As Havana Views The War

Havana.June 30. - A local newspaper, commentlng upon the war, says that if the money already spent by the Americans in flghting had been employed in helping the reconcentrados the latter, notwithstanding the "irregularities of Consul-General Lee and other politicians," would be eating partridge and drinking champagne. The same paper, based upon a report that Commodore Watson will take a squadron to the Spanish coast and bombard the forts, says the rumor is "mere nonsense." This is the argument : "The Iowa, one of the vessels which it is said will go, has not room enough In her bunkers for the coal necessary to carry her from the United States to Spain. But even supposing she can get coal enough, what would be the American base of operations? If the American vessels were damaged.where would they be repaired? As for bombarding the ports, the answer to that is that Cádiz, Barcelona, tander and almost all the ports of Spain are well fortified and in eondition to repel any attack by the Americans. "Such a resolution, if it has been taken is due to a deslre of the American government to satisfy clamorous spirits in the United States, now greatly excited over the news that the second Spanish naval división, under Admiral Cámara, Is on the way to the Philipplnes, where it will most likely defeat the American squadron under Commodore Dewey. The American government has tried to persuade the American people that the sending to Spain of a squadron under Watson ■will compel the squadron of Admiral Cámara to return for the defense of the Spanish ports, so that Dewey's squadron will be saved, and there will be no danger that American ports in the Pacific will be bombarded by Camara." A cablegram just received from Madrid says that the cortes will meet again in August to consider a matter of the highest importance. This has been much commented upon in all sircles and has caused considerable anxiety among many who until now have shown no lack of confidence. El Pais, the semi-official organ of the colonial government, laments the brevlty of the news from Madrid, and the fact that such dispatches as ate published often appear so obscurely. Nevertheless it believes that the dispatches In question do not justify any doubt or alarm, "because neither Senor Sagasta and his liberal colleagues nor the conservatives, who might succeed him in power, would propose any solutions of international questions that wero not in agreement with the general feellng of the people of Spain and Cuba." El Pais suggests that the meeting of the Spanish chambers in August is probably intended to secure legislative sanction to negotiations by the executive for money for war necessities. This conjecture, El Pais says, agrees with the report from London as to the paymente due on the Spanish foreign debt. The autonomiats, despite all the favorable assurances glven them, are vry muoh dlssatisfied with the outlook, as appears from an editorial in yeetérday's El Pais. They realize that their twenty yeara oí work and sacrlfice for their ideale are all but useless and that they will never enjoy the fruits of their labors, seeing that what they have done is likely to redound only to the benefit of the United States. There ia a new and radical change noticeable among the producing element and the plantation owners and merchants, who have their interests In close touch with the United States. For them the only solution of the problem which will save Cuba is annexation. In their opinión there is no other way to preveut Cuba from coming to a state of complete anarchy, beoause indepJidence would never be a guarantee of true peace, but merely a source of future selflah ambition, social discorde and politioal perturbation and confliota. AVOR OOA8T FORTIFICATIONS. Certaln Esperta Considr Them Better Tha TTanUlps for Defense. Washington, July 20.- Military and naval experts say that several important lessoBS in connection with ordnnce and fortincations are furnished by the campaign against Santiago. It is pointed out that the long contention as to the relative merlts of land fortiflcations and warships as a means of coast defense has been pretty well settled by reeent operations. When Admiral Sampson was chief of the ordnance bureau he held that the most effeetive way of protecting coasts was by means of warshipe. It is said, however, that the Spanish defense of Santiago harbor has demonstrated that coast förtifications are better. The b&tteries of Morro eastle and Sacopa aided by the mining and torpedoing o th harbor, prevented the American squadron from entering and thls deepite the faot that the Spanish guns ■were in no sense fit for fortfflcation armament. It is eaid by gom of the experta that ii Morro had possesed large modern, cuas Bk those proUctins Nw Trk and Boston tt would have beao aot only to defend Santiago but to have done serious damage to the attacking vessels. FOB A BASK OF StTPPHBS. Saoond City of Porto Klco Wlll Be Oaptured. Washington, July 20.