The New York Herald Newspaper, November 26, 1873, Page 3

HOSTILITIES TAMINENT| oe The Navy Department Putting Forth its Strength for War. a gee Positive Orders for Speedy Preparations in All the Yards. Great Britain Will Demand the Release of Her Captive Subjects and Rep- aration for Her Murdered Nine. Is to Strike an pendent Blow. WES Sos She Inde- Further Heodwinking About Our Spanish Friendly Relation Diplomatic Dodging Toward Sec- retary Fish. NEWS FROM MADRID. eae iia TELEGRAM TO THE NEW YORK HERALD. A Note to the United States Government Under Cabinet Consideration—The Vir- ginius Case Not To Be Submitted to Emperor Wilhelm. Maprip, Nov. 25, 187: A Cabinet council was held yesterday, at which @ note to be sent to the government of the United ‘States was under consideration. It is denied that the Spanish government is disposed to submit the -Virginius question to the Emperor of Germany for arbitration, NEWS FROM CUBA, sito Ta, Cobia TELESRAM TO THE NEW YCRK HERALD. Spanish Press Opinion on War—Even Without the Mother Country’s Aid, Spanish Cuba Would Keep Safe the Banner, Havana, Nov. 25, 1873. ‘The Diario dela Marina has an editorial to-day, of which the following is an extract:— “The Washington government knows to-day and the United States Congress will know to-morrow | the justice with which the Spanish authorities have acted. They will take care of the national honor without suffering themselves to be in. Muenced by the cries of the masses, who know not what these Cuban ‘patriots’ are. Far from our minds be the feeling of arrogance; further still the feeling of debility from our hearts. We neither seek nor ‘shun peril. If the Americans oblige us to fight, fight ‘we will. If the mother country can aid us we will thank her; butif we must contend alone there ‘are enough Spaniards in Cuba to keep our banner wafe. We will sell very dearly that which was once ‘the most brilliant flower in the crown of Castile.” ‘Press Opinion as to Arbitration—The Idea of Such a Mcthod of Settlement a Fabrication of the Encmy—Serenade to Soler ¥. Pia. HAVANA, Nov. 25, 1873. The Constancia indignantly repudiates the idea ‘that Spain could consent to submit the settlement ‘of the Virginius question to arbitration. It does mot believe that such a proposition has been seri- ously entertained, and pronounces the Madrid despatch reporting it a pure fabrication of the enemies of Spain, who seek by this and similar falsehoods to mislead public opin- fon. It continues:—‘Our country cannot have descended to such a degree as to abdicate the rights of a free nation. We think the laborantes and their sympathizers invented ‘this sugzestion, with ends that all loyal Spamards ean divine, knowing well that the object of all their ‘intrigues and falsehoods is to defeat the right of Spain to seize such vessels as the Virginius and punish in accordance with the law of all nations ‘the filibusters they may bring to our shores." SBRENADE TO SENOR SOLER Y PIA. A grand reception and serenade were given to- Dight to Sefior Soler y Pia, the Colonial Minister, at the Casino Espajiol. IMPORTANT FROM WASHINGTON. Oficial Concealment Ceases—Chiefs of Naval Bureaus Ordered to Put Forth Fall Strength in Making Ready—Ad- miral Case, of the European Squad- ron, Ordered to Key West, Leaving only One Ship at Cadiz. WASHINGTON, Nov. 25, 1873, ‘The mask has fallen. Between duplicity and @iplomacy the information imparted to corre- spondents in Washington during the past week has been but a series of positive statements coun- teractea by positive denials of what the warlike purposes of the government really meant. It is now beyond concealment that every effort is being put forth in anticipation of actual hostilities with Spain. The Secretary of the Navy last evening re- eived information which quickened, if possible, ‘the activity of his department in preparing for the arisis, Orders, peremptory and plenary, were is- sued by the Secretary to the chiefs of the bureaus of ordnance, equipment and recruiting, yards and docks, navigation, medicine and surgery, pro- wisions and clothing, steam engineering and con- struction and repair, to proceed at once to put the navy in the best possible condition, without waiting for his approval, the chief of each bureau to see that his orders were executed with the least possible melay, and to consider themselves at liberty to act 4n an unrestricted manner, The results to be ob- Rained were immediate, and prompt action was ©@xpected. The next orders issted were to Rear Admiral Case, commanding the furopean Squadron, to leave but one ship at @adiz, and proceed with the other vessels mnder full steam to Key West. Despatcnes were then prepared for the Rear Admirals commanding the South Pacific and Sonth Atlantic stations, which are now on their way to order all ‘the vessels of their fleets to Key West ‘ander steam, and report to the Navy Department Fd that point, A telegram was sent to the commander of the East India squadron informing him of the gravity of the sitaation, and to issue orders at once to ‘every vessel of the fleet to prepare for any emer- gency. The Macedonian, a relic of the war of 1812, was ordered to Key West as a storeship for ordnance ieupplies, and Commander F. R. Smith to duty at that point as inspector of ordnance. A chief en- gineer was ordered, with a large detail of founders and mechanics, to report at the same point, to dook after ihe repairs of the iron-clads equipped with NEW YORK HERALD, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1873.