The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-02-21
STORMY SESSION OF oRTEs.
Count D'Almenas Regrets That Five
Months Have Passed and Not Il :
Single General Has Been Shot.

Madrid. February 2O.-The Cortes re-
assembled to-day. The galleries III both
chambers were thronged with an eN-
pectant crowd. The Senate was Fery
full. hardly single general being alb
sent
Senor Montero Rios, President of the
Senate, in opening the proceedings, pro-
nounced Il eulogy upon NJ. Faure and
resolution of coincidence with France
was adopted unanimously.
Senor Sagasta, the Premier, then pro.
posed TO refer the bill providing for the
cession of the Philippines to the United
States to a special committee, but this
the Conservatives protested against.
declaring that the bill ought to be con-
scientiously discussed and Senor Sagas-
Ia withdrew his proposal.
Count D'Almenas then brought up the
question of the conduct OF the generals
engaged in the war in Cuba, declaring
that General Primo de Rivera. General
Weyler, General Blanco, Admiral Ger
vera and General Lipares had proved
failures. This declaration elected much
applause from the public galleries. in
consequence of wa "a several IF the
spectators were expelled from the cham
bcI
Observing that no would deal with
the shameful :apI u'a:ion Of Santiago,
Connt DlAlmenas asked the House
whether he should proceed and was
answered with cries OF yes" and mo,
and general upr0lr "nsued. lepl-
! tition of the query provoking still greater
tumult, Senor Sagasta rose and ic-
Tended the Government and its Spanish
peace commission. The Premier criti-
cised Americas ''unjustified conduct.
and said that everything might BE dis
cussed except the war, because the
! cases of the generals were Still sub
judice.
| Count D'Almenas resumed his attack
upon the generals and complained tadt
five months had elapsed and not sin
gle general had been shot" This gave
rise to another tumult and Count
D'Almenas was called to order. Again
| he asked why the generals who capi-
tulated had not been executed. 1t is
, quite true, he declared, that the army
| is an army of lions led by asses. Cap
| tain Blanco's administration i'll Cuoa
was deplorable, he said, but he was not
| responsible for the surrender of San
| tiago.
Recrimnations continued between
Count D'Almenas and Lieutenant Gen
cral Correa, the Minister of War, and
there was renewed disorder. Then Gen
eral Primo de Rivera arose and de
nounced Count D'Almenas as Il con
| temptible caluminator."
Genera Blanco followed, defending the
generals and accepting full responsible
! ty for events in Cuba during his com
mand in the island. General Barges
| also denounced Count D'Almenas as Il
caluminatOr.
| After promise on the part of Count
| D'Almenas to produce proofs of his as
| sertions tomorrow the Senate ad-
| journed.
| In the Chamber a resolution of condo
lence with France over the death of
President Faure was unanimously adop-
| ted
Senior Silvela, leader of the Dissident
| Conservatives, moved a vote signed by
| the Conservative Deputies, censuring
| this Government for it's Indifference 20
| the countrys troubles.
| Senor AnniX, in seconding the motion.
denounced the Ministry for accepting
| the war through fear of the Carlists
and declared that the country was now
suffering the consequence of the Gov
ernment's pusillanimity
He proceeded to detail the lack Of
preparations and of war materials. and
charged the Government with reSporsi-
| bility for the surrender of Santiago.
(which they ordered although the garr
son there numbered $4,000 and there
was sufficient provisions in the place
| for three months"
| This declaration created Il sensation.
| In proof that the Government was re-
sponsible for the surrender of Cuba
Senor AnniX read kilograms from Sc
nor Sagasta and Lieutenant General
| Correa to General Blanco ordering 'he
surrender of Cuba as a means of ,aving
| Porto Rico and the Philippines and pre-
serving order in the Peninsula.
He also read General BlancO's tele-
gram in reply, opposing the surrender,
| but agreeing to obey the Government 5
order.
| Senor Annix added that President Me
| Kinley had telegraphed to General Shaf-
ter that the. surrender of Santiago had
been arranged with the Madrid Govern
ment and that therefore, he must make
sort of sham attack.
| Captain Aunon, Minister of Marine,
| interposed at this point, saying he be-
| lieved this story to be incorrect; where
upon Senor AnniX repeated the state
ment that Premier Sagasta had ordered
the surrender of Cuba in order to save
| the monarchy.