Manaivata Herald. SATURDAY, JULY 9. 1898.

Manawatu Herald, 9 July 1898, Page 2

Manaivata Herald. SATURDAY, JULY 9. 1898.

The War. « The accounts we receive are veiy conflicting and therefore must bi(received with a great deal of caution. It nppenrs probable that the Spanish fl-et at Santiago has been dostroy^d though that is partially open to doubt as from the first account senr it was asserted that Admiral Simp son knowingly allowed the Spaniard--to leave the harbour, on purpose to a! tick them more conveniently a' sea. Later advices tell us that Admiral Sampson had no part in the business at all, being ashore conferiog with General Shafter and that it was . a complete surprise to the American squadron. On sea the Americans have been fairly successful, and it was possibly the need of repairs that led the Spaniards info Fautiago, and that good seamanship was shown by shutting them up, but the Spaniards have proved them* selves no bad tacticians as the rush from the harbour has shown. It is possible we shall learn that a fair number of the Spanish pquadron made good their escape. The otht*r Spanish fleet which has been through the Suez canal twice has been again recalled, so that the Americans have an opportunity of finding them about the Spanish coa3t if they really desire to meet them. On land the Amer'c .n* have fared very badly, find the bombastic asser lion of General Shafter that he would tale Siniiago de Cuba in forty eight hourd ha? do" been ful« fi led, and it looks as though the nut was too hard to crack, as th.' Ameiicans are excusing further proceedings on the alleged ground that it is unnecessary since the fl^et i^ destroyed (?) or gone. This is the first landing of Americans in the island they desire possession of, and unless the town i 3 reduced their forces must be re-enibarked, and on landing elsewhere they will have an enemy on both north and south. A? the troop 3 were landed on the ex trema south it was possible that the indention was to sweep up the islands northwards to Havana, po that the rear would be safe. The stubborn stand made by the Spaniards ha? frustrated such tactics. If there is no disturbance in Spain it appears very probable that the war will be extended to any length, a<3 there ha? been no advantage gained by the Americans in Cuba. The invaders have placed too much trust in the help of the insurgents, which, as we have previously pointed out was use less, and to their charge was given the duty of preventing the relief force reaching Santiago, but it got there all the same. We suggested that the insurgents would not be amenable to discipline and we have received word that that is painfully so, as having been given charge of 40 Spaniards they basely beheaded them ; and again, for refusing to take their turn at hospital work, tbe Americans refused them rations. The invaders will get little real assistance from these bandit?, and by invoking their alliance are likely to stain their own good name as honorable opponents.