The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, May 11, 1898, Page 1

4 ? "61,['?\1 E LX > = ITIL.—NO. 162. SAN FRANCISCO, WEDNESDAY, MAY 11, 1898. Call PRICE FIVE CENTS. SAN JUAN AND HAVANA SAMPSON'S OBJECTIVES NEW PLAN ALREADY OUTLINED Quick and Vigorous Blows Ex- pected to Terminate the TORPEDO-BOAT WINSLOW PUTTING TO FLIGHT THREE SPANISH GUNBOATS OFF CARDENAS. MINISTERS WANT PEACE, BUT DARE NOT DEMAND IT Spain’s Cabinet Would Throw the The Pretender’s Sympatbizers in America Ordered to Depart Responsibility of the War Upon Parliament. Copyrighted, 1838, by James Gordon Bennett. MADRID, May 10.—It is only in-)longed. People who talk about war directly that attention is paid to the |to the death are in general people progress of the war by the people here. For the time being every one is engrossed with consideration of the Ministerial crisis. Upon its solu- tion depends the immediate action of Spain. If the Cabinet weathers the storm it will emerge from it either instructed to prosecute the war vig- orously or else empowered to take steps for the re-establishment of peace with the least possible delay. From careful consideration of the Cabinet’s action ever since in- vestment with the powers of office, it is more than probable—even mor- ally certain—that the latter solution would be more in accordance with its members’ personal desires. The ques- tion is, will they be able to follow their desiresP Their position is a difficult one. They know only too well that the longer war is prosecut- ed the more severe will be the loss to Spain. It was perhaps their reali- zation of the nation’s financial em- barrassment that made their efforts for peace so decided as to call out the accusation that they were ready to accept it at any price—with dis- honor even—so long as war was averted. As it is only natural the Ministry could not proclaim publicly in the face of an enemy who was pushing it to the wall, more and more deter- mined as the negotiations continued, that war for Spain meant ruin. Now the opposition i; taunting them for the reticence which was dictated by the commonest patriotism, and in so many words accusing them of having entered into the war light-heartedly. Nothing could be more unjust, nor could anything throw a clearer light upon the sirength of political passion in this country than this turning of the danger which menaces the na- tion’s very existence into a tool to serve party ends. It is manifest that the Government is trying to throw the responsibility for the continuance of the war on Parliament. It is also manifest that the opposition i¢ trying to.:mbarrass the Government by refusing to accept that responsibility without, at the same time, giving the Ministry any ground for :aying, later, that peace was concludec by the will of the na- tion’s representatives and not by that o® the Government’s party majority. In fact, the position is this: The opposition will not help the Govern- ment to secure peace, as later it may overthrow the Liberals upon this ground. Wh.ch of the two parties— who run the least risk of dying or even taking part in the war. They are in Spain what the jingo Con- gressmen are in America—promoters of trouble, with no danger to them- selves. But the people who have al- ready suffered in the short time the war has been going on are beginning to reflect that the man who can take 2 his dinner at the principal restaurant of Madrid and who can drink his favorite wine, still can afford to talk in a lofty strain about vindicating national honor at the expense of the last drop of his blood and his last centime, but it is the working man who finds i.mself confronted with the tangible proof of what war means. ing about twice as much as form-rly for a loaf of bread, that plays such an important role in hisnourishment, and is beginning to get desperate. There have been explanations of the risings that have been and are still taking place all over the country. Laborer, mechanic, as well as trades- man understands the intricacles of the problem, bu. he knows that life is becoming impossible for him, and it may be that it is even now very near the point when the exporter of every bag of grain becomass his enemy, and the speculator who is storing breadstuffs in hopes of a further rise is a man to be dealt with as a noxious reptile. At Linares on Sunday a mob in frenzy fired upon the civil guard, | who finally replied with a volley that killed twelve, according to some re- ports, and several nccordi.nk to | others, and seriously