The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-08-09

Washington, August Gust week
ago today Ambassador Cambon re-
ceiVed from the president the terms of
peace that would be granted by the
United States. When the state depart
ment closed it's doors this afternoon,
the Spanish government had not sig
nified whether or not it was prepared
to accept these conditions. Every day
during the past week an answer has
been expected and that same feeling of
expectancy prevailed at the close of
of the week. 1t is significant that all
responsible government officials are
satisfied that the reply will be an ac
ceptance of our terms when it does
come.
About 2:30 o'clock Secretary THE
baut, Of the French embassy, called at
the state department. thus giving rise
to the suppositiOn that he was seeking
to make an appointment for the am
bassadOr to meet the president to de-
liver the Spanish answer. This, how
ever turned out to be erroneous. M.
Theibaut's business being connected
with some of the recent seizures of
French merchant vessels by the block
aiding fleet, and relating in no way to
the Spanish peace negotiations. The
fact that Secretary Day, who had con-
templated a trip to Atlantic City this
afternoon, did not leave town, was also
the basis for another guess that he
had notice that the Spanish note was
coming Immediately and that his pres
ence would be required here. AS a
matter of fact, the secretary was de-
tanned beyond his train by his recep-
tion of the Italian ambassador, who
had a long conference over the Cor
ruti case.
The expectation of an early answer
is still cherished, and it was the be-
lief of the officials when the day closed
that there is no likelihood of it's receipt
by the president before Monday. 1t
was rumOred in some quarters that
the Spanish government had sent along
a notice that it had accepted the prin-
cipal American terms and would be
prepared to make final answer Mon
day, but the French embassy, which
would be the only recipient of any
such notice, gave a very quick and ef
fectiVe denial of this story.
While all this delay is deprecated,
it is realized that Sagasta probably is
making the struggle of his life to bring
the Spanish party leaders to the point
where they will agree to stand by him
in his acceptance of the terms of peace.
This fact tends to secure the indul-
gence of our government in some de-
gree and this is more readily extended
in consideration of the fact that SO far
from having surrendered any advan-
tage in agreeing to discuss terms of
peace We are gaining something sub
Stantia1 every day in the prosecution
of the campaign as revealed by the
reports from Porto Rico. The naval
plans of operations are also moving
steadily forward, and, nOtWithStand-
ing statements to the effect that the
projected cruise against the Spanish
coast by the eastern squadron has
been abandoned, Secretary Long stat
ed this afternoon that no change had
been made in the plans of the depart
ment respecting this squadron. Up to
this point not the slightest complaint
has reached the department respecting
the management of the Porto Rican
campaign, a tribute to General Miles
ability. No word has come of soldiers
without food or ammunition or of sick
men without doctors or medicine, nor
is the inward movement Of the Ameri-
can army delayed by the lack of artil-
iery, owing to General Miles insistance
upon keeping his artillery in the very
vanguard and giving personal atten-
tlon to the commisSary and quarter
masters departments.
SHAFTER'S ARMY TO EMBARK
TODAY
The war department officials now say
that Skaters army will begin en-
barking in earnest tomorrow. the
transports which are arriving being
obliged to take on stores for the home
ward trip. These, however, will be
limited in quantity in order to avoid
unnecessary delay and only ten davs'
rations will be placed aboard each ship.
Colonel Hecker, in charge of transpor-
tatlon. said that he believed it would
De scarcely necessary for the trans
ports to make two trips, for. in add
t1on to the ships already at Santiago.
there will be available for transport
purposes the steamers which are carry
ing to Santiago the immune regiments
which are to replace the Fifth army
corps at that point.
The Merritt Wrecking Company has
INFORMED the navy department that the
wreckers have succeeded IN floating the
Spanish cruiser Maria Teresa and are
about to start her under her own
steam to Norfolk The navy has notT1-
ing to do with this voyage, the wreck
ers contracted to deliver any of the
vessels of Cervera's fleet that might be
recovered, at Norfolk. It is expected
that the battle-scarred Spanish ship
will attract thousands of curious visi-
tors when she reaches Hampton Roads
It is fully expected at the navy de-
partment that the Maria Teresa will
require very extensive repairs. having.
suffered not only from shot, shell and
fire, but also from a months submers-
ion in the quickly flowing water of
south Cuba. However, the repairs will