—TRIPLE SHEET. + lm nn cnn appar gtus for distilling water for the usé of the feet, andyall the paraphernalia for keeping the vessels th, complete order, similar to what England did during the Crimean war. ‘The heavy iron-clad Roanoke, now fitting out | harbor | at New York, was assigned to the of that city. The Dictator Key West, and the plans of the deck of the Colorado ordered to be changed so as to allow an increase defence to of armament of 11 inch guns, Secretary Robeson at nine o’elock took the train for Philadelphia, where he personally directed me to done on the iron- clads at League Island, and to-morrow will reach Brooklyn to inspect the work already fin- ished and give such orders as In his judgment may be necessary. work be To-day telegrams were sent to the commandants Portsmouth, Boston, Norfolk, Pensacola and Mare Island, directing them to hasten with the utmost despatch the work already assigned them. In the War Department the Engineer Bureau was engaged in preparing plans for the placing of torpedoes for all the harbor defences of the coast. When the news was received at the Navy De- partment that the British government had actn- aliy ordered her largest and most efficient ves- sels in the North American squadron to proceed at once to Cuban waters, there was no mistaking the feeling which found expression in such terms as “That is the best news yet ;” “England is always ready for whatever may happen; “She keeps a first class tron-clad in the most remote waters ;” “I the British government has done this it means that our sluggish government will receive a lesson not soon forgotten.” While the news was being discussed a subordi- nate naval officer remarked that the newspapers insisted that everything was pacific. ‘1 should say that everything was Atlantic,” said a vener- able officer, as he brushed away the dust from the covers of a copy of the “British Admiralty Navy List.” The list was quickly scanned for the name of the Royal Alfred, the flagship of the North American and West India squadron. She 18 armor plated, of 4,068 tons, and 800 horse power, commanded by Captain Henry F. Nicholson, and bears the broad pennant of Vice Admiral Edward E. Fanshawe. The Danae, which has already arrived at Santiago to carry out the order of the British gov- ernment is of 1,287 tons, carrying six guns, and the Woodiark, of 663 tons and three guns, is also there. at The Bellerophon, now on her way to Cuba, to eventually relieve the Royal Albert, is aa armor-plated ship, carrying 15 guns, and commanded by Captain R. Wells, and Will be the flagship of Rear Admiral Wellesley. On arriving at Bermuda she will also be assigned for duty in Cuban waters until the Present troubles are over. The same prepara- tans are being made under orders from the British government that are now being carried out by our government. This information, which has already reached Madrid, was undoubtedly the cause of the volumi- nous despatches which were received last night and to-day at the Spanish Legation and the State Department. The British Legation also received very long cable telegrams, the pur- port of which, it is said, relate to instructions to the British Minister respecting the Virginius matter, THE STATE DEPARTMENT was aglow with excitement. The Secretary was evidently very much concerned at the news received both from Sickles and our Minister in London, The salvation of the Spanish Re- public depended upon one man, and that was Castelar. His removal would end ali hope for Peaceful settlement of the pending questions. The buzz of curiosity pervaded the whole building. The clerks went about the building as though the head of the department was in a dying condition. Conversation was carried on in a low voice for fear the anxiety which could not be kept from the face might be doubly told in their words, and the out- side world would learn of the serious state of affairs which really existed. Ink in this emergency Was of no avail. The Secretary proceeded to the White House to attend THE MOST IMPORTANT CABINET MEETING EVER HELD UNDER THIS ADMINISTRATION, the result of which will appear in the President's message, for there is now no hope of matters menaing before the meeting of Congress, The War Feeling Revived Owing to the Rumored Fall of the Castelar Administration — Naval Preporations on the Fallest Scale—Gre Britain Will Demand the Release of Her Sabjects and Indemnity for the Families of the Murdered Nine. WASHINGTON, Nov, 25, 1873. The war feeling has revived to-day, For a day or two everything has been comparatively quict: The industrious rumor-maker has slept upon his pen. Everybody who had anything to say on the subject ventured the opinion that there wowd be no war. This opinion was given in a languid: weary way, as if the subject under discussion had forever lost its interest. Last night came news that changed all this. Information was received by the government that the Republic of Casteiar ‘was on the verge of a downfall; that there was a conspiracy on the part o! the monarchists to over- throw the Republic and secure the accession of a representative of royalty. This has again brought up the old war feeling. THE NAVY DBPARTMENT STILL ACTIVE. At the Navy Department to-day there has been the greatest possible activity. Upon receipt of the news last night, Secretary Robeson left for Phil- adelphia, where he is personally inspecting the work. Thence he will go to New York for the same purpose. The present attitude of the Navy Depart- ment indicates that the government is redoubling its preparations for war, from whicn it may be in- ferred that hostilities are more imminent to.day than they were during the earlier stage of the Cuban excitement. For some reason or other GREAT BRITAIN SEEMS PARTICULARLY ANXIOUS THAT THERE SHOULD BE A WAR between this country and Spain. The object in view is explained by some on the ground of Eng- land's dislike to see the Republic in Spain triumph, and its desire to hasten any complication which would bring about its downfall, The course that she is about to pursue in relation to the British subjects captured on the Virgintus will, it is thought, force, by power of its bold example, the United States into making an aggressive move, though there is no doubt that whatever diMculties may arise between this country and Spain, Great Britain will not take @ hand in the fight. Information has heen received this afternoon that A BRITISH FLEET IS NOW UNDER WAY TO CUBA, with orders