Evening Star Newspaper, May 28, 1898, Page 1

(=== = THE EVENING &STAR. + PUBLISHED DAILY EXCEPT SUNDAY. AT THE STAR BUILDINGS, 3101 Fennsylvania Avenue, Cor. llth 8t, by The Bring Ses Remar, Oe? New York Office, 49 Potter Building The Evening Star 1s served to subscribera In the ‘erty by ci rriers, on thee own account, at 10 cents per week, or 44 cents per month. Copies at the cecater 2 certs each. By mail—anywhere in the United States «r Canada—postage prepaid—80 cents per month. Saturday Quintuple Sheet Star, $1 per year, with foreign postage added, $2.08. _ Entered af the Po t Gfice at Washington, D. O.. iw see nd-class ma’l matter.) ©All mall subscriptions must be pald tn advance. Rates of advertising made known on applicatior. | Che Frye g Star. No 14,116. WASHINGTON, D. ©., SATURDAY, MAY 28, 1898—TWENTY-FOUR PAGES. TWO CENTS. 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 press. WATCHING SANTIAGO Commodore Schley Lying Outside With Twelve Warships. CERVERA SAID TO BE INSIDE Cruiser Harvard Brings the News to Kingston, Jamaica. RUMOR OF A BATTLE | command of the Olympia. The cruiser Harvard arrived at Kingston, Jamaica, this morning bringing the news that Commodore Schley was lying in front of Santiago de Cuba with twelve warships, and that the Spanish fleet was supposed to be inside the harbor. An unconfirmed rumor is current there that Schley had forced his way into the harbor and destroyed the Spanish fleet. The President has gone over to Camp Alger to review the troops as- sembled there. The President discussed the Ha- waiian annexation question with sev- eral of his callers today. It is asserted that there is no chance of intervention in the present war by any of the European powers. The Navy Department received a report from Admiral Dewey at Ma- nila saying that there had been no change in the blockade, which was effect Brigadier General Geo. W. Davis has been ordered to Camp Alger. Among the army nominations sent to the Senate today was that of Ex- Senator Butler of South Carolina for Major General. Col. Dunwoody severed his con- nection with the weather bureau to assume his new duties in the signal corps. It was stated at the Navy Depart- ment that nothing had been heard from the fleets in the West Indian waters. (Copyright, 1888, by Associated Press.) KINGSTON, Jamaica, May 28—The United States auxiliary cruiser Harvard, formerly the American line steamer New York, arrived here this morning, after hav- ing left the American fleet at noon yester- day. Twelve American warships are now outside the harbor of Santiago de Cuba and Admiral Cervera and the Spanish fleet are almost certainly inside. 3 But nothing certain is known as to the communicatioh which Commodore Schley has had with the shore or as to the number of Spanish fighting vessels which are bot- tled up in the harbor of Santiago de Cuba. it is to be presumed that the Harvard has important dispatches for the naval au- thorities at Washington. Eagle at Port Antonio. The United States dispatch boat Eagle arrived at Port Antonio, this island, last evening. It is sald she came direct from Key West, but there is a belief that she may have dispatches to forward. In view of the neutrality laws, her commander has been formally notified that the Eagle must leave at the expiration of twenty-four hours. The dispatch boat will take on board forty-eight tons of coal and will sail today. The British steamer Adula 1s expected here today from Cienfvegos. When she reached that port on Monday the harbor- master found that sho had on board a Waiter whe. was not on the ship's articles, and he refused to allow the steamer to leave until Thursday; then she was releas- ed upon the argent representations of the British corsul Cienfuegos. The Adula has on boerd a number of refugees. Has Schley Forced the Harbort NEW YORK, May 28—A special cable- gram from Kingston, Jamaica, to the Evening Telegram says that there is cur- rent there a rumor, which cannot be con- firmed, that Commodore Schley has forced the harbor at Santiago de Cuba and sunk the fleet of Admiral Cervera. Rumor Reaches Cape Haitien. (Copyright, 1808, by Associated Press.) CAPE HAITIEN, Haiti, May 28.