The herald. [microfilm reel], June 10, 1898, Image 1

About The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900

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j Double Sheet
iTWENTY-FIFTH YEAR. NO. 253.
AUGUSTI DESERTED BY SAGASTA
IN THE FULL BELIEF THAT MANILA
HAS BEEN CAPTURED
Spain's Prime Minister Submits to an Interview, in Which He
Expresses the View That Information Concerning Peace
Prospects Can Be Obtained in Washington
But Not at the Spanish Capital
SPECIAL TO THE HERALD.
Madrid (via Bayonne, France), June 9— Premier Sagasta has deserted General
Augusti, commanding the Spanish forces at Manilla, and there is no doubt that the city has
been captuted by Aguinaldo, the insurgent leader, assisted by Admiral Dewey. The govern
ment, by every means in its power, is preparing the people for the news. Spain was never
so near a revolution as she is today and the outbreak may come at any moment. Senor
Sagasta has announced that the time for supreme resolution has come. He has disclaimed the
government's responsibility for Cervera's fiasco in the Carribean sea, as well as for the unpre
paredness of Spain in the Philippines. Many leaders believe Sagasta is about to sue for peace.
An Interview With Sagasta
Madrid, May 25. —(Correspondence of the Associated Press. Copyrighted, 1898, by the Associated
Press.) The correspondent here of the Associated Press has had an interview with Senor Sagasta, the president of
the council of ministers, at his office in the presidency.
The correspondent said:
" Sir, I want to ask you your views on five points. 1 shall keep the fifth in reserve, as it is in the nature
of a request; the other four are—the cabinet difficulty said to exist between Senors Gamazo and Puigceiver; the
real reason for Senor Leon y Castillo's return to Paris ; the truth as to the foreign relations of Spain—is she or is
she not seeking alliances—and what are the prospects of peace ? "
Senor Sagasta replied:
" The second, third and fourth all bear on the same subject—foreign relations. At the present delicate
juncture Ido not feel justified in speaking thereon. With respect to peace prospects, information could be more
easily obtained in Washington than in Madrid, since here there was no desire for war. Spain has been driven
into war in defense of her rights and national existence. The United States were the aggressors, and it is for
them to say when peace shall prevail.
" As regards the cabinet discussion, the question between Senors Gamazo and Puigceiver was purely an
academic one, and 1 have sufficient confidence in their patriotism to say that they will not discuss it so as to
bring about disunion in the cabinet at a time when the country is in danger. Such scholastic differences of opinion
will undoubtedly be left for discussion in quieter times.
•' No," the premier added, " 1 am sure you will find rumor is wrong in supposing there is any danger of a
cabinet crisis arising on this score."
When the premier had paused after his last remark he smiled and said:
"Now, what about the fifth subject on which you wished to speak? A favor you wanted, was it not?"
"It is," the correspondent replied, "and a very great one. It is no less than to ask, can your excellency ob
tain for me, as a journalist, an interview with her majesty the queen regent?"
The premier opened his eyes with surprise and said : "What you ask is impossible. 1 quite appreciate
the good intentions you have, but were the queen of Spain to grant one interview it would be difficult to refuse
granting others. Her majesty has consistently refused to see journalists in interviews for the press, and is deter
mined to maintain that resolution."
The correspondent thanked the premier for the kindness he had shown him. The premier listened with
courtly dignity and, as the door to which he led the correspondent closed, the prime minister of Spain remarked:
"May you go with God."
A Cabinet Council.
Madrid, June 9, 9 p. m.—The cabinet council was occupied with a long discussion of the military s ! tuation
in the Philippines. General Correa, minister of war, denied that Captain-General Augusti's position was des
perate, and Senor Sagasta added that Manilla had means of defense until the arrival of reinforcements.
The council then adopted important measures, which are kept secret. Captain Aunon, minister of marine,
was authorized to take whatever measures he considered necessary with reference to the Philippines, and Senor
Puigceiver, minister of finance, was authorized to come to an agreement with the leaders of the majority of the
chamber for the passage of the budget.
Senor Sagasta declared that the government had " no intention of taking the initiative in negotiating for
peace."
He said that he was not aware that any power was disposed to do so.
The council accepted the resignation of Lieut.-General Daban, commander of the First army corps and
captain-general of Madrid, and appointed Lieut.-General Chichilla, commander of the Second army corps, former
minister of war, to succeed hm.
The government has received no official dispatches of a bombardment of Santiago.
At the termination of the cabinet council, General Correa proceeded to the palace, where he had an hour's
conference with the queen regent.
11 p. m.— Captain Aunon, minister of marine, started for Cadiz at 10 oclock this evening. All the
ministers accompanied him to the railway station. He will remain at Cadiz until Admiral Camara's squadron is
ready to sail, General Correa in the meantime fulfilling his duties at the ministry of marine.
The fifteen vessels forming the squadron will start together under sealed orders which will only be opened
when the squadron is well out to sea. It is understood that the forces will then be divided.
Augusti's Message Held Back
London, June 9. —(By the Associated Press.) The Madrid correspondent of the Daily News, telegraphing
by way of Hondaye, France, says:
The message to the government from Captain General Augusti as to the situation in Manilla was held
back, and it is al'eged was greatly toned down before publication. It has aroused the national anger, for the
Spanish cling instinctively to the Philippines, though they are ready enough to abandon Cuba, which is regarded
as a monster that yearly devours the youth of Spain.
