Evening Star Newspaper, May 25, 1898, Page 1

THE EVENING STAR. PUBLISHED DAILY EXCEPT SUNDAY. AT THE STAR BUILDINGS, 310] Fenzsy! my ir Cor. 11th St, by The Brenin tar Newspa; wren es Company SAUEEe ESN Kew York Ofice, 49 Potter Building, a tt ing Star ts served to subscribers tn the rs, on thee own account. at 10 cents . of 44 cents per month. Copies at the jy matl—anywhere in the per month. prepaid60 cents é Saturday Kenge lho Star, $1 per year, with joreign postage ‘m (Entered at the Pot’ Ottice at Washington, D. C.. a8 second-class ma'l ‘matter.) C7 All mail subscriptions must be pald In advance. Rates of advertising made known on applicatior. United States «r Cai r Che Zvening Star. No. 14,113. A SECOND CALL President Asks for 75,000 More Volunteers, ——_e—___ ENLISTMENTS THROWN OPEN Details of Apportionment to Be Furnished Later. THE CRY OF “ON 10 CUBA” Some Advise That Porto Rico Be Taken First. ‘WHITE HOUSE VISITORS The President today issued a proc- lamation calling for 75,000 more vol- unteers. This will make the total army strength, regular and volun- teers, 278,500. One hundred and twelve thousand men have been mustered into the service of the United States. The Senate met an hour earlier than usual this morning to resume discussion of the war revenue bill. Secretary Long said that he had received no official report that the Spanish fleet was at Santiago, and that an American fleet guarded the entrance, but he believed the press reports to that effect. It is said that the effort will be made to keep Cervera’s fleet inside Santiago harbor, and that an at- tempt will be made to carry the place by storm and to attack the fleet. General Miles today detached Col- onel Black from duty as Engineer Commissioner of the District, and as- signed him to duty at Chickamauga. Reports from Chickamauga Park contain many complimentary allu- sions to the District volunteers. The battleship Oregon sailed from Jupiter Inlet today. A reign of terror is reported at Key West, and the citizens want martial law declared. Sentiment in England is divided on the question of an alliance with the United States. Stewart Erskine denounces the war on Spain as im- moral. It is said the President is consid- ering a plan of capturing Porto Rico before invading Cuba. The new call for volunteers is taken to indicate active operations both by army and navy at once. The President today issued the fol- lowing proclamation: By the President of the United States. A Proclamation. Whereas an act of Congress was approved on the 25th day of April, 1898, entitled “An act declaring that war exists between the United States of America and the kingdom of Spain,” and Whereas by an act of Congress, entitled “An act to provide for tem- porarily increasing the military es- tablishment of the United States in time of war and for other purposes,” approved April 22, 1898: The Pres- ident is authorized, in order to raise a volunteer army, to issue his procla- mation calling for volunteers to serve in the army of the United States: Now, therefore, I, William Mc- Kinley, President of the United States, by virtue of the power vested in me by the legislation and the laws, and deeming sufficient occasion to exist, have thought fit to call forth and hereby do call forth volunteers to the aggregate number of 75,000, in addition to the volunteers called forth by my proclamation of the 23d day of April, in the present year; the same to be apportioned, as far as practicable, among the several states and territories and the District of Columbia, according to population, and to serve for two years, unless sooner discharged. The proportion of each arm and the details of en- made known through the War De- partment. In witness whereof, I have here- unto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed. Done at the city of Washington, this twenty-fifth day of May, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and ninety-eight, and of the independence of the United States, one hundred and twenty-second. WILLIAM McKINLEY. The President: WILLIAM R. DAY, Secretary of State. Open Enlistments. : Secretary Alger said this afternoon that the additiohal volunteers called for will not be recruited from the National Guard, as were the first 125,000, but that the enlistments will be open. The regulations referred to in the proclamation under which the enlistments will be conducted have not yet been prepared, and it is thought that there is no occasion for hurry in this matter until the full draft called for in the first proclama- tion has been secured. It is further stated that the deci- sion to issue an additional call for volunteers was not. reached until the cabinet meeting yesterday afternoon. The call, it is supposed here, indi- cates a determination to press the campaign actively and vigorously from now on. Gen. Corbin’s Statement. A statement, prepared by Adju- tant General Corbin today, shows that when the army of the United States is fully organized under exist- ing authority, including today’s call for 75,000 volunteers, it will consist of 278,500 men, divided as follows: Regular army...... 62,000 Volunteers from states and territories ... Three cavalry regiments at 200,000 large beet ee 3,000 Ten infantry regiments of United States volunteers (immunes) ............. 