to obtain the release of 16 British sub- jects taken on board the Virginius, who are im- prisoned at Santiago. This release is to be ob- tained vy fair means, if possible, but to be ob- tained anyhow. In addition to the vessels already under way the most poweriul tron-clad in the Brit- ish squadron, the Royal Alired, flagship of the Ad- miral, carrying 16 guns, has been ordered to sail from Bermuda to Havana, The British feet in the West Indies is not as numerous as the Spanish, but still a formidable one. Great Britain Will demand, besides the release of the 16 British prisoners, indemnity for the families of nine exe- cuted ones, but 1s to proceed independently of any action on the part of the United States, The 16 prisoners above mentioned are all Jamaica hegroes, mostly minors, and this explains the reason why their British nationality became 80 easily known to their government. They were shipped on board the Virginius at Kingston, but, on learning the perilous nature of the expedition, attempted to escape. They were caught and put in irons by those in command of the Virginius, Cabinet Discussion on the Situation— Supposed Receipt of Despatches by Seeretary Fish and Admiral Polo— The Seerctary and Minister in Con- ference=The Peace Tone Prevailing— Naval Matters. WASHINGTON, Noy. 25, 1873. ‘The Cabinet was in session only about two hours to-day. Al the members were present except Secretary Robeson, who is in Philadelphia in con- nection with naval preparations, The Spanish question was debated, but no additional /acis were presented by the Secretary of State, nor was any new action taken relative to the subject. Nothing has occurred since the capture of the Virginius and the executions which followed to show that the Spanish government is influenced by any but a friendly desire to preserve PEACE BETWEEN THE TWO NATIONS, and, if possible, to cultivate stronger relations of Jriendship. ‘This government will act toward Spain as toward all other countries in cases of con- troversy, and await with proper respect replies to our complaints. There is, however, anxiety ex- pressed for intelligence from Spain of @ decisive character, in order that Congress may, in the President's Message, be made acquainted with the facts, There are INDICATIONS THAT DESPATCHES WERE RECEIVED to-night by both Secretary Fish and Admiral Polo, the Spanish Minister from Madrid, of a character which gives, more than heretofore, promise of a peaceful solution of the present complications; and it is known that these gentlemen were in pri- vate conference for several hours to-night at the residence of Mr. Fish, comparing despatches and discussing generally the situation of affairs, It seoms to be the impression that mstead of our government having to wait for reports from Minister Sickles concerniag the Spanish Cabinet's viewa, THE SPANISH CABINET HAS CONPFERRED EXTRAORDI- NARY POWERS ON ADMIRAL POLO to communicate directly with our government through the Secretary of State. At all events, the Spanish Minister is now brought into more inti- mate communication with Secretary Fish than av any time since the present trouble began. It was remarked to-night by a gentleman prominently connected with this government that things look Jar more hopeful now than ever, THE NAVY DEPARTMENT, informing itself of the facilities of the various pri- vate ship yards and engine factories, has given out altogether the following named work, which is being vigorously prosecuted :— Quintard & Murphy, engines for new sloops; Delamater Iron Works, repairing Dictator; Atlantic Iron Works, of Boston, building engines for two sloops; Hartford lron Works, engines for sloops- of-war; Champ & Sons, of Philadelphia, overhauling four monitors; Harlan & Hollingsworth, of Wil- mington, overhauling three monitors; Wright & Co., of Newburg, building engines for sloops-ol- war; Roach & Sons’ Morgan Iron Works, at New York, repairing Roanoke and building engines for sloops-of-ward ; and at Chester, building two sloops- of-war and their machinery and repairing two monitors. ‘The work now being done is all within the ap- propriation made by Congress. A letter from Norfolk speaks of the arrival of the steamer Ossipee from Newport alter ONE OF THE MOST REMARKABLE PASSAGES, for severity of weather, probably on record. After being an hour at sea, on Sunday, she encountered a terrific cyclone, accompanied with hail, of about 60 minutes’ duration. At midnight thesevere wind culminatea in another cyclone. Next evening the ship encountered another and more furious tem- pest. next day. A third storm, accompanied with snow, subsequently overtook her. The Ossipee has proven to be one of the most seaworthy and thorougbly Teliable ships that ever Noated, and all hands on board are Joud in their expressions of admiration of her admirable sea-going qualities. THE SHAWMUT TO BE FITTED OUT—THE FORTUNE LAUNCHED. Orders were received at the Washington Navy Yard this morning to fit the Shawmut for sea with all possibile despatch. In order to carry out the above order the heads of the different mechanical departments of the yard will put to work all the men that can be employed to advantage, both night and day. The Fortune was launched this morning and will be ready for sea in a few days. She will carry two 30 pound rifled guns in addition to her torpedo attachment. The Rumored Change of Administration in Spain—No Official Advices on the Subject—Continuance of Naval Prepa- rations, WASHINGTON, Nov. 25, 1873, The first intimation yesterday of a probable change of administration in Spain, with Serrano as Dictator, came through British official sources, To-day the story is varied in another quarter— namely, that the Castelar government is to be overthrown by a combination of ruling Spaniards. ‘The plan is said to include the establishment of Marshal Serrano as Regent for the young Duke Alonso. Our government has no official advices on the subject, nor does it consider these reports trustworthy. CONCERNING THE ORDERS FOR