—A ru- mor has reached here of an important American success, but no confirmation of the report can be obtairied. Since the rumored arrival of the Spanish fleet at Santlago de Cuba no news has reached here, though the cable between this place and Santiago de Cuba is not interrupted. The significance of this mys- terious silence’ is not known, but excites reat wonder. No explanation is furnished, excepting surmise based on various influ- ences. The theory that the Spanish admiral al- lowed himself to be Lottied up in the bay of Santiago de Cuba is not entertained here. On the contrary, the Haitian off- cials say it is far from likely that such a thing has occurred. It 1s hoped that the message from Commodore Schley will soon be received at the Mole St. Nicholas or elsewhere. gee ASSIGNMENT OF BRIGADIERS. Gen. Scawa to Mobile and G to Camp Alger. c nel Theodore Schwan of the adjutant general's department, who was recently ap- pointed a brigadier general of volunteers, has been ordered to Mobile, Ala., to report to Major General Coppinger for assignment to command a division of the 4th Army Corps. Major George W. Davis of the 9th In- fantry, recently appointed a brigadier gen- eral of volunteers, has been ordered to re- port to Major General Graham, command- ing the 2d Army Corps, near Falls Church, Va., for assignment to command of a di- vision. Both of these officers are well known in this city through their long service at the War Department. . Davis DEWEY HEARD FROM. The Blockade of Manila Effective and Unchanged. At 1:30 o'clock this afternoon the Navy Departm2nt posted the following bulletin containing the latest advices from Admiral Dewey received here: ; HONG KONG, May 27, 1898. CAVITE, May 25. Secretary of the Navy, Washington. No change in the situation of the block- ade. Is effective. It is impossible for the People of Manila to buy provisions, except rice. The captain of the Olympia (Gridley) con- demned by medical survey. Is ordered home. Leaves by Occidental and Oriental Steamship Company for Hong Kong 28th. Commander Lamberton appointed to the DEWEY. The report by cable from Admiral Dewey made no mention of the two officers, be- sides Capt. Gridley of the Olympia, who ac- cording to thé- newspaper advices were brought over to Hong Kong as invalids on the Zafire. Therefore it is assumed, based on the regular¢ naval practice, that these officers ar2 not seriously ill, but are sent over for treatment in the United States naval hospital at Yokohama, and that they will rejoin Dewey's squadron upon recover- ing. The officials of the squadron are sur- prised at the report of Capt. Gridley’s fil- s, for an officer who was detached from n. his ship a few months ago states :hat the }- captain was a picture of robust health at that time. Capt. ‘Gridley will be brought home to the United States. Commander Lamberton was detached from duty with the light house board last winter and ordered to China to command the Boston, relieving Capt. Wildes, who had served the usual tour of duty on that station. Commander Lamberton joined the squadron just as it was leaving for the at- tack on Manila, and to his great disappoint- ment Capt. Wildes, who had commanded the Boston since November, 1805, rafused to turn over the ¢ommand to him, desiring to keep for himself whatever of glory was to be earned by commanding the Boston in actual battle. Commander Lambertofi, who had com- plained to his friends when he left Wash- ington against being sent to a remote cor- ner of the world, where there was no chance of a fight, was thus again disap- pointed just as his hopes had been revived by the shifting of hostilities to the Philip- pines. To compensate in a measure for his faflure to secure command of the Boston, Admiral Dewey appointed the commander chief of his staff, and side by side with the admiral on the bridge of the Olympia, Lam- berton went through the battle of Manila and earned the honor of special mention for brave and able services in the official report of Admiral Dewey. Therefore, it is only fitting, in the opinion of the naval officers here, that he should have the honor of commanding the Olympia now. Another report ig that Captain Crownin- shield, chief of the bureau of navigation, may be assigned to the Olympia as a re- ward’ for his services at the department since the war began. +o __. DOUBT AT THE CAPITOL. Congressmen Skeptical About Cervera Being at Santiago. The doubt about the Spanish fleet being caged up at Santiago de Cuba is growing stronger in all quarters here, except at the Navy Department. While the Navy De- partment still holds to the theory that the Spanish fleet is at Santiago, in spite of the fact that Commodore Schley’s fleet did