10,000 Engineers at large......... 3,500 Total. “On to Cuba” is the cry around the White House today since the establishment of the firm belief in administration circles and at the Executive Mansion that the fleet of Admiral Cervera is securely bottled in the bay of Santiago and apparently beyond power of doing harm. Secretary Alger was in conference with the President about noon today, and It is said that he was uncompromising in his views that Cuba ought to be invaded at once by a powerful army. He argued, it is said, that everything should be swept with a rush now that danger to convoys is over. The administration does not be- lieve that another fleet is yet on its way from Cadiz. Even if it has left there, it is yet weeks away from Cuban waters. “Land an army and bombard Havana from the sea,” is the cry on all sides around the White House. This cannot be said to be the determination of the President, who is securely keeping his plans, but it Is the slogan of friends whose advice he frequent- ly took before the declaration of war. Some Say Porto Rico. With this almost universal advice that Cuba must now be captured are a few trusted friends of the President with the opinion that Porto Rico should be taken first and Cuba afterward. ‘“Bombard San Juan in earnest this time, silence the forts, land troops and capture the island,” is the advice given by one of these friends. “There are 13,000 Spanish troops on the island,” continued the speaker. “We can land 15,000 Americans and the island is ours. While hot, the climate is healthy, and death and destruction do not lurk in every breath of air as in Cuba. Besides we want Porto Rico before the Spaniards ask for peace. After we secure the island we can march on Cuba, which we will have to give up to the Cubans. We won't have to give up Porto Rico, however, and we want something to compensate us for the war.” Plan Under Consideration. It is declared that the President has this plan under consideration and is seriously giving it his attention. The project has been put before him. ‘Those who are advocating the capture of Porto Rico are among those opposed to tn- vading Cuba at this time. They see in this new program a chance to gain their point and at the same time largely silence the demand from all quarters for marching on Cuba. The projectors of the Porto Rican cam- paign say that Schley can easily sink a few old vessels in the narrow outlet from San- tiago and effectually silente Cervera for all time. One ship and a few men would be sufficient, it is claimed, to prevent the re- moval of this debris. Such a scheme would, it is further claimed, permit a withdrawal of a majority of Schley’s squadron to what- ever point deemed best by the naval au- thorities. All these suggestions are predicated on the belief that Schley will be unable to get to Cervera and must be content to wait on the outside. A Countermine Plan Probable. A prominent officer of the engineer corps of the army, who was at the White Hous> today, said that if Commodore Schley de- cided to attempt to get at the Spanish fleet he would probably send for the dynamite cruiser to countermine the narrow channel entering the harbor of Santlago. “This would be the most interesting thing in naval warfare,” he said. “Countermining is done by mapping off a place in squares. Big blocks of dynamite are thrown into each squar2 and exploded. If there are any maines they are exploded when the dyma- raite goes off. The actual work is easy if not interfered with by fortifications or ships.” i & Trade Commiasioner Suggested. Charles A. Moor2, vice presiden® for New listment and organization will be! (Continued on Second Page) zt IN REIGN OF TERRO | Citizens of Key West Want Martial Law Established. TWO MURDERS SINCE YESTERDAY Jealous Negro Fires on Two Sailors, Killing One. JOHN J. DORSEY KILLED KEY WEST, Fla., May 25.