SUSPENSION -AT THE NAVY YARDS. The Construction Bureau of the Navy Depart- ment says if work at any of the navy yards has been suspended it is not because of orders from Washington. It was only to-day that orders were sent from the bureau to make some additional re- pairs on the Colorado at New York. The Roanoke is not intended for the North Atlantic squadron, but for the mouth of the harbor, and as for the Dictator, there was very little work remaining to } be done to her, How the Joint Claims Commission Was Brought About—Senor Sagasta’s Diplo- matic Lectures to Secretary Fish—A Parallel Drawn Between Acts of the Unfted States During the Rebellion and Those of Spain in Cuba, WASHINGTON, Nov. 25, 1873. When Mr. Fish directed Mr. Sickles to bring to the notice of the Spanish government the several decrees of Captain General Valmaseda, authorizing and directing summary arrests agg imprisonments, military executions and destructions and embar- goes of property as agencies in the sup- pression of the Cuban rebellion and to pro- test against the same as violations of the Treaty of 1795, the late Sefor Sagasta, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, defended those de- crees on the ground that they were necessities of war, abounding in historical precedents and sanc- tioned by the rules of modern international law. Mr. Sagasta quoted particularly the wholesale and indiscriminate devastation by General Sher- man of the country he traversed on the cele. brated march from Atlanta to the sea, and the instructions for the government of armies in the field prepared by the late Dr. Lieber and promul- gated by the late Secretary Stanton. These in- structions, defined by Mr. Sagasta as the first codi- fication of the laws of war, recognize THE LEGALITY OF THE DESTRUCTION OR MUTILATION OF ARMED ENEMIES AND PERSONS and the seizure and destruction of property, and count as rebels those in @ territory occupied or conquered by an army who rise against that army or the authorities it has established, They incur the penalty of death whether they rise singly or in number, or at the instigation of their government or not, They are not prisoners of war, nor en- titled to treatment as such, even where they are discovered and arrested before their conspiracy has attained to open rebellion, or before they have committed any acts of violence, Mr. Sagasta was certain that the United States government would not disown these principles, whatever others might think of them, and he was quite as certain that their scope had never been exceeded in the conduct of the Spanish authorities in Cuba or even completely filied, and he professed surprise that Spain should be so severely judged for it partial use of the powers and rights claimed and exercised by other nations, Mr, sagagya also complained Of the ilom, | It lasted all Monday night and part of the | cal course of secretary Fish In denouncing the measures Of the Spanish oMcials in relation to EMBARGOING THE PROPERTY OF INSURGENTS as @ violation of the treaty rights of American citi- zens, Without waiting to see if any such citizens were really injured by the decree of embargo, whether those who claimed to be injured were really American citizens, and whether they had been denied justice in the ordinary administration of local justice. He also threw in the teeth of Mr. Fish the latter’s instructions to our Consul General at Havana in May, 1869, intended to limit the mischievous glaims of native Cubans who assumed the cheracter of American citizens or Spanish subjects, as their personal safety and pecuniary interests suggested. Further than this, he took up the seventh article of the Treaty of 1795, upon which Mr. Fish depended for the restriction, in form of American citizens, real or assumed, of the right claimed by Spain under the recognized laws of war to suppress an insurrection within her own territory. He analyzed the article, and argued that the embargo referred only to the de- tention of vessels or the taking of effects for the use of military expeditions or tor any public or private use. He maintained that the embargo meant was that Known by the name of angaria, as defined in the dictionary of the Spanish Acad- emy, and PUT If TO THE LOGICAL ACUMEN OR COMMON SENS OF OUR SECRETARY OF STATE whether it was a supposable case that one govern- ment would deliberately conclude @ convention with another by which it stripped itself of the means of effeciually controlling those who might endanger its very existence, Mr. Sagasta reminded our government that it had precedent claims to whatever censure or originality attached to the use of embargo in gen- eral, by quoting for its information the act of Con- gress of July 17, 1862, requiring the President to seize the estates and personal property of ine Southern rebels, and apply the proceeds to the support of the army of the United States, and the President's order to the military commanders to execute the | saw for him within their respective jurtsdictions. Next Mr. Sagasta recalled to the memory of the § retary of State that the principle of international law, which holds that the stranger who violates the laws of the country in whict he abides is denied the protection of that country to which he belongs, and thus putting himself beyond the pale of inter- national law, remains wholly subject to the law of the place where he resides, Finaily, Mr. Sagasta agreed to THE APPOINTMENT OF A JOINT COMMISSION to settle the claims of American citizens who might fail of justice in the Spanish courts of Cuba or from the Spanish government after proot of their citizen- ship and their previous grievances. It was from this correspondence that gfew the Spanish-Ameri- can Claims Commission, after much additional dis- cussion and further concessions on the part of Spain, in probable exchange for the forbearance o1 | our government in withholding recognition of Cuban belligerency. The fact which Mr, Fish finds most dificult now to get over Is, that the Spanish