Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1899-02-25
THU SPANISH CORTBS
Begins the Snarl Over the Outcome
Of the Late War.
aNoT A SINGLE GENERAL SHOT,"

Count d, Alemas Complains of the Gov
ernment's Delay In Executing Lead
ers Who OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Rivera
and Barges Defend tho Generals.
Madrid, Feb. 21.-Thc cortes reas-
semhled yesterday. The galleries in both
chambers were thronged with an eX-
pectant crowd. The senate was very
full, hardly single general being absent.
Senior Montcro Rios president OF the
senate, in opening the proceedings, pro
nounccd culogy upon Nj. Faure, and Il
resolutions of coincidence with France
was adopted unanimously.
Senior Sagasta, the premier, then pro-
posed to refer the bill providing for the
cession of the Philippines to the United
States to special committee, but this
the Conservatives protested against, de-
claring that the bill ought to be con-
scientiously discussed, and Senior Sa-
gasta 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 lie Rivera, General
Wcylcr, General Blanco, Admiral Ger
vera and General Llnares had proved
failures. This declaration elected much
applause from the public galleries, in
consequence of which several of the
spectators were expelled from the cham
Der.
Observing that he would deal with the
shameful equalization OF Santiago,
Count d'Almenas asked the house
whether he should proceed, and was an
swercd with cries OF ''ycS" and mo,
and a general uproar enSued. ~ repctl-
ton Of the query provoking still greater
tumult Senior Sagasta rose and de-
Tended the government and its Spanish
peace commission. The premier crit,
cized Americas "unjustiiablc conduct,
and said that everything might he dis
cusscd except the war, because the cases
OF the generals were still sub-judice.
Count d'Almenas resumed his attack
upon the generals. and complained that
five months had elapsed and not Il
single 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 captu-
lated had not been executed. 1t is quite
true, he declared. that the army is an
army of lions led by asses. Captain Cen
eral Blancos administration i'll Cuba was
deplorable, he said, but he was not re-
sponsible for the surrender of Santiago.
determinations continued between
Count d'Almenas and Lieutenant Gen
eral Correa, the minister of war, and
there was renewed disorder. General
Primo de Rivera arose and denounced
Count d'Almcnas as "a contemplate
caluminutor.
General Blanco followed, defending
the generals and accepting full respon-
sibility for events in Cuba during his
command in the island General Barges
denounced Count d'Almenas US calum-
inator
After promise on the part of Count
d Almcnas to produce proofs of his as
sertions the senate adjourned.
In the chamber Senior Silvella, the
leader Of the Dissdent Conservatives,
moved vote, signed by the Conservative
deputies, censuring the government for
its indifference to the country's troubles.
Senior AnniX, in seconding the motion.
denounced the ministry for accepting the
war through fear of the Carlists and de-
clared that the country was now suf-
fering the consequences of the govern
mcnts pussillanimity. He proceeded to
detail the lack of preparations and of
war matrals and charged the govern
ment with responsibility for the sur
render of Santiago, which they ordered,
although the garrison there numbered
$4,000 and there were sufficient provis-
ions in the place for three months. This
danIu rn ton crnntnd u snnSatinn