The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, May 3, 1898, Page 3

THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, TUESDAY, MAY 3, 1898. BLOCKADING SQUADRON ON THE CUBAN COAST ACTIVE CAPTURE OF A RICH PRIZE, AN OCEAN BATTLE After Taking a Spanish S teamer Near Cienfuegos United States Cruisers Quickly Rout a Gunboat. Copyrighted, 1808, by James Gordon Bennett. ON BOARD THE HE 2—The cruisers Marblehead and shville and on and under comm: or the south coast of Cuba. Atla ac The division arri »anish mail steamer 00 tons burden, singl Among the latter were ten S nd two-mastec ngers. 0 rounds of ammunition, The Marblehead st d toward the Nask rbor. Eagle was seen to begin firing her guns. St The Marblehead steamed to the assist e boats. upon as soon as she was off the western point 1s, and the torpedo-boat vith his five-inch g unate she was not struck ing the Eagle, says he thinks I . comma mage was done to the torpedo-boat. 1t aboard until late in the afternoon the squadron steame utenants except one, Colonel Vicente de 1 were being tr: 1g lot and showing the effect of n sent from Spain, and to-day only ALD-CALL DISPATCH-BOAT, SOMMERS N. the converted y 1d of Commander Bowman H. McCalla of the Marblehead, 1ited a steamer to the westward and began a chase. hot a.ross her bows, and an armed boat’s crew was sent aboard. Argonata, bound from Batabano for Cienfuegos. panish officers and ten soldiers. ere transferred to the N vas on his way to Spain to be promoted to a generalship. ferred to another station. SMITH, off Sand Key, via Key ht Eagle, forming the fourth ved off Cienfuegos on Friday morning. After a couple of hours the The Ar- ner rigged, laden with a general These, with their shville. The prize was captured hville and the Argonata and Eagle re- 1, sch he hoisted a signal that she was being ance of the little Eagle, which was 1 torpedo-boat was inside the harbor firing her eight-inch guns at the Eagle, but at of the entrance to the harbor. Then beat a hasty retreat. Many shells The range was long for the six-pounders with which the he struck the enemy several times. It After the transfer of the prisoners from gers of the Argonata were sent ashore under flags of truce in their own boats. prize, and Ensign H. C. Kutzli was put in charge of it. After cruising d to the westward. The Nashville Cortigo y Navarro, commanding a The other officers had The soldiers were bound the climate on Europeans. Colonel 60,000 are fit for duty. EASTERN COAST [ % % % 2 X XXX XXX EHFF X %N Secretary Alger Fears Spain’s Ships May Retaliate for Loss of the Phil- ippines. Southern coast. Captain W. P. Duvall, military aide to Secretary Alger, has been inspecting the defenses of Boston and other New England cities for sev- | | days, and his report shows they - in a bad condition. It was to pre- | vent Spanish privateers from ravaging | the Northeast coast that the cruisers | Columbia and Minneapolis were sent to | patrol duty there, and the mobilization | | of the Northern patrol squadron at Provincetown is with the view of hav- | ¢ a naval force handy to resist an any of the Northeastern Instructions to the commanding of the auxiliary cruisers | irie, Dixie and Yosemite re- | them to join the flagship San | at Provincetown without de- | Their crews will have gun prac- tice on the way and will be given as much training as possible. = Besides Commodore Howell's squadron the | ports will be defended by great guns and General Merritt will improve the fortifications as r.uch as possible. much this s when COMMANDER BOWMAN H. McCALLA of the Cruiser Marblehead. ‘Woodford Returning Home. Grouth called an extra session of the PARIS, May 2.— 1 Stewart L. | Legislature for May 5 to provide funds Woodford, former United States Min- | for the subsistence and transportation ister at Madrid, is a passenger on|Of Vermont troops. The State militia board La Touraine, which left Havre | Will be mobilized on Saturday, May 7, Saturday for New York. | at Brattleboro. The standard of height in the British rmy is greater than in the army of any bubha Vermont’s Volunteers. o other nation. CHESTER, Vt, May 2—Governor | in this direction R KKK KKK KRR LEO PROSTRATED. ROME, May —The Pope is prostrated by the news from Ma- * * * * * * nila. He expre »d great horror at the terrible loss of life, and said he wished he had died be- # fore seeing such a war. * * % SYMPATHY WITH AMERIC Majority of the People of England Against Spain. Scotland and Northern Ireland Practically Solid for the United States. Non-Conformists Are All Pro- Ameri- can, While the Roman Catholics Favor Spain. Special Dispatch to The Call LONDON, May 2.