government long ago assumed the iegal responsibility for the mode ofconducting the war in Cuva, and defended the implication of American citizens and their prop- erty in the casualties of civil war on high legal grounds, making concessions only by way of good will and in virtual barter for our long preserved | neutrality. All this is considered here as evidence that Spanish diplomacy is as much superior to that of our State Department as her iron-clads are 10 wooden hulks, NAVAL PREPARATIONS. SSeS Orders Have Not Been Countermanded at the Brooklyn Navy Yard—fne Work Goes Bravely On—Opinions of Officers Upon the subject of War. The news from Washington, published in the HERALD yesterday, to the effect that the Secretary of the Navy had ordered that all work should be suspended on board the iron-clads and monitors, had the effect of causing consternation among the mechanics, Whd were looking 1orward to a con- tinuance of employment. Among the oficers of the station the feeling of chagrin was very great, as they had hoped that there was “business ahead this time.” As the day wore on and neither mails or telegraph brought intelligence effecting business in the navy yard, a more hopeful outlook dawned, and the warlike work went merrily on in each and every department. None of the orders transmitted to ofiicers, detaching them from shore duty and ordering them to ships were countermanded, despite the published information of the Navy Department concerning the revocation of orders. Inaeed, in every department the work went bravely forward. A number of men were taken on in the morning, but the outside pressure for em- ployment continues very great, and -hundreds stand about the Navy Yard gate the live-long day waiting for an opportunity to talk with this “boss” or that “prominent politician” and solicit his aid in procuring work. The total force employed is 2,900, of which 542 are in the Steam Engineering Department, 300 in the Equipment Department and 250 in the Ordnance Department, the balance being absorbed by the Provision and Clothing and other Bureaus. The Colorado has her top gallantmasts up, and her rigging will be completed by Saturday. There were 450 men occupied in fitting her out yester- day. Coaling is progressing rapidly, the bunkers being full, Shot and shell are being stored in the magazine night and day, Painters and carpenters are at work on the interior and the caulkers on the sides, while the decks are being scraped and cleaned. The Minnesota, which is destinea to be the divisional fagship of Commodore Rodgers, has 115 men at work. The Florida has 60 machinists and a@number of carpenters at work. Her pent hous- ing was undergoing demolition yesterday. ‘rhe iron three-turreted ship Roanoke is in the nands of John Roach’s machinists, there being 89 men engaged in overhauling her macninery. Tone monitor Dictator gives work to 78 boiler makers and other machinists from Roach’s Iron Works. The store ship Supply. Captain Babcock, will come Up to the yard to-day and will go out of com- mission on Thursday next. There was a very large influx of visitors at the yard yesterday, and Mr. Hippie, the gentieman who issues the passes, was kept busy in acceding to the requests of applicants for the privilege of ee the wonders of the Navy Yard. Captain Ralph Chandler will resume his post as assistant executive to-day, having returned from his trip South with the steam yacht America, REINFORCEMENTS, On Monday afternoon the mail steamship which satied for South America carried orders to Rear Adinirai Strong, of the South American squadron, to proceed at once with his flagship, the United States sloop-of-war Lancaster, to Key West, Fla., and report for farther orders. This is important, as it shows intention on the part of the Secretary of the Navy to augment the fleet in Cuban waters to such an extent, that should an early aggressive policy be decided upon by Con- gress next week, a feet will be available, CAPTAIN RANSOM, the executive officer of the yaid was happy yes- verday morning upon not finding anything in the Washington mails to defer his hopes of early as- suming command of the noble ship to whic! has been assigned—the Colorado. He expects to be relieved on this station, on Monday next, by Captain R. W, Shuteld: When questioned upon the change of the sitnation, he remarked:—"The prospects are not, perhaps, what I would wish, bat the chances for war are by no means over.” His individual views are most decided upon the issue at stake, and his record warrants the assertion that in the event of hostilities he will win honor Re the navy and promotion for the Colorado’s com- ander, A CHAPLAIN’S OPINION. Chaplain Dorrance, who is one of the oldest _per- sons in the navy, was one of those with whom the writer conversed upon the war question. The Chaplain is on the retired list, and is in sentiment, in keeping witn his profession, a man of peace, “There will be no war, sir,” remarked the Chap- latin, “No war, sir, This agitation of the question has come to some good, but it is PF bad pity that it should have been permitted to" die out so soon, for this reason—we were getting along very nicely ; we were Breparing our ships and putting them in good condition, this work is to stop here, then the interests of the navy will suffer, Our ships were sadly in need or repairs. That which they have undergone during the past two weeks 1s very ge as I said, bat we should keep it up, until the Vestern Congressmen open their eyes to a con- sciousness of the fact that a great nation such as ours should have @ navy to protect our com- merce.” The Naval Constructor, Mr. Hanscom, says he “does not believe the work will be stopped on this station.” Mr. Yardly, the secretary of Admiral Rowan, df not gad any stoppage of the work in hand, and could not account for the news- paper despatch to the contrary from Washington. said that he was astonished and disheartened When he read of the “back track” whieh Uncle Sam was taking in the Spanish outrage