Download - ST. PAUL GLOBE - chroniclingamerica.loc.govchroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn90059523/1898-05-18/ed-1/seq-1.pdfTHE ST. PAUL GLOBE VOL. XXI NO. 138. WEDNESDAY MORICTJtG MAY 18, 1898.

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THE ST. PAUL GLOBEVOL. XXI NO. 138. WEDNESDAY MORICTJtG MAY 18, 1898. PRICE TWO CENTS-!g;v%5T,.

The Globe's Motto: Live News, Latest Mews, Reliable News— No Fake War News.THE ONLY NEWSPAPER IN THE NQRTHWEST THAT PRINTS THE FULL ASSOCIATED PRESS NEWS~REPQRT\TROOPS IN STORMThe Thirteenth Regiment

Caughtin the NebraskaCyclone

THREE HOURS OF DELAY

Fourth Section of the TrainBore the Brunt of the

Wind's Force.

CHEEES FOR THE BLUECOATS

BUTTONS CUT FROM THE COATS OF

THE MEN FOR SOU.

VENIRS

People Along: the Route Enthus-

iastic In Their Reception for theBoya Hurrying "West-ward to Join

the Expedition to the Philippines—-Regiments on Their "Way South

Enjoyinga Pleasant and Unevent-

ful Trip One Small Accident,

bat Nothing Serious to Mar the

Journey.

Bt Paul Gloibe Staff Correspondence.

NORTH PLATTE, Neb., May 17.—

The Thirteenth regiment, MinnesotaVolunteers, encountered a cyclone ashort distance west of Grand Island

this afternoon. A heavy black funnelshaped cloud rose suddenly from the

southwest and moved rapidly across

the prairie eastward.

It was accompanied by a hurricane

and terrific downpour of rain and im-

mense hall stones, which broke thewindows in the first, second and thirdsections. The cars were soon enveloped

in the cloud, and the engineers ranthrough It.

The fourth section caught the bruntOf the storm, and was so badly crip-pled that a delay of three hours oc-

curred. The first, second and third

sections got through with little dam-age.

All the wires east of this city are re-ported down, and the extent of'damage

Js not known.

SOLDIERS CHEERED.The Thirteenth has been received to-

day at every station with enthusiasm.At Grand Island a great crowd assem-bled at the depot, and the women cut

buttons from the men's coats forsouvenirs. The men breakfasted atNorfolk, dined at Grand Island, andhad supper at North Platte.

At this place they were greeted withbrass bands and rockets. At GrandIsland they were drilled half an hour.

Private Frederick Holmes, of Com-pany M, Is illwith pneumonia, but isbetter and will remain on the trainwith his company. A man in the firstsection struck his hand against a post

while waving a flag at Lexington, andbroke his hand.

The men are enthusiastic in praiaaof people in Minnesota towns who wait-ed at stations until 4 o'clock this morn-ing to cheer them. At St. Jame3 thetown gave them coffee and sandwichesat 2 a. m.

Private Morrison, Company G, RedWing, is ill with measles, and left thetrain at Columbus, Neb.—

Evan M. Jones.

TWELFTH A LITTLELATE,

Bnt It Will Be in Georgia ThisMorning.

Srrr'aJ to The St. Paul Globe.ST. LOUIS, Mo., May 17.—A1l the sec-

t;ons of the train bearing the TwelfthMinnesota regiment arrived in St. Louistoday and departed for the Southeast.They will arrive in Northern Georgiatorrorrow morning. The trains wereabo- J two hours late here.

The trip has been a delightful one.and all are well and enjoying the ride

TODAY'S BULLETIN.Page.

I—Minnesota Regiments En Route.Call for 100.000 More Men.Cervera's Mission Forlorn.New Spanish Cabinet.Possible Naval Battle.Gladstone Nearlng His End.

B—Merrltt Interview a Sensation.Troops Rapidly Mobilizing.War Talk at Madrid.

I—Red Cross Work in St. Paul.Recruiting for Regular Army.Manila Must Soon Fall.4—Editorial.

St. Paul Social Newa.At the St. Paul Hotel*.

s—Sporting.Western and National ScoresWar Revenue Debate Continued.McCord Claim Case.Banquet for Harries.