—Key West is having a reign of terror. Two murders were committed during the night, and the best citizens, feel that unless the town 1s promptly put under martial law a state of riot may prevail at any moment. The police force consists of three men, with grievances of thelr own, and with streets and grogshops infested with tur- bulent bluejackets, negroes and roughs of many classes the danger to the respectable classes is by no means inconsiderable. In consequence of last night's bloodshed Commander Forsythe has already asked for a guard of twenty-five marines to pro- tect the naval station and government dock, and strong efforts are being made by citizens to have martial law declared. Sailor Deliberately Murdered. While William Carne, a seaman on the auxiliary gunboat Morrill, and Vladimir Ichnitski, a sailor of another gunboat, were sitting in a Cuban coffee shop last night Charles Kitchen, a local negro, approached, bearing a rifle on his shoulder, and with- out a word of warning he aimed it at the sailors and fired. One shot struck the Ruesian on the back of his neck, inflicting a wound from which he died at the hospital a few hours later. A second shot grazed Carne’s forehead and, as the latter leaped to his feet, the negro closed in upon him and beat him on the head with the butt of his rifle until the stock of the weapon broke and the sailor lay senseless. The crowd that witnessed the affair made no attempt to interfere and Kitchen escaped. Sheriff Knight organized a posse and spent the nignt in pursuit of Kitchen. He was found in a lot early this morning, but dashed into a doorway, escaped through the house and had not been captured up to 10 o'clock. ‘The exact cause of the shooting is un- certain, but Is said to have been Kitchen’s jealously of his negro wife. Victim of Second Crime. The victym of the second crime was John J. Dorsey, a reputable machinist of Mana- tee, Fla., about fifty-five years of age. He was found dead early this morning in a vacant lot near the Key West Hotel. There were bloodstains on his head and bruises on his face and neck. Dorsey was a man of family, and owned an orange grove at Manatee. His son is an oiler on the Marblehead, and, being anx- ious to see something of the war, the elder Dorsey came here and secured a govern- ment job. He was paid off yesterday, and after paying his board bill, had seven or eght dollars in his possession. Following a lively drinking bout in a tevern a few yards from the lot where his bedy was found, Dorsey left the place, and was followed by Charles Wallace. ——— GOING TO THE FRONT. Gen, Miles and Staff Will Leave for Tampa Tonight. Major General Miles and staff, occupying Sovthern railway private car 102, sleeper, combination passenger and baggage car and one baggage car for horses, will leave Washington tonight, running as special train, about 11 p.m., for Tampa, running via Southern railway Washington to Co- lumbia, and F., C. and P. R. R., Columbia to Jacksonville. —____+-.___ LAND DONATED. Given by the Government to Private Institutions. ~ A report from the Secretary of War to the Senate committee on the District of Co- lumbia has been rendered, showing land in the District of Columbia donated by the United States in past years to private in- stitutions. This report shows donation of lots as follows: Georgetown College, 518 lots; Columbian College, 180 lots; St. Vincent’s Orphan Asy- lum, 73 lots; Washington City Orphan Asy- jum, 29 lots. ——___- e+ _--___. CAME OVER FROM CAMP. Officers of the 65th New York Visit the White House and Departments. The officers of the 65th New York Regi- ment of Volunteers, in full uniferm, came over to the city from Camp Alger today, visited the White House and some of the executive departments. They were accom- panied by Representative Anderson of Buf- falo, from which city the soldiers of the regiment were largely recruited. They first went to the Executive Mansion and then to the State, War and Navy Departments, where they were introduced to the Secre- taries and to General Miles and Adjutant General Corbin. Colonel Samuel L. Welch, ir., is in command of the regiment. Se ———_~+-e. GOODS FOR PHILIPPINES. The Islands to Be Opened to Ameri- can Merchants. General Merritt will probably open the Philippine Islands to American merchants. That is said to be part of the policy he is to follow in his military governorship of the first foreign conquest of the United States. This policy was agreed on by the President and General Merritt, it is said, after the most careful consideration. The same policy will probably be pursued in the case of Cuba and Porto Rico. All ds from the United States shipped to the Phil- 5 emg! will be permitted to enter free of luty. With similar conditions existing in Cuba and Porto Rico they will prove great markets for the United States. ——_—__-e The Oregon Sails Again. JUPITER, Fla. May 25.—The United States battle ship Oregon, which arrived here at 10:30 o'clock last night, has left Jupiter. —_—__ Catting of Cables Denied. KINGSTON, Jamaica, May 25.