wounding a great many. There was also rioting in Brenes, Albacete, Albu-ique, Oli- veruza, Villa Robleda, Cartag 1a, Ali- cante, Ceuna, Palma, Villa Franca, Ciudad- Real and other vlaces. Some | of these disorders amounted to little more than noisy demonstru.tions, but all indicate a spirit of desperation due to the dearness of bread, and in consequence a widespread misery. ; With the people in thic e‘xcitedrsytate it is comparatively an easy task for the Carlist and Republican Ppolitical agitator to gair acceptance of the most absurd theories. These agita- tions have naturally not been lack- ing, but the political aspect of the | disturbances is only the minor one. | The real cause is stern suffering, and the Government, with a \mited' ma- | Jority, could bring the war to an end the Ministerial or the opposition— | will be stronger, is the one subject of interest at present, and this is| why I say the progress of the war is only indirectly occupying public at- tention. pursue this disastrous war, now that it has been proved that, while Spain courage is always equal to any test, her financial, military and naval re- sources are inadequate to cope with an adversary so vastly her superior s America, amounts simply to mad- ness. One of the most prominent bankers here said to me that to escape from total ruin is becoming more and more difficult every day the war is pro-|flled with boxes of ammunition for the | name him thrice i he continued his One thing is certain, there | is growing a current feeling that to | and be applauded. Will a ma. o he obtained? Most people doujbf;fl xtty If it cannot, there is scopz for the widest conjecture as to what will be the result on the country at large. Samied, STEAMERS TO CONVEY .TROOPS T0 cuBA. The Work of Loading Ammunition for tae Guns Has Already Commenced. TAMPA, Fla, May 10,—B; six of the big Govemmentytz;hl::r;g:ti at Port Tampa will be in readiness for the actual loading of the troops and | horses. They have already been fully supplied with coal and water. The work of building the stalls of the horses and mules was practically compléted to-day, and long lines of freightcars In fact, he is already pay- | DON CARLOS SUMMONS HIS FOLLOWERS for Europe. Europe. war on to the end. He will be in is the present Government. else. have been decided on. will occupy a high position, PPPPPPPPPO9PPPPIPIVIPOOPPIOPOO®POOPOGE NEW YORK, May 10.—Senor de la Costina, the American repre- sentative of Don Carlos, left New York last night to join his leader in Before going Senor Costina said that his departure was due to a summons from Don Carlos and that all the other American Car- lists had already left or were about to leave to assist Dow Carlos in his next effort to regain his throne. Commercial Advertiser, said that, judging from the events of the past few days, Don Carlos would probably be established before he (Senor Costina) arrived in BEurope, but that in any event the presence of the American Carlists was desired at this moment. “With our knowledge of the United States and the American people we will be able to advise Don Carlos as to the expediency and the best method of carrying on the present war. “It is possible, certainly,” said Senor Costina, “that some way may be found to settle the difficulty when Don Carlos is King; the Ameri- can Carlists will endeavor to bring this about. however, consider that the honor of Spain or the Interests of the Span- ish people would be compromised by a peace he will certainly carry the Besides his own immense fortune, which amounts to about $30,000,000, he inherited a large fortune from his first wife, and his present wife, too, is very rich. Besides this, he can com- mand the entie fortune of every Carlist in Spain, France or anywhere “Don Carlos is already forming his ministry, and although it is not yet completed, I can safely say that at least three of the Ministers The Marquis of Cerralba is to be President of the Council; General Weyler, Commander-in-Chief of the Army, and Don Juan Vasquez de Mella, who was recently expelled from the Cortes, probably that of Secretary of State.” Senor Costina, according to the Should Don Carlos, a better position to wage war than POOPOPIPOPPPPP000PPPPIPOOPOOOG O PPOPOIVOPPPPPPVVPPOPPPO00PPPPOOPOOOOGOGS rifles of the soldiers and for the Gat- ling and Hotchkiss quick-fire guns were backed upon the tracks along the wharves, and the work of loading them | on board ship was commenced. General Shafter spent most of the afternoon at the port inspecting the