B—Markets.8—

Markets.Bar Silver. 57%c.Cash Wheat, J1.49^.Stocks Higher.

7—Minneapolis Matters.News of the Northwest.Crop Reports.Wants.

B—Forty-Year Franchise.Grand Jury Work.News of the Railways.Marriages, Btrtte and Deaths.

down the Mississippi. At Albert Leathe trains were transferred to the Bur-lington, Cedar Rapids & Northern, andat Burlington to the St. Louis, Kansas&Northwestern to St. Louis, where theO. &M. will take the regiment to Cor-inth, Miss. From there the Southernrailroad will take the troops to Chat-tanooga. The trip has been a series ofovations, cities and villages vlelng withone another to do honor to the troops.

At each station throngs of cheeringpeople waited for hours for the trains,and at the larger cities presents offruits, provisions and cigars wetethrust upon the boys. At Albert Leacoffee and sandwiches were served theentire regiment, and numerous basketsof provisions and dainties were givento the local company. Vinton, Water-loo and Cedar Rapids, 10., were eFpi-clallyhospitable, and everywhere flagswaved, bands played and cannonboomed.

One officer from each company is act-ing as officer of the guard and looksafter order in the car. Rations areserved to the men In theio seats byQuartermaster Lind, and consist of cof-fee, bread and canned meats.

Besides Col. Bobleter and staff, Col.C. J. Monfort and Roland Hartley, Gov.Clough's private secretary, are on thefirst section. Maj. T. CrClark, regi-mental surgeon, is looking after thehealth and sanitary condition of theboys.

FOURTEENTH ON THE MOVE.

It Will Reach Chlckamauga SomeTime Today.

Special to The St. Paul Globe.INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., May 17.—The

Fourteenth regiment, Minnesota volun-teers, are bowling along towiard Dixiea little behind time, but they will allbe in camp on Chlckamauga's famousfield some time tomorrow. So far every-body is in fine spirits and none of themen are too sick to take their meals.

The last section of the train arrivedin Chicago at 2 o'clock this afternoon,five hours late. The dfclay was occasion-ed by an accident to an engine- atNeenah Junction, Wis., and the trainhiad to wait their until another enginecould be brought from Neenah.

The regiment's welcome in Wisconsinwas especially cordial. A group of peo-ple at every station yelled themselveshoarse as the train thundered by. Bon-fire* were kindled all along the line,and ait Medina, which was passedabout 5 o'clock this morning, a fife anddrum corps was at the depot as thetrain went through. Crowds were outat Oshkosh, Fond dv Lac and Wauke-sha, where breakfast was taken.

At the Waukesha depot the platformwas crowded and flowers were thrownthrough the windows until the oarslooked like a well stocked florists' shop.None of the men have been allowedto leave the train and will not be un-tilChickamauga is reached.It is stated that the regiments will

be brigaded at Camp Thomias in theorder in which they arrived. Shouldthis plan be carried out, more thanlikely the Fourteenth and Twelfth willnot meet again until they return toMinnesota.

COMMISSIONS FOR OFFICERS

Given Out by the Governor of NorthDakota.

Special to The St. Paul Globe.BISMARCK, N.D., May17.—The gov-

ernor today signed the commissions ofthe officers of the state troops, andthey will be taken down by SecretaryPhelps tonight. All of the companycaptains and lieutenants have passedthe examinations and been commission-ed. Complications have arisen overthe regimental officers, but these willbe settled, according to present plans,by commissioning officers as they stand,from lieutenant colonel down, and, asno colonel will be commislsoned withtwo battalions, Col. Peake will prob-ably stay at home with the state mi-litia.

W. C. Truemaln, of Grafton, willbeiIn command of the two battalions asIlieutenmant colonel; Frank White,jmajor of First battalion, and H. C.Flint, major of Second.

THE MANILAEXPEDITION.

Cruiser Charleston Ready to Pre-cede the Pekln.

SAN FRANCISCO. May 17.-

TheCharleston is preparing to sail for Ma-nila within the next twenty-four hours.

The newspaper correspondents whohave been detailed to join the expedi-tion have gone to Mare Island, pur-suant to instructions received fromCommlaunder Glass.

The Charleston will probably comedown from the island this evening,anchor in the harbor, adjust her com-passes and sail tomorrow morning.It is now oeritaln that she will pre-

cede the City of Pekin, which is totake the first detachment of troops tothe Philippines.