—The West India and Panama Cable Company denies that the cable lines from Santiago de Cuba to San Juan de Porto Rico and Ponco have been cut. The company adds that messages for Porto Rico will be received. | WASHINGTON, D. CG, WEDNESDAY, MAY 25, 1898-FOURTEEN PAGES. TWO CEN —=—=P The Evening Star is the only afternoon paper in Washington that receives the dispatches of the Associated Press. It is therefore the only one in which the reader can find the complete news of the world, directly trans- mitted by telegraph, up to the moment of going to pres: General Impression at Key West Regarding ~ Spanish Fleet. Destruction by Sampson and Schley Now Regarded as an Inevitable Fate. Its KEY WEST, Fla:, May 25.—There is noth- ing definitely known here about the possible operations in eastern’ Cuba, but the view is accepted at this place as a fact that the” Spanish fleet is lockaded in Santiago harbor, in which event the naval opinion here is that the Spanish fleet has ‘‘commit- ed suicide.” It is now no breach of confidence to say that Commodote Sehley and Rear Admiral Sampson are believed to have Admiral Cervera in their reach, and, if the Span- jards are in Santiago harbor, they can be blockaded and starved out. A single heavy American vessel can hold the harbor’s nar- row exit, through which the Spaniards could emerge only singly. The Spanisn fleet is very fast, but it is not composed of heavily armored vessels. Indeed, any of Admiral Sampson’s battle ships could, in the opinion of navel experts, engage the entire Spanish fleet with a fair chance of coming off victorious. The American com- mander has not only ships for battle, but for the chase as welt. This is the view here, where the movements of the Ameri- can fleet are approximately well known. Among naval officers and people at Key West generally there is the most thorough confidence in the skill and energy of both the American commanders, and it is be- lieved their triumph in West Indian waters is assured. —>_-—_ TO RETAKE THE SARANAC. Admiral Dewey Sends the Baltimore md Callao to Hoilo. NEW YORK, May 25.—A special dispatch from Hong Kong says that Admiral Dewey, at Manila, has sedt the cruiser Baltimore and the little gunbeat Callao, recentiy cap- tured fromthe Spanianqs, to Hoilo to retake the American bark Satawac. This vessel was selged iby the Spaniards on April 24, at lloil®, where she had just unloaded a cargo of. '3;800 tons of coal, which was also sélged by the Spaniards. = DUTCH NOBLEMAN ENLISTS. Count Van Walé@k Bears Spain an Ancient Gradge. CLEVELAND, Oho, May 25.—A soldier ky birth, who though young in years has already fought under two flags, and who befongs to the nobility of his native land, has enlisted here ag a private in the in- fantry of the regular United States army. The new recruit ig-Eugene A. Van Wal- dek, who is q Dutebman birth and who heats the title of count dn the’nobility of Holland. Count Van" Waldek,” WH6°Is only twenty-five years of age, belongs to a dls- tinguished miijtary family and has been in the military service ever since his twelfth year, when he was sent to a mili- tary training school. He served ag ser- geant major in the Dutch army and then went to Germany wend entered the military service with the rank of first lieutenant. His ccmmission expired April 14, and he at ence set sail for America to enlist his for- tunes under the stars and stripes. “Spain has done more wrong to my coun- try than to the United States,” said Count Van Waldek, “and I want to avenge my ancestors for the thirty years’ war carried on against them by the Spaniards.” os SS TAYLOR TO SUCCEED HODGES. Ocher Changes Among Officers in Vir- ginia Volunteer Troops. Special Dispatch to The Evening Star. RICHMOND, Va., May 25.—It is now set- tied that Lieut. Col. G. W. Taylor of Nor- folk will be commissioned by Gov. Tyler colonel of the 4th Regiment to succe2d Col. Harry Hodges, resigned, and Maj. Edwards will be commissioned Heutenant colonel to succeed Taylor. The question of Edwards’ successor will be decid2d by an electicn which Gov. Tyler will order for the com- missioned officers of the regiment. Capt. Hope of Hampton is the ranking of- ficer, while it is ungerstood a majority of officers favor Capt.«Tarrell of Norfolk. A delegation call2d on Gov. Tyler today urg- ing Capt. Hope's claims. Since the mus- tering in of the’ two companies, formerly the Richmond Blugs, the situation may have ‘changed, —— REPOSE IN HAWARDEN CHURCH. Tlousands Take a Last Look at Mr. Gladstone's Remains. HAWARDEN, May 25.