not arrive in that vicinity until a day or two later than the department had expected, the theory is almost abandoned fn congres- sional circles. Outside the Navy Depart- ment and in congressional circles the re- port that the Spanish fleet was sighted off the coast of Costa Rica receives considera- ble attention. The insistent character of the dispatches from Madrid, stating that Cervera is still at Santiago de Cuba, strengthens suspicion that the Spanish au> torities have a motive for making us be- lieve that he is there, which they could not have if it were really true. A theory ad- vanced is that these reports are designed merely to distract attention and occupy our fleets while transports with munitions of war and provisions are landed in Cuba. It is believed that efforts are being made, if they have not already been successful, to land supplies near Cienfuegos, and it is suggested as not improbable that if any Spanish ships are bottled up at Santiago they are transports carrying provisions. The broadest latitude for speculation is afforded by the fact that the Navy Depart- ment disavows having any definite infor- mation, and advances the opinion that Cer- vera's fleet is at Santiago as a theery con- structed entirely on negative evidence. ‘The report that Cervera’s fleet was sight- ed off Port Limon, Costa Rica, is given at- tention, because it accords with the theory which has been adhered to all along by some that Admiral Cervera's plan on leav- ing Curacao was to proceed along the coast of South and Central America and attempt to reach Havana by way of the Yucatan channel. If this were true, it would account for the anxtety of Spain to attract our attention toward the eastern end of the Isiand of Cuba. The Navy De- partment, however, denies emphatically that there is any truth in the report that the fleet was sighted off Port Limon. ———-o-_____—_ EXCHANGE OF PRISONERS. Two Newspaper Correspondents Have Their Liberty Restored. KEY WEST, Fla., May 28.—The United States gunboat Woodbury has arrived here, bringing Hayden Jones and Charles Thrall, the newspaper correspondents captured by the Spaniards in Cuba and exchanged for Lieut. Col. Vicente de Cortijo, Surgeon Ma- jor Julian and two Spanish servants,captur- ed by the United States fleet on board the prize steamer Argonauta at the outbreak of the hostilities between Spain and the United States and since confined at Fort McPherson, Atlanta. The Spanish prisoners were taken to Havana on Thursday night on board the United States gunboat Maple, where the exchange took place yesterday. Jones and Thrall were then transferred to the Wood- bury and brought here. The transfer of the prisoners took place off shore. a F. ¥. Eliott Nominated. NASHVILLE, Tenn., Mey 28—The re- eos cengressional convention of the filth Cistriet met yester: in and nominated F. Y. ‘sailicct ‘oe Murine “COLOSSUS REED. “Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world, ‘Like a Colossus; &id w@ petty men ~ . and peep about “Walk under his outa 5 “To find: dursélves disfon$reble graves.” TO START WITHIN TEN DAYS Merritt's Troops Waiting for Additional : Equipment for Tropics. Troops Have a Disagreenble Day on Account of Rain—Notes of Camp Life. SAN FRANCISCO, May 28.—The Chron- icle says that it has authentic information regarding the movement of troops to Ma- nila from an officer in close touch with the leaders of the expedition soon to sail. He is quoted as saying: “The next expedition will not leave so early as Thursday, but it will start within the next ten days. Not a regiment is yet perpared to go, and not one of them will go until it is prepared. The men have no suits yet for the tropical climate. They will have to be furnished. There are near- ly enough on hand in the quartermaster’s department, but other things may be want- ed. Many more abdominal bandages are needed. Everything possible will be done for the prevention and cure of disease, so that the men may be able to go aboard ship within ten days hence in the best of health for the long voyage.” Measles in Camp. ~ Considering the number of men, many of whom are unused to exposure, now en- camped in the open air, there is very little sickness among the troops. The Nebraska and Idaho soldiers are afflicted with a mild form of measles. A number of members of the Pennsylvania regiment are suffering from severe colds. Stomach troubles, caus- ed by over-indulgence in pastry and sweet- meats