The first real work indicative as tothe time the Pekin will depart tookPlace today. A squad of men from thepresidio was detailed to store her pro-vision®, and arrangements are beingperfected for the quartering of the menwho will go with her to join AdmiralDewey.

The City of Sydney and the Australiaare being coaled.Gen. Merrlam has decided that no

more troops can be stationed at thepresidio with duo regard to the- healthof the present occupants, and has madearrangements to station in the oldbay district race track all the troopsfrom Oregon, Wyoming, Nebraska,Colorado, Minnesota, Kansas, Utah andIdaho.

LETTERS TO THE PHILIPPINES.

How the Boys In Blue Can BeReached.

Now that thousands of miles willsoon separate the Minnesota soldierboys from home and kindred, with achance that eight of ten thousand milesof water will be added to the twothousand mdles of land, the next ques-tion is how to reach them by mail. Upto this time there has been but littlepostal business between Minneapolisand the Philippine islands, one or two

I Continued on Th^rd Pave.

CAIL FOR MORE SOLDIERS

M'XINLEY WANTS AN ADDI-

TIONALHUNDRED THOUSAND

All the Signs Indicate That theFormal Proclamation Will BeIssued Today The Army Ap-pointments a Surprise to the Min-

nesota Delegation, Which So Faras Is Apparent Was Not Consulted.

Washington Bureau St. Paul Globe, \Corcoran Building. )

Special to The St. Paul Globe.WASHINGTON, D. C, May 17.—The

signs all point to a call by the presi-dent, to be issued tomorrow, for 100,000more volunteers.

No new legislation will be necessaryfor this purpose, as the volunteer lawgives the executive the widest possible

discretion as to the nunTber of men hemay call out. The attorney generalgave the president his opinion on this"pclnt when the bill was examined bythe cabinet before Its approval.

Minnesota members of the housewere again surprised by the army ap-pointments today. Not a congressmancould be found who had Indorsed R. B.C. Bement for an engineer appointment,or &. J. McMillan for paymaster.

The latter Is a son of the late SenatorMcMillan. ItIs said that Bemenfs ap-pointment was made as a personal fa-vor to Gen. Merritt.

ENERGETIC ACTION.

The War Department Preparing toMove Upon Cuba.

WASHINGTON, May 17.—Considera-ble pressure has come upon the admin-istration from congressional quarters tohave the campaign hastened, and thereare thought to be signs of a resumptionof the plans of the military leaders forthe Invasion of Cuba at the pointwhere they were suddenly suspendedby the announcement of the arrival ofthe Spanish flying squadron at Mar-tinique.

One sign of this was the Inclusion inthe regular army orders of a directionto Maj. Gen. Miles to go to Tampa.At army headquarters there was nosign of Immediate departure, but, Inview of the fact that three times atleast everything has been prepared fora movement to Tampa, it may be pre-sumed thiat everything Is In shape fordeparture at short notice, without openmanifestation of preparations.

The department professes to feel no|apprehension that Admiral Dewey orhis men are inany wise endangered bytheir occupation of Manila harbor onthe present basis, but this cannot besaid of the unfortunate lnhaibitarits ofManila if the present situation is pro-tracted unduly.Itis no small matter to organize and

transport an expedition of 12,000 or 13,---000 soldiers 6,000 miles across the set*,at short notice, but the indications arethat within a week some of the soldiersat least will be on their way from SanFrancisco.

There are Indications that the wardepartment has been brought to seethe wisdom and fairness of the sugges-tions thrown out by Maj. Gen, Merrlttthat his expedition should consist ofnot less than 16,000 men, and that atleast a third of them should be season-ed troops from"the regular army, capa-ble of meeting on even terms the vet-eran Spanish soldiers Who garrison Ma-nila. To endeavor to overcome theSpanish force with less than half theirnumber of troops would seem to be asenseless proceeding, in view of thefact that there is no necessity for sucha course.

NEW SPANISH CABINETSEMI-OFFICIAL, ANNOUNCEMENT OF

ITS PERSONNEL

Senor Correa Remains as Ministerof War and Senor Sngasta asPremle9, While Castillo Succeedsas Minister for Foreign AffairsVice Admiral Butler the NewHead of the Navy Department.