—The remains of Mr. Gladstone were removed this morning’ irom Hawarden Castle to ‘the village church. They were carried by half a dozen old retainers of the family to a bier on wheels, on which they were taken over the lawn, pasf ‘the favorite nooks of the deceased-in the park to the church, fol- lowed by the fatnily. Thousands of ‘people have been arriving at Hawarden all day long to view the re- mains. Several ladies fainted from excess of emotion when passing the bier, and many men and women dropped on’ their knees and silently prayed. The rey starts for London at 6 o'clock this evening, ——+-—__—_ Persepal Mention Mr. Edwin S: Miligof Cleveland, Ohio,who has been the guest of Col. and Mrs. T. H. Anderson for séveral days, left for the east yesterday; His sister, Miss Mills of Phila- delphia, who accomspamied him here, wil remain the guest f! Mrs. Anderson until next week. Judge Advocate :@gneral Lemly of the nevy has gone to¥Salem, N.C., where he is to deliver an. add@regsito the ge of the female academy. atethat pl Mr. Charies J. Bell, tie rotten of the American Security, an@ Trust Ccmpany, has returned from +a. few days’ outing, which Be Spent in thé A@irondacks. He re- Ports the fishing toibe good. Mr. C. Norman tage eee Monday night for Tampa; Fla. as secretary to Brigadier General ‘William Ludlow, U. 8. A. Awarded Medals of Honor. The Navy Department has awarded med- als of honor. to John Everetts, gunner’s mate the first class, and Daniel Atkins, both of the torpedo boat Cushing, for their heroic endeavors to save the life of their shipmate, Ensign J, C. Breckinridge, who was drowned while executive officer of: the Cushing, en Pat io Havana, on February ll. The’ Lite Saving Benevolent Associa- tion of New ‘York has also awarded two gold pins to these men. seas BSS GR Se FoF Defense at Boston. The Navy Department has purchased the ferryboat East Boston for use as part of he Seenoran. of defetme tn Boston ‘harbor. SS I TE ES NEE Lr ON ee ee ee NOE 51 SiO NEUES AUR eG Sa ek ll Cl St Eh Oe R|SOTTLED UP AT SANTIAGO|THF SPANISH FLEET Secretary Long Convinced That It is in Santiago Harbor. WILL BE KEP? THERE BY OUR SHIPS No Longer to Be Counted as a Factor. INVAS!LON TO PROCEED Those persons who have been very skep- tleal about the reports that the Spanish fiset is at Santiago de Cuba say that Sec- retary Long and the Navy Department offi- clals generally are so firm in the convic- tion that Admiral Cervera’s fleet is bottled up at Santiago de Cuba that persons with- out definite information are not warranted in disputing the point. But whether this opinion of the department is to be relied upon depends on the character of the in- formation which the Secretary has. He does not confess that any definite statment ras been received from either Commodore Schley or Admiral Sampson, but indicates that his conviction that th? Spanish fleet is at Santiago de Cuba is based on a general knowledge of the situation. If the depart- ment's information is simply of a negative character and based largely on inference, it is suggested that ther is still a possibil- ity that the Spanish fleet is not there. It must be appreciated, however, that Secre- tary Long is not in the habit of announcing an opinion in this positive way except on very corr2ct information. The question is being discussed pro and con, and there is considerable speculation as to whether, if the Spanish fleet is at Santiago, the entire fleet is there or has b2en divided; and also as to the number and character of vessels. To Remain for Reinforcements. One interesting question is whether the fleet was accompanied by a supply ship and whether the purpose of entering the harbor was to land supplies, it being found impos- sible to land them elsewhere, or whether the fleet was compelled to seek refuge thre ‘on account of the bad condition of some of the vessels. Many believe it was the intention of Ad- miral Cervera to remain there until rein- forcements arrived from Cadiz. For some time It has been felt extremely probable that the Cadiz fleet was coming to join Cervera. The manzuvers of the Spanish admiral have indicated that he was await- ing reinforcements, and it is believed that the need of ecoromizing his coal supply, which he has found difficulty in replenish- ing, necessitated his seeking a harbor of refuge where he could enjoy comparative immunity from attack until reinforcements, accompanied by transports, should arrive to join him. It required too great a risk for him to attempt to reagh Cienfuegos, and h2 was therefore left to choose between Santi- ago de Cuba and San Juan, Porto Rico. It was believed by many authorities that he would try to reach San Juan, and if it is true that he has not done this, but is bottled up at Santiago, his taking this course is regarded as an evidence that he is short of coal and provisions, and that his vessels were not in a condition to un- dertake a dash to San Juan. The Spanish fleet enjoys greater immunity from attack at Santiago de Cuba than it would at San Juan, but its