weapons and ammunition.

The latest reports from the seat of war state that the tribesmen are
offering a determined resistance to the English advance, and from all
one hears some serious work lies before the British army in India.

* * * * *

Spain's answer to President McKinley has been cabled over to us. The
text of the letter has not been made public yet, but one of our
newspapers has cabled a statement from Madrid telling us what it is all
about. This statement has been confirmed by Señor Dupuy de Lôme, the
Spanish Minister in Washington, and so we may have confidence in it.

It would appear that the answer was discussed at a cabinet meeting in
Madrid on Sunday; a draft of the answer was then prepared and sent to
the Queen, who immediately gave her consent.

The tone of the answer shows that the present ministry of Spain is
anxious to keep on the best of terms with the United States, and does
not want a war with us any more than we do with them.

The answer is said to call the attention of the United States to the
fact that since the note was presented by General Woodford to the Duke
of Tetuan, there has been a complete change in the Spanish Government,
and that the present ministry has decided to alter the policy of Spain
in regard to Cuba, and give the island a form of government that cannot
fail to meet with the approval of the United States.

According to this statement, which, as we have said, Señor de Lôme