Clearly, there is no alternative but a surrender to Admiral Dewey. The government seems unable to take
resolution, but drifts and hopes something will turn up.
There is a feeling of anxiety over the possibility of an American attack upon some Spanish ports. People
begin to talk of Santiago as a naval Sedan.
Feels Safer There
Madrid, June 9, 8 p. m. —A mail steamer that was carrying torpedoes destined for the defenses of Manila
has returned to Barcelona.
Ready to Yield
London, June 10.—(By the Associated Press.) The Madrid correspondent of the Daily Mail says:
"There is no little doubt that Spain, seeing the hopelessness of further continuing the war, is approaching
the powers with a view to obtaining an honorable peace. The cabinet council today finally authorized Duke
Almodovar de Rio to expedite diplomatic action and in consequence the duke is now conferring with certain
ambassadors and ministers in Madrid.
"Instructions have been telegraphed to the Spanish minister in Vienna and orders likewise to Senor Aguiera,
the under secretary of state, to proceed at once to the Austrian capital. Spain is unquestionably looking to Aus
tria for assistance in her distress. Probably General Augusti will be ordered to make the best terms he can with
Admiral Dewey. A minister has informed me that if reinforcements were on their way to the Philippines,
Augusti would be ordered to hold out to the last, but as they were not, Augusti would ' act according to circum
stances,' a mild euphonism for surrendering."
THE HERALD
LOS ANGELES, RID AY MORNING. JUNE 1% 1898
Point in Cuba where invading army will probably land, with route from Tamoa
TROOPS UNDER COMMAND OF SHATTER
Are Not Needed for the Investment of Santiago and
Will Take a Longer Ocean Voyage and
embark at San Juan de Porto Rico
SPECIAL TO THE HERALD.
Washington, June 9— General Shafter's army, when it
is all collected, is going to Porto Rico. The destruction of the
fortifications at Santiago by Sampson has convinced the admin
istration that a large army in the eastern end of Cuba is a
waste, of men and money. Four or five thousand troops are
all that will be required to invest the town of Santiago when
the assistance from the insurgents is reckoned. Four or five
American warships can maintain the blockade at Santiago
harbor and prevent Cervera's escape. President McKinley has
come to the conclusion that a fierce fight at Santiago would
probably cause the Spaniards to blow up Cervera's squadron,
End he believes that the Viscaya, Oquendo, Maria Teresa and
Cristobal Colon will prove ornamental to the American navy
when manned by American sailors. Transports have been
steadily dispatched from Tampa during the last week. The six
or seven vessels necessary to convoy the army destined for
Santiago are unquestionably with Sampson now. The landing
of marines at Aguidores recently was the preliminary step
toward putting into Santiago province the 5000 troops neces
sary to command the chief town. Other transports are at Key
West. More are moving down the western coast of Florida
to that point, and there still remains at Tampa quite a detach
ment of troops which have been unable to leave owing to the
confusion of the commissary and subsistence stores Gen
eral Shaffer and his staff, there is the best reason for believing,
are still at Tampa. News of their departure and the depart
ure of the remaining troops intended for this expedition with
the two-fold object, is hourly expected.
Today's developments bear out the Washington dispatches
completely. It was obvious two weeks ago that an army of
2?,000 was unnecessarily large for the capture of Santiago, in
view of the proposal to arm General Calixto Garcia's force of
insurgents with guns and ammunition.
Lieutenant Rowan, immediately on his return from Santiago
province, made it clear that Garcia would be able to gather at
Roads From Probable Landing
Point of U, S, Army to
ago, Where Junction Will Be
Made With Insurgents
(From military map of Cuba published by the Information Bureau, Adju
tant General's office, United States army.)
least 6000 men as soon as the American ships appeared in the
offing. He also explained to the war department that while
General Linares had apparently 8000 or 10.000 troops at least
half of them would prove but poor soldiers owing to bad
discipline, the arrearages of pay and the lack of food and sani
tary arrangements. With these expert opinions before them,
army officers saw at once that a force of 5000 American troops,
acting in conjunction with the insurgents, would completely
dominate the situation, while naval officials saw equally clearly
that the blockading of the port of Santiago would prevent
Cervera's escape and might have the effect of giving the
United States the four formidable and fast cruisers imprisoned
in the harbor. Unless, therefore, some unexpected contin
gency arises to change the plans the United States, if it has
not already done so, will land 5000 troops at Santiago and
send the other transports and the majority of Sampson's fleet
to Porto Rico. Santiago should be taken in effect, if not
absolutely in fact, before the expiration of this week and
Sampson's guns should be thundering at the redoujbts of San
Juan's Morro by next Tuesday or Wednesday, while the trans
ports bearing troops are lying twenty miles out at sea. The
president believes that with Cervera's squadron in a trap, the
town of Santiago, dominated by the American and insurgent
troops, and Porto Rico taken, Spain will sue for peace. If she
does not, then the president, as told in last night's dispatches,
will invest Havana with a large army and send our best war
ships across the ocean to seize the Canaries and bombard the
Spanish coast towns.
Appealed to the Pope
London, June 9.—The Rome correspondent of the Daily News says:
A new appeal has been made to the pope to intervene or use all his
influence to obtain the interference of the powers.
The warm weather is here; if you want to keep rod, don't fall to have the pur«
and wholesome beers of the LOS ANGELES BREWING CO. ln the house. Family
trade a specialty. Telephone East 82.—Adv. . •
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