remaining there puts an end to its operation and renders it extremely difficult, if not impossible, for relief to be got to it by any fleet which Spain could organize. No Longer a Factor. The best authorities say that if Admiral Cervera’s fleet is at Santiago de Cuba it need no longer be counted as a factor in the war. It may be the design of the Spanish to send enother fleet to attack ours at that point while Admiral Cervera makes an attack with the torpedo boat de- stroyers under his command, thus attempt- ing to subject our fleet to danger on both sides. But this could not be successfully accomplished, as two vessels could pre- vent any of Admiral Cervera’s fleet from coming out of the harbor, and our fleet in those waters is strong enough to destroy any force that Spain could send against them. Invasion to Go On. The plan of campaign being considered, based on the assumption that Admiral Cervera’s entire fleet is at Santiago, is to keep it blockaded there and to proceed at once with the invasion of Cuba. This plin contemplates that as soon as a sufficient army is landed in Cuba to hold the Spanish in check at every point and to warrant aggressive operations, an attack by land forces upon Santiago de Cuba, which it is said could speedily be compelled to sur- render. The occupation of Santiago de Cuba by our troops and the blockading of the entrance to the harbor by our fiect would leave the Spanish ficet utterly with- out support or escape, and the Spanish admiral would either have to surrender or have his fleet destroyed. The same plan contemplates the bom- bardment of Havara and a general attack upon the Spanish forces at ali quarters. By following this plan of prompt and ag- gressive action it is urged that before another Spanish fleet could be got to Amer- ican waters we could “bag” the Island of Cuba and Admiral Cervera’s fleet at the same time. Secretary Long’s Statement. On leaving the White House early this. morning, Secretary Long, after a satisfac- tory talk with President McKinley, said that he had reason to believe that .he Spanish fleet 1s in Santiago harbor, and Commodore Schley on the outside, planning how to get a fight out of the Spanish ad- miral on anything like equal terms. “The Oregon has arrived safe at Jupiter Inlet,” the Secretary also told the Presi- dent. Jupiter Inlet is on the Florida coast, many miles north of Key West. The tele- gtam announcing the safe arrival of the Oregon did not say whether the Buffalo and Marietta were also safe at Jupiter In- let. : He said that he had received no official information giving the positions of the two fleets, but on general knowledge ef the vera expected to enter Santiago harbor and leave again before the arrival of the Ameri- cans, but he had underestimated Yankee energy and dash and will pay the penalty. The Secretary does not believe that Cer- vera purposely allowed himself to be trap- ped, under the belief that the Americans would walk into a net. Neither does the Secretary believe that Cervera is daily ex- Pecting a relief squadron which will attack the Americans from the rear while he sal- lies out to take a hand. If this has been his calculation it will be found that Schiey will be reinforced, so that he can whip two Spanish squadrons, At the same time, Ha- vana will be kept securely bottled. The fleet there will be sufficient to whip any Spanish squadron, and to besiege the city in addition. Many naval officials at the White House this morning said they believed that Cer- vera was out of coal when he went into Santiago; either this or that some of his ships were in need of repairs. Belief at Navy Department. The Navy Department hopes, and even belleves, the report is true that the Span- ish squadron is at Santiago, but so far is not In possession of accurate information on that point. Still the officials believe that Cervera is in Santiago harbor. The reason for this belief, so far as can be gathered, is that the Spanish squadron when last heard from was in that harbor, and it has not been seen anywhere else, in spite of the fact that the scouting vessels of the navy fairly swarm in the West Indian wa- ters and the United States consuls on every island are on the alert to watch and to re- port the movements of the Spanish fleet. The department officials accepting the view that Cervera is in Santiago harbor are of the opinion he is likely to remain there for a long time, weeks and months perhaps. Too Strong to Be Attacked. A study of the defenses of the harbor and topographical features has convinced the experts that to undertake to carry the Place by storm from the sea and attack the fleet under the protection of the forts would involve so great a loss of life on our part as to be entirely unwarranted under