The age-herald., 1899-02-21
Sagasta Defended His Cabinet and Military and Naval Commanders.
SCENES OF TUMULT OCCURRED
In the Chamber it Was Charped That the Surrender of Santiago Was Agreed Upon by Wash
 ington and Madrid.

Madrid, February 2O.-The cortes re- assembled today The galleries in both chambers were thronged with an axpectant crowd. The senate was very full, hardly single general being absent
 senor Sagasta, in opening the proceed ings, proposed to refer the bill providing for the cesson 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 Sagasta withdrew his proposal.
 Count dAlmenas 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, eral Linares had proven failures This declaration eliclted much applause from the public galleries, in consequence of which several of the spectators were expelled from the chamber Observing that he would deal with the shameful equalization of Santiago" Count dAlmsnas asked the house whether he should proceed and was answered with cries of "Yes' and "No," and a general uproar ensusd. repetition of the query provoking still greater tumult.
 sagasta Defends His Policy
 Senor Sagasta arose and defended the government and its peace commissioners. Then the premier criticised "America's un- justified conduct, and said that everything might be discussed except the war, as the Count d dAlmenas renewed his attack and said that five months had elapsed and not a single general had been shot. This gave rise to another tumult, and Count d'Alme. mas was called to order. Again he asked why the generals who capitulated had not been executed. Tt is quite true,' he de- clared, that the army is an army of lions led by asses" Captain-GeneTal Blancos administration in Cuba was deplorable he continued, but he was not responsible for the surrender at Santiago.
 Recriminations continued between Count d'Almenas and Lieutenant-General Correa, the minister of war, and there was re- newed disorder.
 Then General Primo de Rivera arose and denounced Count dAlmeanaS as "con- temptible caluminator."
 Blanco Takes Resf onsibility
 General Blanco followed, defending the generals and accepting full responsibility for events in Cuba during his command in the island.
 General Barges also denounced Count Count d'Almenas as caluminator.
 After a promise the part of Count d'Almenas proofs of his assertions tomor- row, the senate adjourned.
 In the chamber Senor Silvela, leader of the dissident conservatives, moved vote signed by the conservative deputies censur- ing the government for its indifference to tn country's troubles.
 Senor Annix, in seconding the motion, de- nounced the ministry for acceptin the war through fear of the Cariists and de- clared that the country was now suffering the consequence of the government pusil- lamnity. He proceeded to detail the lack of preparations and of war materials and charged the government with responsibili- ties for the surrender of Santiago, which they ordered, although the garrison there numbered 23,000 and ther was sufficient pro- visions in the place for three months" This declaration created sensation.
 santiago's Surrender Arranged
 In proof that the government was rcspon- sible for the surrender of Cuba, Senor An nix read telegrams from Senor Sagasta and Lieutenant-General Correa to General Banco ordering the surrender of Cuba as means of saving Porto Rico and the Phil ippines and preserving order in the penin- sula. He also read General Blanco's tele- gram in reply, opposing the surrender, but agreeing to obey the governments order
 Senor Anniv added that President Me Kinley had te.egraphed to General Shafter that the surrendr of Santiago had been ar ranged with the Madrid government and that therefore he must make a sort of sham attack. Captain Aunon, minister of marine, interposed at this point, saying he believed this. story to be incorrect, where upon Senor Annix repeated the statement that Premier Sagasta had ordered the sur. rendr of Cuba In ordr to save the mon. archy.