furnished by visitors to the camps, are common, but not serious. One case of pneumonia was reported last night, that of Private Sharp of the 7th California. The Ohio society has authorized its pres- ident to issue a call to the Ohioans in San ‘Francisco to assemble for the purpose of welcoming the troops from the buckeye state when they arrive here. There are said to be about 5,000 native Ohioans in this city. The Presidio and Ferry Street Railway. Company, through its president, George A. Newhall, has granted the privilege of rid- ing free over its lines to the soldiers now in camp. This is a great boon to the troops, for it is five miles from their camp to the center of the city, over some steep bills. Rain Causes Discomfort. Rain yesterday afternoon and last night caused considerable discomfort to the troops at Camp Richmond and the Pre- sidio, those at the. latter place suffering the most on account of the heavier nature of the soil. Few complaints were made, however, the men all realizing that greater hardships than a mild rain storm are in store for them. The Washington volun- teers, who occupy dry quarters in the Fon- tana warehouse, made merry at the ex- pense of those who fled from the struc- ture some time since, thinking it unsafe, and are now camping on the wet ground. Gen. Merritt’s Headquarters, General Merritt, who will command the’ MAY iS E IZE H AWA|||CUT THE CABLE AT SANT!AGO The President Said to Have Au- thority for Such Action. ANNEXATION WAS DISCUSSED TODAY Senator Lodge and Others at the White House. GONE TO’ CAMP ALGER Hawaii was under discussion at the White Heus2 today. .Senator Jones of Arkansas visited the Pregident on a business matter. “How lorg will the Senate be in passing the war revenye measure?’ the President asked Senator Jones. “That depenjis,” sald the senator, “on how much is put on it. The whole year may be consumed if present conditions prevail.” The senator characterized as “foolishness” the amendmznts offered to the revenue bll. Senator Lodge, who stirred the Senate yesterday: by his effort in behalf of Hawaii, Was at the 4Vhite House. It is understood that the senator-is satisfied with the situa- tion. He believes that within tHe next few days the country will polir in on Congress a universal demand for the annexation of Hawaii. Those néW opposing action will be com- pelled to desist. The senator is’ satisfied that four-fifths of the people of the United States went Hawali added to Uncle Sam's possessions. aes Representative Tawney of Minnesota, who some time ago completed a canvass of the republican members of the. House, said this morning that “he believed the House. would take yp’ thé annexation res- olution® nextiweek: B: é One of the warmiest ‘adwocates of an- /nexation said. today that he believed that if Congress failed to*.ect "the . President would: seiza the islands-as«@ military ne- -cessity. He has full authomity! todo this, it {8.-argued, under ‘am“actzof. 18566) ‘There ere’also saidto be plenty ofsprecetients, dnd it 1g pointed out that a number of the is- lands now délonging ‘tothe United States were acquired in this» way! Chéirmanm Hitt<of ‘the foreign affairs committee of the House was with the President, but says: thmt thy did not dis- cuss public matters. He recently had a ccriference with the chie& executive at which- an codeeieane on Hawaii is thcught to Have veached. - Congressmen express:much feeling today over the delay, and threats are being made that things will be tusmed topsy-turvey in the House next week tf consideration 4s not given to the annexation resolutions. Today’s Visitors. Senators: and representatives flocksd to the White House’ by the score today. Ow- ing to a lengthy conference with Secretary Alger only a portion of the callers wers granted interviews. Setretary Alger talked was leged by E the White Officer of the St. Louis Tells of an Excit- ing Experience. The Big Auxiliary Cruiser Will Go to Cramps’ and Take on More Gups. NEW Y¥ORK, May 28.