question. He said ne could not see how we could back out of our position and alterwards claim any creditin the title of American citizen, Our navy had been dis- gracefully overlooked by Congress since the war, and the conseque: is that we have descended in | the scale of nations in the estimation of the outside | world, who judge of national strength not unfre- quently by force of fleets and the superiority of metal. ‘I still hope,”’ said the speake' hat the depressing news may not be verifie and that every vessel in our navy may be fitted out and manned for service. At this yard they worked all last night and they will continue to work to-nignt.? it is expected that Secretary Robeson will visit | the Navy Yard to-day for the purpose of conferring with the officials concerning the work in progress. | Naval Assignments, WASHINGTON, Noy, 25, 1873. Assistant Paymaster Lawrence G. Boggs i Assistant Surgeon Hampden Aulick are ordered to the Despatch. Second Assistant Engineer George Cowle, Jr., to the Mayfower, Captain C. H. B, Caldwell has reported his arrival home, having been detached from the Lancaster, of the South Atlantic station, On the 24th ult., and ordered to duty in charge of the naval rendezvous at Boston. Captain George H. Preble is detached from com- mand of the naval rendezvous at Boston and or- dered to continue on special duty. Commander James A. Greer is detached from the command of the Tigress and placed on waiting orders, Lieutenant Commander N, Mayo Dyer ts de- tached from the command of the torpedo station and ordered to command the Mayflower. Lieutenant Commander L. 1. Higginson is de- tached from the Naval Academy and ordered to the Franklin as executive officer, Lieutenants George F. Wilkins and Robert M. Berry are aetached from the Tigress and placed on waiting orders, Lieutenant Thomas M. Gardner is detached from the command of the Mayflower and ordered to the Portsmouth Navy Yard, Lieutenant Wells S, Fields has reported his Arrival at San Franc’ having been detached from the Lackawanna, of the Asiatic squadron, and ordered to Waskington for davy in the Bureau of Navigation. Acting Assistant Surgeon J. W. Elston is de- tached from the d ordered to temporary duty at the New York Nava! Hospital. Assistant Paymaster George E. Bangs is de- tached from the Tigress and ordered to settle his accounts, First Assistant Engineer John P. Kelly is de- tached from the navai station at New London and ordered to the Philadelphia Navy Yard. First Assistant Engineer George W. Melville and Second Assistant William A. Mintza are detached from the Tigress and ordered to the Philadelphia Navy Yard. No Suspension at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 25, 1873. ‘The work in the Navy Yard was as brisk to-ay as | at any time since our relations with Spain vecame threatening. Commander Mullany positively denied that there was any truth im the report, 80 far as the Philadelphia yard was concerned, that orders had been received from the Navy Department stopping work. Orders were issued to-day to not admit any visitors on any pretext. Admiral Porter was here to-day and made a thorough ispection of the yard. Orders were received to-day by the commander of the Pinta, which is to be @ despatch boat be- tweer Key West and our Cuban feet, to proceed to Key West immediately. The Ossipee and Mahopac Off for Key West. FORTRESS MONKOE, Va., Nov, 25, 1873. The United States steamer Ussipee and the mon- itor Mahopac, which were detained in the Roads yesterday by the storm, sailed at eight o’clock this morning for Key West, with a fair wind, Working Day and Night on Cartridges— The Colorade Likely to Be Fitted for Sea. Boston, Nov. 25, 1873. The United States Cartridge Company commence this week to run their works day and night, with two sets of men. They have pressing orders for several million cartridges from the War and Navy departments and also large orders for commercial work. It 1s said that the United States frigate Colorado will be brought from New York to the Charlestown Navy Yard to be fitted for sea. Recruits Landed at Key West. Key West, Fia., Nov. 25, 1873. The steamer General Meade stopped off the bar to-day, and landed recruits for the naval squadron here, THE PUBLIC MIND ON THE CRISIS. — People Becoming Distrustfal of the Policy of the Government—The Veter- ans of 1812—“Life in the Old Dogs Yet”—Affairs Among the Cubans. The war sentiment among the people is less demonstrative than it was a few days ago in this city; but it exists none the less universally—it is only exhausted in discussion, and disgusted through the evidences which have evinced them- selves that the government is paving the way for a@ sort of milk-and-water back down; for in that light alone will any lengthy arbitration between the American and Spanish governments be con- sidered, Every one who has had an opinion to express on the outrage itself has expressed it long since and repeated it 500 times, and now they criticise the probable course of the government, Broadway yesterday, in celebration of the fact of the anniversary of Evacuation Day, was literally lurid with the national colors floating from the flagstaffs on the housetops, and there is no reason to doubt but that a great proportion of this more than customary display was due to the war senti- ment which so powerfully agitates the public mind at present. The veterans of the war of 1812 in the course of the proceedings of celebration yesterday adopted the following resolutions :— Whereas the flag of our country, for which we fonght in the war of 1812 and 1814, has been grossly insulted and numbers of our citizens murdered, while the efforts of our duly accredited consuls haye been met with tempt and derision; and whereas in the capture of the Virginius and inhuman slaughter ot her passengers and crew, while sailing under the American flag, we feel that every principle of humanity has been outraged, and the laws of all civilized nations vi nd whereas the Cuban patriots have been several