MADRID, May 17—It is announcedsemii-offlclally this afternoon that thereconstructed caiblnet will be made upas follows:President of the Council— Senor Paredea

Sagasta.Minister of Foreign Affairs-Senor Leon y

Castillo.Minister of War-Lieut. Gen. Corre*.Minister of Marine—Vice Admiral llutlerMinister of Coloniee-Benor Gamazo.Minister of Finance— Senor Lopez Pui*-cerver.Minister of the Interior-Sena- Capderon.Minister of Justice-Senor C. QroziardMinister of Public Instruction— Senor Ro-mero Giron.

According to official announcementsthe composition of the new ministry is\u25a0till undefined, but it Is regarded 8Scertain that Senor Catado will enter thecabinet. It is also eaid that SenorCapedepon will finally take the colonialportfolio.Senor Sagasta spent the whole dayin conferences with several membersof the last cabinet, and in fresh nego-

tiations with the leaders of the rightwinar of the Liberals, Senor Gamazoand Senor Mauro. who Insisted on aw«U defined programme upon the fol-lowing points:

The war, the international question,the colonial policy in the West Indiesand the Philippines, home affairs andfinance both for present urgent warmeans and for the future reorganiza-tion.

Senores Gamazo and Mauro aim atvigorous action In every respect toconvince the enemies and friends ofSpain that the nation itself and thenew cabinet intend to show themselvesequal to the task of facing all presentemergencies and of arriving at definitesolutions.

The Spanish papers resolutely discussthe expediency of continental allianceswhich they affect to consider one ofthe principal objects of the future cab-inet. The Republican papers urge analliance with France and Russia, a*

the same time agreeing- with the mon-archical papers inexpecting much fromthe attitude of Emperor William. Theministerial papers are equally keenand bitter for alliances against Eng-land.

The queen regent has suspended allreceptions and festivities arranged forin Madrid and the provinces on theoccasion of the "birthday of herson, today (Tuesday), In view of thewar and the situation In Spain. She,however, distributed 25,000 pesetasamong the local charities and hospitals.Telegrams of sympathy- were receivedfrom the pope, Emperor Francis Jo-seph, Emperor Nicholas, Emperor Wil-liam and ex;Queen_lsabella. of Spain.

CUTTER GRESHAM SUNK.Mismanagement In Overloading the

Top Deck tlae Cause.OGDENSBURG, N. T.,May 17.—One-

half of the 1 United States revenue cut-ter Gresham went to the bottom of theSt. Lawrence river this morning, andnow rests In twenty-flve feet of water.

The steamer had been cut In two,and pontooned for passage through theCanadian canals to Montreal, whereshe was to be reunited and sent to jointhe navy.

While waiting for the tugs today to

MAP SHOWNG THE RELATIVE POSITION INTHE PACIFIC OF THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS.

start down the river, the section, forty-eight feet In length, suddenly careenedto one side, forcing the pontoon un-der the water. The upper pontoonthen shifted position, drawing the oth-er pontoon entirely awfty from the boatsection, almost turning- it bottom-sideup.

Fourteen seamen were thrown Intothe water, but all escaped.

The accident Was caused by over-loading tihe top deck, making the smallsection top-heavy.

The ironclad steam yacht Comanche,belonging to Mark Henna, Is passingdown the St. Lawrence canal en routeto New York, to be turned over to thegovernment to use for "war purposes.

SFNKING TO FINAL BEST

GLADSTONE) STIIX'* AMVK, BUT

WILL. NEVER SPEAK AGAIN

Sudden Failure In the Condition ofthe Patient Followed by a. Hallyand a Postponement for *lie Timetat the End Which Can at !W«,»<

Be Delayed Only a Few MoreHours.

HAWARDEN, May 18.—3 a. m.—Wil-liam B. Gladstone Is:still aliv«, and atthis hour he is in deep sleep, while themembers of the family are keeping upthe final vigilbeside the dying states-man. His physicians think that Mr.Gladstone willnever speak again.

Dr. Herbert Habershon arrived at 2o'clock this morning, but haa retired,from which Itis inferred that nothingin the nature of an Immediate collapseIs expected.