work, which will continue night and day until completed. To-morrow each transport will have mounted one or more of the Hotchkiss guns, while the Gatlings which will be taken along will be placed on the lower decks. The Orizaba, now at the quarantine station near Egmont Key, will arrive here on Thursday, and will be put into the slip at once for coaling and loading sup- plies and ammunition. Soldiers and officers are quietly preparing for orders for: the breaking of camp. Practically all their belongings except such things as are absolutely necessary have been packed away, and when the orders come but little will remain to be done except to take down tents and load the wagons. The mobilization of the State troops at Tampa will commence to-morrow, and by Thursday nearly a thousand volunteers will be encamped here. The ordering into Tampa Chickamauga of the Third and Sixth cavalry regiments and all the infantry regiments yet remaining there will swell the total number of regulars at this point to over 12,000 men, and, with the State troops and the Cuban volun- teers, 16,000 soldiers will be encamped here. REPUBLICANS READY TO FORM A GOVERNMENT. An Assertion in Spain’s Parliament That Caused a Great Com- motion. MADRID, May 10.—The Chamber of Deputies had a prolonged sitting this evening, with a view of passing the current political measures, giving the Government way to procure funds to continue the war. Senor Salmeron, the republican leader, alluded to the rumors of the Queen Regent’s abdication, and de- clared the republicans were ready to form a Government forthwith. His remarks evoked a storm of protests, and Senor Salmeron was unable to pro- ceed for fully ten minutes. Monarch- ists and republicans shrieked at each other'and bandied threats. The president’s voice was completely drowned. When he finally obtained a hearing, the president, Marquis Vega de Armijo, requested Senor Salmeron to withdraw the calumny. Senor Sal- meron refused, whereupon the presi- dent named him ' and threatened from | | tacks upon the throne. As a result of this caution and of the persistent mon- archist interruptions, Senor Salmeron ‘was compelled to desist. Senor Sagasta, the Premier, then rose and asserted that any one trying to sow disunion among the Spaniards when the nation was engaged in an in- ternational struggle was unworthy of the name of Spaniard. Senor Salmeron shouted, “I am a good Spaniard.” This declaration was greeted with monarchist shouts of “No, no; out with him.” ~Senor Sagasta appealed to the patriotism of members and prayed the House to vote the “funds so necessary | to conduct the war.” His appeal was | greeted with the general cry, “We will | vote immediately.” | Senor Silvela, leader of the dissident conservatives, said his party would ab- | stain from further discussion and was | ready to vote the urgent war funds im- | mediately, but he claimed the right to | debate the other budget as such meas. ures. TWO ATTEMPTS T0 POISON SOLDIERS. Sacks Containing Cotton Saturated | With Arsenic Placed in the Water. ATLANTA, May 10.—A special to the | Constitution from Mobile says: A sec- ond dastardly attempt to poison the in- fantry regiments at Camp Mobile has been made. Six days ago some soldiers found in the creek which runs along- side the grounds a sack filled with ab- sorbent cotton, which had been satu- rated with arsenic and tied down be- neath a rock which juts out into the stream at a point just above the place where the soldiers get their drinking water. By accident a trooper detected | the trap, removed the sack and upon | the contents being revealed, reported his find to the commanding officer. | Strict orders were given not to mention | the Incident and so the matter was hushed up. Since that day, however, the creek has been closely watched and | vigilance was rewarded when Corporal John Sullivan of Company A, Ninetenth Infantry, found a poison bag loaded with arsenic and anchored down just as in the first instance. ‘The officers will not discuss the mat- te:, but among the privates, feeling is running high, and they do not fail to exp-ess themselves. Spanish spies are Fnown to be lurking in the neighbor- hood, where a number of Spaniards re- side. They are all under strict scru- tiny. Movements of the Temerario. NEW YORK, May 10.