Mexico weekly ledger., 1898-08-11
GAINING GROUND.
GEN. MILES HAS THE SPANIARDS
PUZZLED REGARDING HIS
MOVEMENTS.
SPANS Reply to the American Peace
Terms Has Been Received and is
in the Hands of the French
Ambassador.

Ambassador.
PONCE, PORTO Rico, Aug. s.-Major
General Miles invasion of the Island
of Porto Rico is progressing In q high
ly satisfactory manner.
Nothing has taken place to inter-
fere with the plans finally decided
upon by General Miles, and the
American troops are gaining advanced
ground every day.
This plan of having the army march
upon San Juan from four directions 10
regarded here as one Of General Miles'
shrewdest movements. He has the
Spaniards in complete doubt and has
assigned a large enough force under
each General to insure successful re-
s~istance against Spanish attacks.
At the same time, by this plan Gen.
Miles speedily will have several thous-
and Spanish troops shut up in the
vicinity of Aibonito unless the enemy
suddenly changes plans and hastens
to San Juan over the military road.
There will be a formidable American
force ready TO advance upon the Porto
Rican capital when the troops under
Gen. Henry form a junction with those
under Gen. Schwan at Arecibo. 1t ia
probable that much of the artillery TO
be used in the siege Of San Juan will
be sent to Arecibo by transport and
taken from there to San Juan by rail-.
This will be a work easy of accom-
plishment, and Gen. Henry and Gen.
Schwan undoubtedly will be abba to
form q junction with the other troops
as DON 10 they can march to the
capital.
No opposition lie expected by the
American troops in the execution OF
this plan. All Of our men are light
hearted and there is plenty of good
food for all. The forage for the horses
is superb.
Gen. Miles is giving his personal
attention to the management OF the
details Of the campaign. He intends
to press forward to San Juan, regard
less of the peace negotiations, until
orders come from Washington for
hostilities to cease.
Gen. Brooke lie here in conference
with Major General Miles.
The United States cruiser Mont
gomery and the hospital ship Belief
have arrived at the Port of Ponce.
sPArN's ACCEPTANCE HERE.
WASHINGTON, d. O., August s.-Ths
acceptance of Spain lie here. II VIII
be delivered tomorrow. Probably
the French Ambassador will be able to
ask for an audience early in the day.
In that event the answer viii be SUBJ
mitted to the Cabinet meeting.
With regard to the ceasion there II
an explanatory note that to cede ter
ritory requires the confirmatory act Of
the Cortes. II the Spanish Govern
ment goes as far as 1t can constitu-
tionally in accepting the terms this
government will not consider that 1t
is Necessary 70 wait for the Cortes TO
be called together before putting the
terms into operation and stopping the
war. 1t will be considered that II
Spain relinquishes sovereignty and
withdraws troops there need be no
risk in waiting for the Ccrtes to make
the technical cession OF territory. In
the end the treaty must be submitted
to the Cortes for ratification.
The President and the Cabinet fully
realize the character of the govern
ment with which they are dealing.
Very little will be taken for granted.
No check In war operations has been
observable since Spain asked for
terms. II anything, there has been .
little more aggressiveness. The war
will 60 on until the acceptance 10 de-
iivered and found to be wholly sstis-
] factory. II Spain has evaded or has
J come back with impossible conditions
there will be q very prompt rejection.
= Spain will be notified that Tho accept
, ance must be u~nequivocal and must be
3 made In forty eight hours or the terms
win be Withdrawn. II these negoti-
J atoms fall through some new o
ures to impress Spain win be adopted
before another week passes. But to-
night there is no reason to believe
that peace will be delayed.
The orders suspendipg hostiities
|. have been prepared at the War and
Navy Departments. They viii DO
sent forth as soon as the President 10
satisfied with spaIn's acceptance Of
: terms. American commanders in and
about Cuba, Porto Rico and the Phil
ippines win be directed 10 q a.
once all aggressive operations. The
: fact that these orders have been made
ready for the wire Ia evidence Of the
intention OF the President TO act
. promptly upon receiving satisfactory
assurance from Spain.