Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1898-07-02

Naval officials predict that the Spanish
fieetunder command Of Admiral Cam
ara will return to Spanish waters. This
prediction is based upon advices re-
ceived today from the American con-
sular agents at Port Said and the Amer-
can consul at Cairo. These advices, it
can be stated authoritatively,a announce
the refusal OF the canal commissioners
to accept the drafts offered by Admiral
Camara in satisfaction OF the canal
dues, amounting to $780, Admiral
Camara has aso found that there is not
sufficient coal at Port Said to supply all
of his ships a very serious matter in
view of the fact that he has only 1000
tons of coal in the GOLFERS accompany
ing his fleet and of the possibility that
the small supply for sale may not be
given him as result of the protest
filed by the consular representatives of
the United States. 1t is limited that the
shortness of coal supply may be due to
the activity of the American consular
agent, who. it was stated, may have
bought the coal.
A third matter of embarrassment to
Admiral Camara lies in the fact that he
has overstayed the "a hours limit i'm
posed by theiconvention of the slgnatory
powers of Europe, to which Spain Is
party. Anticipating protest by the
American consular agent, Camara has
informed the Egyptian government that
some of his ships are in need of repairs,
and that he is lying at Port Said simply
. al .,ti, nni 70,
their machinery.
1t is evident to the authorities that
unless Camara is able to secure coal at
Port Said, or at some point in the vicin-
ity, he will be unable to continue his
voyage to the Philippines. The torpedo
boat destroyers have cut their supply
in half as a result Of the voyage from
Spain to Port Said, and some of the
auxiliary vessels are in need of coal. 1t
is believed here that the supply of coal
or board Is reserved for the armOrclads
Washington June 30.-"Old glory may
be flying over Santiago at the close Of
Friday" remarked an official this morn
ing in speaking of the confidence felt
by General Shafter in his ability to
take the Cuban city in two days The
general did not ask for instructions: his
message was marked by the same indie
pendence and decisiveness which have
characterized all his movements and
utterances. 1t is not known that the
war department has sent him any in
structiOns. but circumstances seem to
be urging on to speedy action.
1t is believed, therefore, that Shafter
will make his attack at once so as to
have it over with before Pando's arrival.
He has artillery with him now, and there
is nothing to stand in the way. The re-
suit car be easily foreshadOwed. 1t is
plain that the Spanish forces are badly
organized. and that they are without
intelligent leadership. This is evident
in the failure to place guard about the
city's water supply when an invading
army was approaching the place Shat
ter makes no mention Of the diversion
of the city's water supply, but there Is
no question that General Lawton had
it in his power to intiict this serious
blow, and this fact in itself is sufficient
| commentary on the character of the
| citys defenses.
The war department has been making
preparations to show that 1t does not
look for long siege, and this would
seem to indicate that it expects an i'm
mediate assault. The department Is
planning to feed the population of San
| tiagO after the city shall have been taken
by Shafter. and arrangements have been
made to send additional rations without
delay. Shafter is supplied already with
rations for $4,000 men for two months.
This would be ample for siege. Duff
fields brigade has 10 days rations and
Garrettsons will have a like supply.
In pinch the rations now on hand
are for IA months supply for 1907 peo-
pie. but the department is going to send
Immediately as much more. The plan
appears to be to use the atoms now on
hand for feeding the populace of San
tiago, the Cubans, and the pacificos who
will be thrown on our hands as soon as
Shafter takes the city, and who will be
practically without means of subsis-
tence except as they obtain them from
the government of the United States
Santiago has population of about
so 00O. 50 that this will be no mean task
and If Skaters army is to undertake
any other operations after Selling the
city. it will need the food which the com
mssary general has arranged to send.
Commodore Watson's orders to leave
Immediately for the Spanish coast