—The Teme- rarfo arrived to-day at Maldonado, a | to | Uruguayan port on the Atlantic, and War. Congressmen Discussing the Disposition of Cuba, Porto Rico and the Call Office, Riggs House, Washington, May 10. It was assumed in these dispatches last night that the Cape Verde fleet was yet on| the other side of the Atlantic, and that based upon such as- sumption, if not upon actual knowledge of its where- abouts, the department would direct Admiral Sampson to commence the bombardment of the batteries of San Juan, Porto Rico. Dispatches were to-night sent to Sampson via Port au Prince, Hayti, informing him that reports to the State De- partment finally located the Spanish fleet at Cadiz, and for him to commence operations against the batteries imme- diately.. The President, Sec- retary’ Long, all of the Cabi- net and army and navy offi- cials were greatly relieved when, about -3 o’clock this afternoon, reliable advices from Madrid stated that the Cape Verde fleet of seven vessels had returned to Ca- diz. Not because the fleet Is feared, but because the un- certainty as to its where- abouts has prevented the formation or execution of any well defined plans for either the army or navy. But now that it is defi- nitely ascertained that the Spanish war vessels are on the other side of the Atlantic and could not cross within ten or twelve days’ time this Government will strike vigorous blows from which Spain will be un- able to recover. In the First place San Juan is to be taken. This will net be a difficult matter for the powerful vessels in Sampson’s squadron. The city of San Juan is on a promontory, standing out into the sea. The entrance to Philippines. the anchorage is narrow, but the water is navigable to ves- sels of large tonnage. The city is surrounded with walls, and a reef of half-sunken rocks, extending over about two-thirds of the whole cir- cumference, makes another barrier. The walls are solid, but would very easily yield to modern ordnance. Until early in last year the only battery of any consequence was a new one placed toward the east coast, designed ap- parently to protect the city from anticipated attack on the land side. The battery mounts several Krupp guns of medium caliber. It is be- lieved that several more of these are mounted in Morro Castle at the other end of the town. The remainder of the ordnance in San Juan along the walls until very recently was of a very obsolete pat- tern and quite unserviceable. When the batteries have been reduced several of the vessels in Admiral Sampson’s fleet will be left to harass the Spaniards if they attempt to remount their big guns. With the other vessels he will re- turn to Havana, and by this time 60,000 or more regular and volunteer troops will have been landed in Cuba at a point known only to the War Department. Blanco will be called upon to surrender Ha- vana under penalty of having the city shelled. He will, of course, send a defiance as his an- swer. The batteries at Morro and Santa Clara and other fortifications will then be bombarded and reduced, and if Blanco still refuses to yield Havana will be shelled by our fleet, while the American troops and the insur- gents attack from the rear. This is the plan as |outlined by an army of- |ficer to-day, and he is |confident that Havana will be taken before June 1. If the combined Spanish |fleet crosses the Atlantic to | Blanco’s relief Sampson, re~ {enforced by Captain Schley and his flying squadron, as well as the magnificent bat- tle-ship Oregon, the Marietta {and the Nictheroy, will meet |and destroy it before it arrives off Porto Rico. In the minds of naval offi- cers there is not the slightest doubt of the outcome of such a battle royal on the high seas. In the two American fleets there will be sixty-four war | vessels, battle-ships of all kinds, viz.—battle-ships, pro- tected and unprotected cruis- ers, monitors, torpedo boats, gunboats, rams and one dyna- mite hurler. The combined Spanish ar= mada would contain one formidable battle-ship and a large number of first-class ar= mored cruisers equal to our second-class battle-ships. In addition to these there would be six torpedo boats and six destroyers. Practically the entire reg- ular army will invade Cu- tba, and it is believed that 20,000 of them will be landed on Saturday or Sun- day. They will be under the general command of Gen- eral Miles, who leaves for the South to-morrow, but active operations in the field will be personally directed by Gen- eral Shafter. . The determination of the President and his Cabinet to send such an immense body of troops to invade Cuba in- stead of a mere handful to convoy provisions, arms and ammunition to the insurgents and to establish a base of supplies, was influenced by