—The auxiliary cruiser St. Louis,which arrived at this port from West Indian waters this morning, has been ordered to the Cramp shipyards, Philadelphia, and will sail immediately for that place. It is said that she is to have her armament increased by six 65-inch quick-firing rifles, The incident of the attempt to sever cable communication between Cuba and the rest of tne world, which was one of the latest in which the St. Louis engaged during her stay in West Indian waters, is told as follows by one who was on board the cruiser: “Orders were given by Admiral Sampson to Capt. Goodrich on May 15 to take the fleet tender in tow and pro- ceed to Santingo de Cuba to cut the cables at that point. The grappling im- plements were secured from the tug Wam- patuck on May 16, and at 11 p.m. the ex- pedition in the small boats left the cruiser for the entrance of Santiago. It was then perfectly dark and hazy, and the Santiago light was burning brightly. Moonrise was not until 3:45 a.m.. After the departure of the cable-cut- ting party signals from two gunboats were seen. At 3 a.m. on May 17, the expedition returned with part of one cable, but it had failed to find the second cable, which is close under the fort, an@ was protected by two patrol boats. ‘Then a start was made to cut the cable on the other side of the island. At 7 am. the St. Louis fired its first gun at the forts protecting the entrance to Santiago har- bor, and after a Httle time the fire was returned by one gun, which must have been @ two-pounder. At 8 a.m. the St. Louis was abot miles distant from the fort, which Saat to be unprotected by modern guns. After three hours’ grappling in over 600 fathoms, the cable had not been found. At 12:15 p.za_ the guns of Morro Castle opened fire followed by the shore battery on the sout! E erly point and also the west battery. The St. Louis kept up a constant fire from her bow guns and soon succeeded in silencing the guns of Morro Castle. The garrison Spamards could be seen running in all di- rections. Most of the shots from the forts fell short of the ship. Shells from the mor- tar battery went over the cruiser and ex- Dloded in the water quite close to the St. Louis. The mortar battery ceased at 12:56, after a fusillade of forty-one minutes. After the firing the cable was grappled, hauled on beard and cut.” The St. Louis crew behaved in a very cool manner under fire, and Captains Good- rich and W. G. Randle, the latter of the American line, at the close of the engage- ment complimented all hands for their THE HAWAIIAN AMENDMENT. It Will Be Tabled, but the Quest! Will Be Disposed Of. It is expected that an agreement will be reached for a vote on the war revenue Dill Thursday. A canvass of the Senate is un- derstood to show that the Lodge amend ment proposed to this bill providing for the annexation of Hawali will be laid on the table. This result will be due, not to op- Position to annexation, but to the indisposi- tion of senators who are anxious for the passage of the revenue bill to permit it to be endangered or held up for a long time by riders. The Lodge amendment being laid on the table, several other amend- ments proposed, such as the free coinage of silver and the abrogation of the Hawaiian treaty, will not be pressed, and it is ex- pected that by Monday or “Tuesday the agreement for a vote on Thursday will be reached. This is the general understanding among senators of all parties today. The imtroduction of the Lodge resolution ex- cited a great deal of feeling, and the ene- mies of Hawaiian annexation deciared that they would not permit the revenue bill to pass with that amendment as a rider, and that its adoption would result in nothing but the failure of the revenue bill. A great deal of bitterness has been en- gendered by the fight Speaker Reed is mak- ing upon Hawali, and it is being charged that the opposition is Inspired by antagon- ism toward the administration, and the aim is not only at Hawaii, but at the ad- ministration policy with respect to the oc- cupation of the Philippines. It is being referred to as an attempt to break down the policy of the administration. Active and aggressive advocates of the annexation of Hawaii and a progressive policy in the Pacific say today that Speaker Reed will not be able to defeat action, and that a caucus to be held next week will compel the recognition of the right of the House to have a vote on a proposition supported by a large majority. Some of the senators who will vote to table the Lodge amend- ment to the revenue bill say that they will serve notice that after the revenue bill has been disposed of they will insist on the Ha- wailan question being taken up, and that they will resist an adjournment of Con- gress until after it has been acted upon. There is a pretty definite understanding that both the greenback provision and the provision for the coinage of the silver seig- niorage will be stricken out of the revenue bill, and that the provision authorizing the issue of bonds will prevail, SS SPANISH SPIES ARE ACTIVE. Residents of Key West Think They Should Be Suppressed. Special Dispatch to The Evening Stgr. KEY WEST, Fla., May 28.