—The question as to whether British sympathy is really with America is still agitating those | who are chiefly interested in establish- ing a good understanding between the two nations. Alfred Harmsworth who, personally and through his paper., has been doing the most efficient work is convinced that a large majority of the people of the United Kingdom are unreservedly in sympathy with the United States. He bases his conviction on a careful can- v of the country, which he has just completed. It shows that Scotland is practically solid for America, and that Ireland, except in the north, is hostile to America. Of the merchant: pers and business men generaily, per cent are keenly American; 35 per | cent are neutral and 35 per cent are against war anywh The non-conformists are solidly pro- American, while 90 per cent of the Ro- man Catholics are pro-Spanish in all cases, according to the figures collected. The British aristocracy, aside from the Catholics, is evenly divided, while the Jews are opposed to America. On the subject of Catholic opposition to America, the Daily Mail in an article printed to-day, says: “It is largely due to distinguished members of the Catho- lic artistocracy and to the Catholic pre- lacy of the United Kingdom and Ire- land that a slight sympathy for Spain | has been worked up during the past few days. The priests and people alike are intent on showing their interest in the country which is a_firmer strong- hold of the church than Italy, and great efforts are making to force the trend of public opinion. This fact and the strong Irish feeling explains why so few Nationalist members of the House of Commons have spoken publicly in favor of the United States. Redmond and Dillon have spoken, but the latter was immediately attacked by the widely circulated Catholic organ in England, the Catholic Times.” AN EXCDUS FROM _ THE CANARIES Business Paralyzed and Great Dis- tress Among Poor People of the islands Threatened. LONDON, May 3.—A dispatch to the Daily Mail from Las Palmas, dated April 23, says: The exodus continues. Business is paralyzed and great dis- tress among the working classes is threatened. - The strict censorship of telegrams prevents any news getting to the outside world. Lot American men- 7 e > /e T s On the Deck of a Yar;kee Man-of-War in Action. the following: In destroying the Span- ish fleet before attempting to take a port in the Philippines for use as a base of operations, Commodore Dewey has act- ed in accordance with orders sent to him by Secretary Long. It can be | stated on high authority that Secretary Long cabled Commodore Dewey eight days ago Informing him that war had broken out between the United States and Spain and directing him to sail at | once for the Philippines and commence operations. His attention was specially called to the Spanish fleet, which Sec- tured or destroyed before any other action was taken. That Dewey carried out his instruc- tions to the letter is now a matter of history. But the destruction of the Spanish fleet and seizure of the islands this Government has taken a step which, it is believed, will prevent Spain from conducting any operations what- ever against ports on the Pacific Coast. What the officials have feared has been in the event of Commodore Dewey’s re- pulse the Spanish men-of-war in the Philippines would harass the American trade with the Orient; that privateers would be fitted out and that in a short time American commerce would be driven from the Pacific. With the Span- ish fleet destroyed this fear fled. Having effectually disposed of the Spanish men-of-war, Commodore Dewey, under department instructions, will at once turn every attention to the capture of Manila, and it is the firm expectation of the department that the insurgents of the island will aid him in his assault upon that city. Sanguine of success, the officials are now with- drawing their attention from the Phil- ippines and are centering it on Cuba and the Atlantic. Command.r R. Bradford of the Bu- reau of Equipment, by direction of Sec- retary Long, telegraphed to-day to Rear Admiral Kirkland, commandant of Mare Island navy yard, to ascertain the amount of coal which this Govern- ment has at that point and a reply was received in the afternoon showing that there are 4000 tons at that point. The department is seriously considering the advisability of sending colliers laden with coal to the Phtflipplnea for the use -War. bl ety Siphomms s retary Long declared “must” be cap- | PACIFIC PORTS ARE NOW SAFE FROM ATTACK NEW YORK, May 2.—The Washing- | be done, however, ton correspondent of the Herald sends | Dewey has been heard from and he | commission, 1 | | until Commodore shows it is necessary for him to obtain In this event the cruiser ton, which has been ordered into will convoy the colliers and act as general supply ship to Ma- nita. As Commodore Dewey was given rte blanche in the matter of purchas- ing supplies it is believed in naval cir- cles that he has contracted for coal and such other supplies to be delivered on the high seas as he may need. Be- sides, it was pointed out to-day that the coilier Nanshan, which his fleet, had a cargo of 3500 tons and in addition the vessels were loaded to heir fullest bunker capacity with coal. It was estimated by Engineer-in-Chief | Melville that only on tal coal capacity of each ship had been exhausted in making the slow run from | Hongkong to Manila and that the ves- sels can go without coaling for some | time. From the Nanshan it will be pos- sible to recoal every ship. It is also be- lieved that the supply ship Zafiro which had ammunition ard other supplies aboard also carried coal. So far as the ammunition of the ships is concerned Captain Charles O'Neil, chief of the Bureau of Ordnance, told me that there need be no fear that Commodore Dew- ey’s vessels would run out of ammuni- tion. Rear Admiral Walker, who since boy- hood has been to Commodore Dewey as Damon to Pythias, expresses himself to-day as highly gratified with the news received from the Philippines. “As far as we can judge,” said Ad- miral Walker, “the Spanish fleet at that