years struggling for their independence without receiving any recognition from the American government, who shquld look back at their own struggle for liberty and be the first to ex- tend the hand of iriendship to Cuba’s independent sons, therefore, be it Resolved, That the honor of our country demands that American. Citizens shali be protected as well in foreign lands as at home, as well at sea as on land; itis the duty ‘of our government to protect her oitizens and detend our flag in such a manner that no foreii to blot its brilliant folds with the sti disrespect, Kesolved, That as war appears to be the means by which we can obtain satisfactory redress for the glaring outrage and horrible butcheries of Santiago de Cuba, which cast a slur on our national honor and trails our late Power shall dare a of disbonor or Hag in the dust, that we, as Americans and veteran sol- diers and sailors, request ¢ American government to exact full and complete satisiaction from Spain for the outrages committed by her representatives in Cuba, Resolved, That if Spain cannot control her officers in Cuba, and does not held them responsible tor their ac- tions, it becomes the plain duty of our government to exercise Its power, and by force ot arms protect our citizens in all ther rights and privileges. ord to Cube belligerent rguts aud. Fe es alate. ie ights and re atas the young men of our country (in case of war) will go forth to do battle for their country under its starry banner, while we are compelled to Femain home, we, therefore, tender our services to the nited s government for the purpose o' Garrison duty tn and about the harbor of New Yorke The news spread yesterday among the Cubans that the Republic of Castelar had cemsed to exist; and the general idea was that this new complica- tion would make the Virginius matter still more complicated in @ diplomatic point of view. A HERALD reporter called at the office of the Amigos de Cuba Te ien aiternoon, at No. 52 Exchan; 1ace, while the matter was under discussion. Mr. ilario Cisneros remarked :—Now we shall have Senator Sumner's sympathy, now that his ideal republic_in Spain is defunct. Mr. Sumner has @ great affection for young republics struggling 10 thelr childhood, and I hope he will say @ good word for us in Congress, After all,”” continued he, “our republic is not so extremely juvenescent, for we are now in the sixth year of our existence, ‘The Cubans present coincided with what Mr. Cisneros said, so that Mr, Sumner may now con- sider himself as retained by the prayerful wish of the Junta to espouse the cause of a Cuban republic instead of a Spanish mockery of the term, which keeps some 400,000 human beings 1n slavery in the VIEWS OF A LIBUTENANT, A licutenagt with whom the reporter talked “Ever Faithful Isle.”” Is wae reported that some very important news from Cuba Libre had been received in New York the arrival of the steamer Crescent City, fronw ‘avana. The patriots have their agents in every city in Cuba, and important despatches are oftem received by the Junta in this city, couched in mer- cantile or ordinary chit-chat correspondence. News by telegraph of expeditions is received in this city frequently, in spite of the censorship exercised over the telegraphic bureau at Havana by the Cap- tain General. Funds are rapidly accumulating for the equip- ment of new expeditions. The unemployed cigar makers will volunteer to a man, it is believed, so desirous are they to avenge the murder of their brethren who went outin the Virginias. Great dis- tress reigns among many of the Cubans here, who while they had money gave every cent they could spare for “the cause,” and now that so many of their number are out of work they feel of necessit, the bitter sting of poverty. In spite of this, how- ever, the majority of them think more of their country’s woes than their own, THE MASSACRE. ——_+— interview with Passengers from Cuba— What Mr. Mattos, from Santiago de Cuba, Has To Say—Alleged Treachery on Virginius—The Boat Captured by the Patriots at Manzanillo—Inter- esting Details, As the gray dawn broke over the Narrows yes+ terday the steamer Crescent City, commanded by the well known Captain Curtis, was seen forging her way towards New York. Hardly had she pro- gressed a mile when,’ thanks to a stout rope, a HERALD reporter swung himself on board, and a minate later found himself in the purser’s snug- gery. The purser kindly consented to introduce the reporter to several of the passengers, who gave their views respecting the Virginius tragedy and affairs in Cuba in general. The following is the statement of Mr. Louis M. Mattos, a resident of Philadelphia, who was at Santiogo de Cuba during a portion of the massacres of the unfortunates captured on board tne Vir- ginlus:— Tarrived at Santiago de Cuba on the 8th of No- vember, on a fying visit to some of my friends resident in that . People who sympathized with the Cuban cause were afraid to express their opinions openly on the subject of the slaughter, on the 4th of November, of General Ryan, General Varona, General José, Jesus del Sol and Mr. Pedro Cespedes, All friends of Cuba Libre bewailed, however, from the bottom of their hearts, the brutal butchery. £ was stopping in the sayne house with the ‘“fscal’ of the court martial, and from I gleaned what was transpir- ing with reference to the trial. I did not care to ask too many questions on the subject, for the matter was one which pained me to my heart's core. I did not go to see the executions of the un~ fortunate victims, for I could have done no good by being present; and, to be’ frank with you, [ could not have mustered courage to have wit hessed the irightful sight. The jubilations in Santiago de Cuba were immense, as you can im- agine, and the Spaniards were simply beside them- selves with joy over the capture of the ‘pirate’? Virginius. As soon as I could I left-the city of blood to return to the United States, THE ATTACK ON MANZANILLO. I called, on my way back to Havana, at Man- zanillo, which