—An influential resid2nt of Key West, who has always taken an active part in advocating the Cuban cause, says that the doings of Span- ish spies here are becoming so notorious that it behooves the authorities at Wash- ington to take immediate action in the matter. These men, he says, hold meetings night- ly. Their meeting places are known to the public. government reservation and the marinz hospital, the other being on Petrona street. The authorities here have repeatedly be2n cautioned of the doings of these spies, but the government does not appear to place any confid2nce in the information given. Old residents of Key West, however, are satisfied that important information is con- tinually being sent from here to Spanish au- thorities, and that steps-should immediate- ly be taken to put a stop to it. The mach- inatious of thes? men may appear puerile and of little significance, but those who are in a position to speak affirm that these men, and even women, are serving their native country, Spain, faithfully. It is krown here that a former Spanish consul is in constant correspond=nce with friends here, and that he is kept posted on every- thing which takes place. BALTIMORE IS UNINJURED. No Truth in Rumor of an Explosion on Board. HONG KONG, May 28—There is abso- lutely no truth in the report that the Unit- ed State cruiser Baltimore, now at Manila, has been damaged by an internal explosion. The United States auxiliary cruiser Za- firo, which arrived here at midnight yester- Gay, reports that Rear Admiral Dewey is short of provisions and ammunition. resin seers DEWEY CUTS ANOTHER CABLE. Latest News From Manila by Wa Hong Kon: HONG KONG, May 28.—The Havilo- Manila cable, it 1s said, was cut by the Americans on May 23. A brush between the insurgents and the Spanish occurred near Cavite on May 20. The entire American fleet is at Cavite. The report that some of the American ships had sailed for Iloilo, where the Spanish gunboat El Cano is supposed to be, is in- correct. : Aguinaldo, the insurgent leader, ts wit! the insurgents between the Americans and the Spaniards The incendiary fires continue. The, priests and nuns at Manile have been removed from the latter place to Laguna. All the coast towns are reported to be heid by Spanish troops. The Americans are repairing the slip ot Cavite. of —_>——_ THE LARGEST DEFICIENCY BILL. It is Stated That It Will A: at Least $200,000,000. The subcommittee of the House appro- priations committee having charge of the deficiency bill began consideration of the bill today. Instead of sitting in the com- mittee room of the Capitol, the subcom- mittee visited the War Department and held a session there, so as to communicate more readily with officials of that depart- ment concerning the war estimates. The bill will be the !argest -ieficiency ill ever presented to Congress. It will carry at least $200,000,000. The es:imates hereto- fore submitted aggregate $156,000,Q00, and about $50,000,000 are expected to be added today. ~ ee ON GEN. SHAFTER’S STAFF. roprinte Capt. J. C. Gilmore Appointed Assist- ant Adjutant General. Captain J. C. Gilmore, 4th Artillery, wel! known in this city, where he was stationed for many years, has been appointed as- sistant adjutant general on the staff of Major General Sh&fter, commanding the Sth Army Corps at Fla. One of them is not far from the ————_—_—__—_—= FLEET IS DIVIDED Cervera’s Ships Said to Be in Two Cuban Ports, CIENFUEGOS AND SANTIAGO DE CUBA Both These Cities Have Splendid Land-Locked’ Harbors. CADIZ FLEET -saiILs (Copyright, 1888, by Associated Press.) KEY WEST, Fla. May 28.