1/ate this evening aiH the servants ofthe household were admitted to thesick room for a final farewell. Theyfound Mr. Gladstone lyingon his rightside, In deep sleep, ac if dead. Bachin turn touched hi* hand and left theroom tearfully.

Mrs. Gladstone remains at the pa-tient's bedside.

The aJUtendtaiig physician said thisevening: "Itis a strange fact that whenaddressed in English Mr. Gladstonemurmurs a few word* in French, andsome times seems to be trying to prayin French.

"He has had very serious attacks ofthe heart since yesterday evening, andthere has been an altogether very rapidfailure. He lies partly unconscious, isdelirious, and has .what is medicallycalled changed stroke inbreathing. Heis no longer in paln^'

A bulletin at » o'clock yesterdaymorning afforded th«j first intimationof the serious condition of the patient.For some hours no additional informa-tion became public;.but there were in-dications that a crtsia had been reach-ed. During the dayJMr. Gladstone fail-ed rapidly, but toward evening theiewas a rally, just when It ssemed thatdeath was only a matter of moments.

Mr. Davis Declined.WASHINGTON, May 17.—The name ofßich-ard Harding Davis, wiiich was tent ~to""the

senate May .12, In the' £st of those namedtor captain And assiataA adjutant general,was withdrawn today by file president for (hereason that tor. Davis declined the appoint-ment.

In a letter to the president Mr. Davis i*plained that nig contracts with certain news-papers for services during the war precludedhim from accepting any government position.

CERVERA'S FORLORN HOPE

SPANISH ADMIRALENDEAVOR-ING TO SAVE HIS FLEET

Only Meager Information Regarding

Maneuvers In West Indies, butThere I*No Reason to Change theView That Cervera Must Fight a

Battle and That There Is SmallChance for Him to Win.

Washington Bureau St. Paul Globe. )Corcoran Building. )

Special to The St. Paul Globe.WASHINGTON, May 17.—The fleets

In the West Indies are still maneuver-Ing for position and so far as is knownSampson and Cervera are as far apartas they were twenty-four hours ago.No news has leaked out regardingSampson's movements since his squad-ron was reported at Cape Haytien, andindeed It Is believed none has reachedWashington. The suggestion that hehas moved down through the wind-

ward passage to meet the Spanish ad-minal and is now in the Caribbeansea somewhere in the triangle formedby Cuba, Jamaica and Hayti, while itcomes from naval experts Is only aguess and may be no more accuratethan a counter suggestion that hismovement has been along the northcoast of Cu/ba toward Cardenas andHavana. The bulk of expert opinion IsIn favor of the former theory and thegeneral belief Is that Admiral Sampsonie In. the Carbbaan sea or th« wind-ward passage.

SPANISH FLEET.Of the Spanish fleet there Is the same

lack of authentic information. Latestreports locate Admiral Cervera'ssquadron off the coast of Venezuela,or possibly further up toward Cuba andCentral America off Colombia. Accept-ing the truth of the Madrid story, thatthe Spanish admiral is playing for timeand position, It may be that he hasnot moved far from Curacao and laready for what may turn up.

Among naval experts the call of theSpanish fleet at Curacao is puzzling.The Island is not upon any route thatthe squadron would take for any ob-vious errand. It is very much out ofthe way if they are bound for Cuba.Inthlat case, if they meant to establishthemselves on the south coast, either atCienfuegos or at Santiago de Cuba,they could have gone westward straightthrough the Caribbean, where ailso theywould have been most secure from ob-servation.

By steering southwest to Curacao andthen northwest to Cuba they wouldallow not only Commodore Schley, butAdmiral Sampson a long start, andwould have reason to expect, whenthey did show themselves off the Cubancoast, to be met possibly by the com-bined fleet, against which they would,of course, have no chance whatever.

Even to retake the theory, whichseems to have been exploded, that theyare after the Oregon, they would befurther from her than they were AtMartinique, and west of the point atwhich she might most probably be in-tercepted.

SCHLEY WILLING.The most reasonable project, appar-

rently, that the Spaniards can enter-tain Li to beat Admiral Sampson's fleetback to Cuba, They would probab:ywelcome an encounter with the flyingsquadron, if they could catch it alone,being superior to it, on paper. ButCommodore Schley would also withoutdoubt welcome the encounter, in theconfidence that superiority in naval wa.-cannot be exhibited on paper, but mustbo determined on the sea.