existing conditions. The harbor is known to be mined, and these mines are so well protected by judiciously placed shore bat- teries that the usual methods of counter- mining could only be practiced with the utmost peril to the sailors of our fleet. Morro Castle, one of the principal de- fenses of the harbor, is perched, as indicat- ed by its name, upon a high elevation. its guns could, if served with anything like fair gunnery, rain a most destructive fire down upon our ships, and not even the bat- ue ships and monitors are designed to re- sist a plunging fire of that kind. On the other hand it is extremely difii- cult for guns mounted on shipboard to be sufficiently elevated to throw projectiles with any effect against a modern fortifi- cation on an elevated bluff or hill. That is the lesson learned at San Juan de Porto Rico, and the fleet there had the advantage of being able to lie off at long range, which it will not possess in the attack on Santia- go. Of course the place ceuld be taken by assault, but, as already stated, the officials do not believe that the present conditions Warrant such an expensive undertaking. Will Keep Cervera Inside. So the effort will probably be made, if Cervera is inside Santiago harbor, to keep him there until starvation causes the sur- render of the Spanish squadron and the forts of Santiago. That this can be done is not doubted by naval experts, as the nar- row channel connecting the inner harbor with the sea, requiring the Spanish ships to emerge singly, would expose them to al- most certain destruction at the hands of a couple of armored vessels or monitors commanding the entrance. Of course there is always the danger of these watch dogs being themselves attacked and destroyed by some of the torpedo boat destroyers at- tached to Cervera’s squadron, provided their commanders are desperate enough to face the tremendous primary and sec- ondary batteries of the American warships. There is also some risk of an attack on the blockading vessels from without. The news has reached ths Navy Depart- ment today that the Spanish torpedo gun- boat Terror had cleared out of the harbor of Fort de France, after having taken coal from the Alicante. Such a craft contains vast possibilities of mischief ‘unl2ss her whereabouts are accurately known. Given Three Months. “I give the Spanish equadron a three months’ lease of life if they are in Santiago harbor,” said a prominent naval officer this morning. He explained that he based this calculation on the length of time that the supplies of the fleet would hold out. Long before that time expired the town of San- tiago, which will probably be cut off entire- ly by th2 insurgents, and perhaps by Unit- ed States troops, from the surrounding country, will be practically starved, but, following the Spanish practice elsewhere, Havana and Manila, for instance, the mili- tary and naval forces, appropriating all the food supplies, would hold out longer. The lcng watt involved in this calculation would, th officer explained, have a very substan- tial compensaticn in the probable acquire- ment by the United States of the splendid vessels that go to make up the Spanish squadron, through their surrender. They repr2sent in money value alone about $15,- 000,000, and, besides being ready to hand, they have an additional valu: to the United States that cannot be expressed in figures. The Cabinet Exultant. Members of the cabinet are exultant over teday’s news regarding the Spanish fleet, and, aithough they are not willing to make public the source of their information, they regard it as perfectly trustworthy. They are not willing to state the exact position of Sampsor’s fleet, but say that it is acting in concert with Schley and can come to his relief at any time should the situation re- quire it. The published report that another and more formidable fleet is en route from Cadiz to the relief of the imprisoned squad- ron is not credited by members of the ad- ministration, but should this prove to be the fact, the move would be welcomed by our naval authorities, as it would certainly recult, it is sald, in the destruction of the two fleets instead of cne. Members of the administration regard the present situation as most favorable for our cause, and do not doubt that in a very ‘|OPINION IS DIVIDED ——— British Sentiment Not a Unit in Favor of Alliance, ERSKINE’S VIOLENT DENUNCIATION He Declares Our Warfare on the Spanish is Immoral. WELLINGTON’S GIFT TO SPAIN eae LONDON, May 25.