- Gen. Miles and hls advance guard of the Porto Rico army of invasión will probably select Ponce, the second city of the island, as a base of supplies. It is believed the city will have been taken witnin a week. The forcee iinder Gens. Ernst and Schwan, together with such regiments as Gen. Miles will select from the troops at Santiago, will form the preliminary expedition to capture lt. Guantanamo will be the point of rendezvous of the preliminary expedition which will consist of about 6,000 regulara. Gen. Brooke's command will be hurrled to Porto Rico as soon as possible. The capture of San Juan will not be a diffleult task, war officials agree, and the occupation of the island is counted upon with little loss to the American slde. Caimanera Is Sarremlered. Camp McCalla, July 20, via Playa del Este, Guantanamo Bay. - A launch from the Marblehead went up the bay thls afternoon to Vertcaya del Toro, opposlte Caimanera, and gave formal notice to the Spanish commander of the surrender of Gen. Toral's troops, together with the conditions of capitulation. A llmited time was flxed for hauling down the Spanish flag over Caimanera. The flag was hauled down it. once. From Spanish sources it Is erned that the total force in Guananamo and Caimanera ia about 5,000, if which number, however, only about !,000 are fit for service, the othOrs béng disabled by sickness or wounde. Ooeg to Manila Thursday. San Francisco, July 20.- The Rio da Faneiro is now soheduled to leave for kfanila on Thursday. The St. Paul is n dry doek at the Union Iron works ind will be ready for service as a ;ransport within a few days. The candia is also in doek, but will be ible to receive stores before tha end )f the week. It is quite possible that hls vessel, the purchase of which by ;he government will be completed tolay, will be turned over to the Red üross to be used as a hospital ship at Vlanila. Battleghlp Pelayo Damaged. Marseilles, July 20.- A steamer which bas just arrived here reports having =ighted on July 16, off the coast of Tunis, the Spanish fleet commanded by idmiral Oamara. As the steamer passid the battleship Pelayo a column of nnoke suddenly iseued from her, and trom the fact that a crsiser had to take the Pelayo in tow, it is evident ■hat the most powerful warship of Spain has been damaged. Yellow Fever Not Alarminff. Washington, July 20.- Actilig Surgeon-General Alden of the war departtnent insists the yellow-fever situation n Gen. Shafter's army has not been misrepresented in any particular. He c&lled attention to the fact that only 300 cases had been reported and they were of a very mild type, which could be held in gubjection. The surgeongeneral said 300 made a small percentage in an army of 25,000 men. Gorernment Controls Cables. New York, July 20.- The West Indian and Panama Telegraph company ïae sent the following notice to the Western Union Telegraph company's central cabla office. "The American government has taken possession of ;he cables at Santiago de Cuba and no communicatlon via Jamaica and San ;iago will be allowed until further fltioe." Shafter Aal for ImmnM. Washington, July 20.- General Shafter has asked the war department to tiurry forward the reglmsnts of immunea for service at Santiago City and vicinity, in ordr that there may be a minimum of dangex of further Infectlon of our troops from the fever which prevalls there. Feed for Horse and Mulé. St. Louis, Uo., July 20- A St. Louls firm has secured the largest contract for hay ever let by the United States government. The contract calis for 9,000,000 pounde of hay to be deiivered at Chickamauga. Between 450 and 500 cars will be required to transport it Volunteer Slgnal Corp lteruitd. Washington, July 20.- The seventaen companies of the volunteer slgnal corps have now been recruited to thir full strength. Each company consísts of lxty-three persons, inoluding offlc&rs and men, and a company is to be aesigned to each división of the army. Output oí Smoliels fowder. Washington, July 20.- The output of mokelees powder for the navy department is steadlly increaeing, and the rdnance bureau is receiving more than 8,000 pounds daily for the big guns. To ñepalr Onr Warahips. Washington, July 20.- The burau of construction and repair is expending $1,250,000 a month upon repairs, fitting and refitting vessels for the war with Spain. lowa PoBtofBce Kobbetl. Webster City, lowa, July 20.- The postofflce at Radcliffe was robbed just before daylight today and Postmaster F. E. Drake, who was sleeping in the office, wa3 seriously wounded by the burglara, who had entered and exploded the safe wlth dynamite. Thy then rtfled tt of itB contenta. No estimat can be placed ou the amount taken (rom the safe, aa Drk Is too badly wounded to malt ona.