Whether or not they fell in with tinflying squadron, they would expect ioscatter the blockading fleet, which theywould be easily able to do if it werenot first called off from the blockade,and then establish themselves in a Cu-ban port, preferably Havana it.-relf,where they would have the support c fthe fortifications in case of a naval at-tack, and a trustworthy base and coalsupply, by aid of which they mightmake occasional sallies.

the American fleet, or who has anydoubt about the result of such an <n-counter. The squadron is a "forlornhope," sent out to be sacrificed. And itis not to be sacrificed, as is sometimesthe cruel necessity of warfare, in ordtrto insure the success of other militaryoperations. It Is to be sacrificed tosave "Spanish pride," and to enable atottering government to hang) on alittle longer.

GAME DRAGGING.Regarding Clark, with the Oregon

and her consorts, there are no reports.Ifhe is moving up to join the Mont-gomery, Yale and Harvard at Mar-tinique, he should be well up towaidthe meeting point. Schley also has hada day for advance, and should be wdldown into the Florida straits.

The naval game Just for a moment isdragging, and, while the interest is notless Intense, the mystery with whichthe moves are shrouded to some extentprevents the lay public, and even of-ficials who are not In the secret, fromunderstanding just what is being ac-complished and how the delay affectsthe chances of the contestants. Thereis, however, no reason to change theoften expressed opinion that sooner orlater Cevera must fight and lose.

NOISE OF FIRINGNaval Battle May Have Been

Fought Off HaytianCoast

SOUND HEARD CN SUNDAY

Report Brought to Port AuPrince by Military

Commands

LONG, SEVEEE ENGAGEMEN!

FOG PREVENTED ANY VIEW OB"THE SHIPS THAT _AY HAVF

BEEN ENGAGED

No New. of the Sp.nUh Fleet, Which*Probably About Where It W«»

Ye.terday, bat Which May HuvoMoved Ip AlonB «he c.a.t v

,Colombia Toward Cuba f-i»h Destroyer at Martinique I.Ready «„ Set Sail—My.«eri««.ScontliiK Ve«,el Reported.

Copyright by the Associated PreE.PORT AUPRINCE. May 17.-A greatsensation was caused here by the arrival today of the mllitary commandantof the Isle of Tortuga off the North-west coast of Haytl, and due north ofPort de Palx, near the entrance to th-Windward Passage, who brought wordfrom Haytien to the war departmentof what Is believed to have been anaval engagement on Sunday.

HEAVY FIRING.The commandant reached Port dePaix from the IB]e of Tortuga in a

«un°e. He reported to the war offlc*that throughout the whole of Sunday avery persistent cannonading had beenheard east of the island and that fmTOits duration and intensity there was astrong presumption that a very seriouaaction was In progress.

A thick fog at the time made it lm-possible to distinguish any vessel thatmight be engaged.

SPANISH FLEET.CURACAO. Dutch "West Indies, May

17.-The Spanish fleet Is now suppo-o*to be off the coast of Venezuela, or offthe coast of Colombia.

Only a portion of the fleet was allow-ed to eniter this harbor to obtain provi-sions, cattle and coal, which were pur-chased here.

Confirmation haa been obtained of thathat the Spaniards left one oftheir torpedo gunboats at Fort d.France, Island of Martinique.

READY TO SAIL.ST. PIERRE. Martinique, May 17-The Spanish torpedo boat destroyerSTS",,,""1 the hoepital ship A»«^«are still at Fort de France. It ls ru-mored that the repairs to the Terror arafinished and that she will leave theharbor tomorrow.The Bignailiß

,hts continue and ]ast

"hewn*? I"**1"**number were fla-shed from

SCOUTING SHIP.A Spanish vessel entered the harK.rate but night showing no light,, rapid-ly scouted, and left imme.li.,

About half-past ten last evening anearthquake shock was distinctly Wthere. This experience, combined withthe excitement caused by th- presenceand movements of the Spanish war-ships, keeps up the public strain. Therela no doubt that the Spanish flewwhich has been lying in these waters'has now left Martinique, going in thedirection of Cuba or Porto Rlw.