—In the newspapers to- day there are several striking instances of American and anti-American feeling. While | the majcrity of the papers allude with pleasure to the references to the queen in yesterday's celebrations at New York and Tampa and in the prayer of the chaplain of the Senate, the Morning Post has al- lowed to appear in its columns a violent denunciation of America from Stewart Erskine, a brother of Baron Erskine, who alludes to America’s ‘present immoral war- fare against Spain,” and asserts that the sentiment of the country which is worth having is for Spain. St. James Gazette's Change. On the other hand, the St. James Gazette, which has hitherto been bitterly anti- Americar, seems to be becoming much mere friendly. It says, regurding the dis- position to blame America for the slow prcgress of the war: “Sailors who know the Pacific and the Caribbean seas are well aware that delay is the essence of a naval war. They remember that Nelson found it difficult to discover the Spanfsh fleet somewhere between Jamaica and Cadiz, and they realize that this slow pro- cession is not interesting. But the presence of the gunboats around the sullen island means that the American officers are get- ting the range of every gun of the batteries that will later oppose the landing of the troops, just as Neison did on a similar occasion.” Wants Distinct Understanding. The Westminster Gagette strongly advo= cates a distinct understanding between the United States and Great Britain. It says: “The Americans are not going to step out of their continent without raising a variety. of questions which will involve them with the European powers. Their Monroeisti, in so far as it relates to South America, is likely to be questioned anew, and a Euro- pean squeeze is likely to be applied to them from many parts. Therefore it is highly. desirable for them, as well as for us, that there should be a British-American under- standing, and it behooves both countries to consider betimes some of the essential business aspects of the matter.” Wellington Aids Spain. The fund being raised by the Countess Valencia, wife of the former Spanish am- baseador here, for the relief of the Spanish wounded Has received several important contributions from aristocratic sources, in* cluding $500 each from Lady Clanwilliam and the Duke of Wellington. aE a ARMY UNIFORMS. Gen. Miles Issues a General Order on Facings. General Miles has issued a general order prescribing field uniforms for the army as follows: “The color of the facings of the uniform of the several arms of the service will be “General officers and officers of the gen- eral staff, corps and departments, dark sky blue (color of the trousers of the officers of the line). “Infantry, light sky blue (color of the trousers of the enlisted men). “Artillery, scarlet. “Engineer troops, scarlet piped with white. “Post quartermaster’s sergeant, whité piped with buff. “Ordnance troops, crimson piped with “Post commissary sergeant, with cadet gray. “Sergeant signal corps, black piped with white piped “Hospital corps, emerald green. The Secretary of War has decided that the prescribed collar device arrangement shall be the same on the recently adopted blouse with the fallen collar as that de- scribed for the blouse with the standing collar, and that it shall be the same for officers or soldiers of the volunteer army as for officers of the regular army, except that In the case of the verte the letter V shall be added to the “U. S.” ———————E GROWTH OF THE ARMY. The Men Mustered Into the Volunteers Number 112,000. One hundred and twelve thousand men have now been mustered into the volunteer army of the United States, and the official reports show that the greater number of these are ready to move to the front. Over two-thirds of the states have 2ntirely com= pleted their musters and are ready, should the emergency arise, to furnish additional troops. The failure of some of the states, notably four or fiv? in the south, to furnish the men called for up to this time is a sur- prise to the army officere on duty here, but is ascribed, not to a lack of patriotism, but to a belief, probably shared by many of the National Guardsmen, who had home ties and business connections which they could not well afford to give up, that plenty of other persons not so incumbered would readily be found to take their places. What is regarded as ample time will be given the states in question to fill the apportionment made by the War Department, and the ex- pectation here is that this will be accom- plished without further unnec:ssary delay. In the event any of the states default, the probability is that such fact would be re- dezmed best under the circumstances. No resort can be had to draft measures with- out explicit authority therefor from the na- tional legislature. There was another big crush of visitors at the War Department today, but very few of thom saw Secretary Alger, who remained at home until 11 o'clock to attend to a great amount of undisposed of business.