is, to the best of my judgment, about three-quarters of @ mile square, with @ population of about 6,000 souls, and obtained some information which has not yet been published respecting the attack on that city by the patriot forces. In spite of the bombastic reports made by the military governor of that place that the assailants had at- tacked Manzanillo on the llth and had been badly beaten in the attempt, although they at- tacked the it on every side, su far so good, That is the Spanish version. Now I will tell you what the real /acts of the case are. The patriots, numbering about 1,200, attacked the place at night, and, after stopping there for several hours, looted about $25,000 worth of property, and los! about 36 men in the task. In many of the houses pillaged the wounded patriots leit bloody traces behind them. In one store a showcase, containing about $10,000 worth of gold work and diamonas was cap- tured, so that our Iriends in the *Mambi’’ will have as Many watches aud chains as they want. mo told that the patriots are determined to avenge the Virginius massacre in the most relentiess fashion. No quarter will be given to Spanish prisoners in the future, I believe ; lor all ideas o1 mercy on their side towards Spauish prisoners must carey, banished from the Cuban mind by the Saati Massacre. The quality of mercy is twice biesse know, but there are exceptions to every rule, and considering Spanish barbarity and the heavy odds against which the Cubans are fighting, to give quarter to men who give no quarterto the Cubans is foolish and weak, to qualify it by no stronger name. be vi A SPANISH POINT OF VIEW. Another passenger was Mr. José Vega, a tobacco merchant, of No. 187 Pearl street. This gentleman believed that the Spanish authorities were justified in the capture and execution of the Virginius Pirates. He said :—‘How ts it that the 160 men ov board the Virginius maae no attempt at defence, but allowed themselves to be captured by the Tor- nado’s boat like so many sheep? They had arms and boats, but failed to use either, I do not consider that the Spanish govern- ment is to blame at all in’ the Vir- ginius matter. You must not forget that nearly all the Cuban filibustering expeditions have been fitted out in American waters, and that the Spanish government cannot help teeling very in- dignant over the matter.’ ir. Vega is a devoted admirer of Spanish rule, and once was presented with a sword on account of his patriotism by the Spanish volunteers, He is now a resident of Brooklyn. It is reported by one of the passengers of the Crescent City that the lives of one or more of the engineers of the Virginius have been spared, on account of services rendered to Spain, The same informant told the HERALD reporter that the Spaniards are working day and night in strength. ening Morro Castle and other forts in and around the city of Havana. SHIPWRECKED, THEN MURDERED. A Waif from the “Slaughter House” of Santiago de Cuba—A Dying Man’s Last Letter. The following letter, written by William Baynard, mate of the Virginius, was received through the mails in this city yesterday by Henry Smith, of No. 59 West street. Sr. JaGO DE CUBA, Nov. 7, 1878. My Dear SiR—Since I leit New York in the ‘‘Isa- bella” I have bad bad luck attending me the whole way. 1 was wrecked in Jacmel, Hayti, in a hurri- cane on the 28th of September last, and lost every- thing. Then I was sent on to Kingston, Jamaica, and was waiting for the “Atlas” to take us to New York, when I was offered a chance as mate of the steamship “Virginius,” to go to Port Limon with passengers, and when we got outside they made for Cuba, and when we were about 40 miles off the coast of Cuba we were captured by the Spanish war steamer Tornado and brought here. They have condemned us all to be shot this jay at three P.M. Tell Mr. Miller, the mate of the “Water Lily,” and likewise Harry Voss, and he can tell the rest of the folks, Now my time is short. I am content to die. knowing that I have done nothing knowingly to deserve such a death. God bless you all is the (lying prayer of WILL) BAYNARD, Mate of the brig Isabella, P. S.—Be so kind as to go to Mr. B. Wenberg’s,, No. 31 Old slip, and tell them of my fate. ‘The letter is written on a sheet of French note paper, with pale blue transverse rulings, resemb- ling a water mark. Poor Baynard wrote an ex- tremely neat hand, and appears even while penning this last terrible epistie to have maintained remarkably calm demeanor, There is not @ false scratch in the letter. He has been extremely cautious to insert all his points of quotations, as printed above, though he omitted all punctuation except- ing @ period following the word folks, It appears, however, as though he haa commenced to write the letter to some one else, as tt opened with the words, “My Dear Charles,” the word ‘Charles’? being subsequently scored out and the word “Sir’? Substituted. It is believed that he used the word “captured” inadvertently for the word chased, it was impossible that, after eight hours’ hard pu sult, the vessel could have been only 40 miles distant from Cuba. [t is not a 1 singu- lar that he has not one word to agains the Spantards, and it is therefore assumed that thowe who wished to write to friends were notified by their captors that they must confine themselves solely to private personal affairs. It is quite prob able that the letter was read by the Spaniards be- fore they would allow it to be sent from the prison. No one who reads these last words of dying man will think that he is telling other tha the truth, or that he had any knowledge when he shipped that the vessel was bound on an expedi- tionary cruise to Cuba, GEN. BANKS AND CUBA LIBRE, Speech in Boston for Cuba: Boston, Nov, 25, 1873. Cuba, its past, present and future, was the anb- Ject of a speech by General Banks before the Ly. ceum, in the Music Hall, to-night. He said that the close of the first century of re- publican government in this country had wit- CONTINUED ON TENTH PAGE