point has been annihilated. The job was done in a neat and workman- like manner that must command the admiration of the world. Dewey is a gallant officer, thorough and possessing the sand to achieve such a vietory, and he has fine officers with him. I knew he would do _this thing the best way when I heard of his being chosen for the place. ‘Don’t be afarid; Dewey will come out ahead,” I said to friends, when discussing this enagagement as a probability. It is great luck for Dewey to have this chkance, for we are not fighting people, you know. He served bravely and with distinction during the civil war, but he was a sub- ofdinate officer. “It is great luck,” continued Admiral Walker, reflectively, as if regretting the fact that he had not himself the privilege of risking his life for glory and country by the side of his dear- This will not | est friend. accompanied | NEW YORK, May 2.—The Herald's ‘Washington correspondent telegraphs: While careful to announce that serious consideration is being given the advis- ability of delaying the dispatch of the army expedition to Cuba, the authori- ties are steadily continuing their efforts to effect the capture and occupation of a base of supplies. These efforts will | culminate within the next two or three days in an attack which will be made by the vessels of Rear Admiral Samp- son's fleet upon the port selected for capture. It was admited by the authorities that the publication by the Herald yes- terday of the information that Spanish fleet is bound west caused them | to consider the advisability of delaying | the transportation of a force to Cuba, | but at a conference held at the White | House this afternoon it was determined | to proceed with the preparations for | dispatching the expedition. Secretary | Alger was in consultation to-day with Secretary Long and Rear Admiral Sicard, the latter being president of the Naval War Board, in order to make the co-operation of the army and navy | in the attack upon the Cuban port se- lected for seizure as harmonious as possible. At the White House confer- ence, which was participated in by the President, Secretary Alger, Secretary Long and Major-General Miles, plans were discussed. It is understood that it has been practically determined to order by Thursday morning more than 6000 troops to leave Tampa and go directly to Cuba. The Government has pro- vided the necessary transports to carry the men and all the needful provisions are now on hand at Tampa. General Shafter and his staff have probably by this time established their headquarters with the invading army, and are only awaiting the final orders from Wash- ington before beginnning the move- ment which will undoubtedly free Cuba. As soon as the army lands on Cuban soil a union will be effected with the insurgents, and an immediate move will be made against Havana. In determining to send the army to Cuba the authorities have been guided by their conviction that the American fleet will easily dispose of the Spanish men-of-war now on their way west. The naval war board has been care- “fully considering the point where the Lenemy‘l fleet is apt to strike, and it is | sist the American fleet.” INVADING ARMY TO BE DISPATCHED TO CUBA AT ONCE the | 5 | the opinion of the members that an | effort will be made to fire a port im | order to do as much damage as possi- | ble, after which the attacking fleet willl | scurry to Porto Rico. | The auxiliary cruiser St. Louis is ex- | expected to arrive in the vicinity of | Porto Rico by Thursday, and the auxil- | iary cruiser Harvard, which was in her | company when she sailed from New York, is expected to proceed to a point between Porto Rico and the Can~ ary Islands. These two vessels are. | solely on scouting duty. When the | auxiliary cruiser St. Paul leaves | League Island she will have on board a | supply of coal sufficient to keep her at | sea for a month at least, and it is ex- | pected that she will create great havoc sh merchantmen, besides gathering information which will be of great value to this Government. It can | be stated authoritatively that as soon. | as the Spanish fleet is reported at any point there be, as the Herald has stated, a junction of the armor clads of the North Atlantic and flying squad- rons, and under the command of Rear Admiral Sampson this force will meve to give battle to the enemy. It has been determined that the naval policy of this Government in its opera- tion in the Atlantic shall be primarily defensive, and if Spain wants a sea fight she must seek it. As the Spanish men-of-war cannot arrive at Porto Rico before Friday the authorities believe that the “uban po can be taken and the army landad ang offensive operations begun agairst Havana, which can be con‘inued by the monitors, protected cruisers and other vessels when it becomes necessa'y to withdraw the Towa, Indiani and New York and unite them with Commodore Schley’s fleet. COMING TO BOMBARD - AN AMERICAN PORT. PARIS, May 1.—The Eclair - says: “Commercial Europe, especially Great. Britain, could not tolerate the Ameri- cans’ capture of Las Palmas.” Continuing, hte Eclair says: “An autonomist deputy from Havana to the Spanish Chamber says the Spanish squadron which has just left St. Vin- cent contemplates the bombardment of an American port. It is not likely that there will be a fight in Cuban waters. Havana is being amply fortified to re-