VBSSELS SIGHTED.ST. THOMAS. D. W. 1., May 17.—1twas reported here this morning thaton Sunday last from noon to 6 p. m..twenty-seven vessels slowly steamed

westerly, north of Tortolla island, fortymiles east of St. Thomas. One steamer

Continued on Second Page.

| War News in Brief.ji Heavy firing off the coast of Haytl on!I Sunday indicates a possible naval battle.

Spanish fleet moving toward Cuba from!Curacao.

No news of the fleets given out atWashington, and probably none received.

'Squadrons in the West Indies still man- j'

euvering for position, and the naval battle '!delayed.

President, it ls said, will call for 100.00Jaddition! men today.

Alleged Merrltt Interview, which ls of- i'flcially denied, the sensation of the day at ;Washington.

Active preparations for an early Inva-'

sion of Cuba resumed at Washington.Twelve thousand men are to report to'i

Gen. Brooke and over 80,000 have been'

mustered in.No confirmation of the Spanish story of

(ha loss of an American vessel by explo-

'sion off the Cuban coast.

Personnel of the new Spanish cabinet'!

given out at Madrid.War revenue debate continued in the

'senate. (

'

Early tapitulatlon of Manila anticipated'

at London. ,

Talk from Madrid, which yesterday

told of a formidable fleet sent over toaid Cervera, has shifted to Cadiz, andnow from Spanish sources comes thestory that Spain is determined to oustDewey at Manila, and is preparing aformidable force of ship's and men forthe task. Rumor says the battleshipPfclayo, the Carlos V. and the AlfonsoXIII.,with the Patria, Rapldo and twodestroyers, are ready for sea, and willcarry fivebattalions. This story, how-ever, has been told so often, and theSpanish reserve fleet has been so oftensent in one direction or another, thatofficials do not credit the story. Theforce described is formidable, and onpaper more than a match for Dewey,but there will be no anxiety for himuntil the fleet is actually reported fromgome reliable. quarter.

SHIPS AVAILABLE.In the meantime an addition to the

United Spates fleet has become avail-able. A torpedo boat and a destroyerhave been put in commission at Nor-folk navy yard, and on Saturday Capt.Barker will hoist his flag1 over thecruiser Newark. The torpedo boat isthe MsKee and the destroyer the Yank-ton.

The McKee has just been completedby the Columbia Iron "Works at Balti-more, and has been known as torpedo

boat No. 15. She is a craft of sixty-flve tons, horse power 850, and has twotorpedo, tubes. She will be under thecommand of Cheslem M. Knfpper, lieu-tenant junior grade, who has beenon duty wilth the school ship St. Mary.He entered the naval academy fromPennsylvania and attained his presentrank in 1895.

J. D. Adems, lieutenant Junior gra^e,

will command the Yankton. He isfrom Mississippi. His present rankwas attained in 1894. He has been onduty with the hydrographic office.

The Newark Is a protected cruiser,and has been undergoing repairs atNorfolk navy yard. She is a vessel ofabout the class of the Baltimore andthe Detroit. She ha* a displacement of4.098 tens, indicated horse power 8,869.

She has a main battery of twelveguns.

Capt. Barker, who willcommand theNewark, has been a member of thestrategic board, and before that assign-ment waß in command of the Oregon.He entered the naval academy fromMassachusetts, and served through thecivil war as an ensign. He attainedrank as a captain in 1894.

WATCH ON THE DONS.

They May Stay tn the Caribbean SeaIfThey Wit.li.

WASHINGTON, May 17.— The de-partment officers are beginning to showa little sensitiveness to criticism in thematte"r of delay in bringing the Span-ish fleet into acton.

The general impression today Is thatno particular effort is to be made justnow to pursue the Spaniards, so long asthey keep within the confines of theGulf of Mexico and the Caribbean sea,but that Sampson and Schley, In com-bination, will e-ncii'cte ih! island ofCuba, maintain the blockade and con-voy troops across the Florida straits,if necessary, meanwhile simp'y k^p-ing a watch on the Spanish flyingsquadron, to see that it does no rris-chief either to the American fleet <rjby escaping into the Atlantic to the

'seaboard cities.

FORLORN HOPE.Of course this would be an inglorious

part for the Spanish fleet to play, butthere is no glorious part open to it.There Is not an Intelligent officer !nthe Spanish squadron who dees notknow that, sooner or later, itmust m»et

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