser Guarda
has, 1t is announced. taken fourteen guns
on board, and is now on a trial cruise.
To Make One Supreme Effort.
1t is announced in a special dispatch from
Madrid that there is no idea of surrender
there, either in ministerial circles or among
the populace. On the contrary, II is added,
the war is to be pursued with greater vigor
This special dispatch adds that IT is even
stated at Madrid by those who are respon-
sible for the naval movements that It has
been determined to avoid isolated combats
on unequal terms and with a superior ene-
my, and that they now intend to throw the
whole united naval strength of Spain into
one supreme effort to crush the American
squadron in Cuban waters
Continuing, the special says: Until this
engagement is fought. no proposal for In
tervention will be listened to-"
Present Cabinet to stand,
The Madrid correspondent OF the Even.
ing News cables the following message to
his paper:
Although Pi emier Sagastas conferences
with the queen regent and liberal lead.
ers, Montero and Rios, led to rumors of the
formation of a national government, the
facts are that Senor Sagasta placed the
situation before the queen regent ex-
planning that the significance of the events
in the Philippine Islands indicated GER
tain possible solutions for the future.
Thereupon the queen expressed continued
confidence in the government, which will
continue as now constituted for the pres
ent.
''Senors Gamazo and Montero express the
opinion that the present cabinet should
continue in power.
THE ministers met at Senior Sagasta's
residence yesterday evening and the pre-.
mier communicated to them the result Of
mis- interview with the queen regent.
The queen regent and the cabinet"
continues the CORES pondent OF the Evening
News. have agreed that the cortes should
continue In session.
StnOT mas given nOtlCe thaC
he will interpellate the government on the
events in the Philippine Islands, and Pre-
mier Sagasta will reply, voicing the inten-
ton of the queens government to pursue
the war to the bitter end.
1T is rumored that Senior Gasset will
propose that the present minister of ma
rine. Admiral BermeJo. and his prede-
cessor, Admiral Beranger, be forced to
nc he
disaster.
"The patriotic feeling here is increas.
ing.
Augustus Reply to Dewey.
THE Spanish officials say that when
Commodore Dewey demanded the surren-
der of the Spanish gurs. torpedoes, etc.,
Governor General Augusti replied:
"'Come and face them.'"
Inquiries made at the Offices of the East
ern Telegraph Company show It 20 have
been impossible for any word to have come
from Manila since 10 o'clock yesterday
morning, London time when the cable was
cut.
The officials of the company say that,
according to their tests from Hong Kong,
the cable IVES cut fifty miles from Manila.
They think a week or even fortnight
there are no facilities there to repair the
cable, and, in any event, it will be a diff
cult task to pick up the cable in deep wa
ter.
The Madrid correspondent of the Daily
Mail says:
Captain General Augusti has cablcd the
government asking an immediate reply as
to the request of the Chinese at Manila to
place themselves under the British flag.
The government has replied that it would
uphold Spanish sovereignty in its integrity,
while respecting international rights. The
answer had just arrived before the cablo
wss cut
Beginning Of Bombardment.
A special dispatch from Madrid says the
Spanish colonial Office had advices OF the
beginning of the bombardment of Manila
before the cable cut, which said:
THUS far the American shells have not
reached the town proper, which is strong
ly protected
Continuing. the advices to the colonial
Office at Madrid are said to have read:
only the outlying native quarters have
suffered. They are now in flames. Occa-
sionally shell fell in the European town,
where few houses were struck
'The batteries of the citadel, especially
the six large guns, are vigorously replying
to the American fire. and have inflicted
damage on the fleet"
Crisis Only Postponed.
The Impartial dndependeno and the LIB
eral moderate republican, insist that the
cabinet crisis has only been postponed for a
few hours.
At the opening of business in the cortes
today vote Of censure against the minis-
ter of marine. Admiral Bermejo, will be
as a result OF the crushing de-
feat Of the Spanish feet in the Philippine
Islands and the alleged unpreparedness OF
the feet for the engagement. The govern
ment is preparing to reply to all questions
on the subject
General Weyler. the former captain gem
eral of Cuba, Is expected to initiate the
debate today in the SEM
ate.
Steamship Arrivals.
At New York. Alesia. from MarseilleaG