—It is now al- ™most certain that Commodore Schiey has the Spanish fleet bottied up in the harbor of Santiago de Cuba. There is so ttle doubt about this that the naval campaign is proceeding upon the assumption that Ad- miral Cervera is incapable of doing any harm. Within a few days the exact condi- tions at Santiago de Cuba will be known without a shadow of doubt. In spite of assertions to the contrary Commodore Schley was not absolutely sure of his game when he last communicated with Rear Admiral Sampson, and the com- modore will not take active steps to block up the entrance of Santiago harbor until he is perfectly certain that Admiral Cer- vera’s ships are inside. However, he may have done this already, as Commodore Schley’s last communica- tion, forwarded on Thursday, only reached Rear Admiral Sampson yesterday. Three Days at Cienfaegon. The commodore stayed three days at Cierfifuegos. He signaled to his ships, “I believe the Spanish fleet is in the harbor. On this belief a message was sent to the American admiral. The details of how Commodore Schley found out that he was mistaken are not yet known. At any rate, acting on the admiral’s instruction, the commodore then moved east, arriving out- side Santiago de Cuba on Wednesday morn- ing, May 25. The topography of Cienfuegos and San- tiago de Cula is almost identical. Both harbors are about six miles jong, with nar- rcw entrances about 300 yards wide and Protected by highland. A wlidle fieet could Me in the harbor of either place and be irvisible from the outside. After his experience at Clenfuegos, it js probable that Commodore Schley was very conservative in deciding whether or not he had caught Admiral Cervera. From the tcne of his dispatches it is evident that the commodore soon gained much second- hend and external evidence which pointed to Adrairal Cervera’s presence in the inner rarbor. This evidence was apparently strong enough to make the commodore feel certain the object of his trip had been ac- complished, but in view of his previous ex- perience, he would not risk a decisive state- ment until after ascertaining the fact for himself. Facts Will Soon Be Know: Before this dispatch is published, it is Mkely that Commodore Schley has sent seme vessel into the entrance of the har- bor of Santiago de Cuba, or has obtained from a reliable source ashore information as to the exact number and the names of the Spanish warships sheltered by the hills about that place. Contrary to the generally expressed opin- icn, the harbor of Santiago de Cuba is pcorly protected. Like Havana and San Jvan de Porto Rico, it has its Morro Cas- tle, which is even a better target than these of Havane and San Juan. The only Ganger to be feared is ‘rom the mines which have been laid in the channel of Santiago since the war was declared. But countermining would probably render these ines harmless, should it prove desirabie for Commodore Schley’s ships to enter the harbor. Such a step, however, is unlikely. In this connection it may be noted that since the commencement of the naval oper- ations the moral effects of the mines have been great. This condition promises to continue, and will probably mark the naval operations to a greater exient than ever imagined in the past. A prominent naval authority said to the correspondent of the Associated Press: “The moral effect of torpedoes and mines will prove far superior to their actual ef- fect. In fact, 80 great is their moral force that I doubt whether their powers of ex- ecution will have an opportunity to be judged in this war. Blockade ts Une: The blockade of northern Cuba continues uneventful and is apparently successful. The measures of precaution which Rear Admiral Sampson adopted up to yesterday to guard the eastern and western passages did not detract from the efficacy of the blockade. Now that the element of uncertainty re- garding the Spanish ships’ whereabouts is almost entirely removed, the ships which were solely occupied in watching for the Spaniards have become an additional force for the blockade, end without any incon- venient change of position. Commodore Schiey has been reinforced, but his posi- tion was clearly so strong that the rein- forcement which he received made no dif- ference to the strong fleet in northern Cu- ban waters. ‘The rumors of the sziling of a second Spanish squadron did not worry Rear Ad- miral Sampson in the siightest degree. His feelings on the subject were aptly express- ed recently when he said: “I am perfectly satisfied that we have begged those fellows” (referring to Ad- miral Cervera’s ships). Rear Admiral Sampson dces not cross his bridges until, he comes to them, and when that time comes his unconquerable patience and strategic ability can be relied upon to see him safely across. Army is Ready to Move. For the second time since war was de- clared the admiral has been notified that the army is ready to move. This is good news to all the naval officers. The two branches of the service have been playing @ game of wait; the army resting until the