The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, May 18, 1898, Page 3

THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, WEDNESDAY, MAY 18, 1898, AvVANA’'S DEFENDERS OW IN SORRY PLIGHT _ SPANISH FLEET CUT OFF FROM CUBAN PORTS @merican Ships Control the Avenues by Which the Enemy Could Reach the Island. Blanco’s Forces at Havana Face Famine and Ad- miral Cervera Must Fight if He Attempts to Relieve Them. ® Call Office, Riggs House, Washington, May 17. © g 1t is believed that the American squadrons are under orders to prevent Admiral Cervera 8 ® from gaining an entrance to any Cuban harbor with ammunition and supplies for Blanco. The @ ® Secretary of the Navy has not the slightest doubt that this is the mission of Cervera, for his fleet © g' was started across the Atlantic soon after Blanco issued his urgent appeal for relief from a threat- g @ ened famine. ® ® That a famine will soon exist in Cuba is indicated by to-day’s news via Jamaica stating that © ® exorbitant prices are charged for staple food products, eggs selling for 10 cents each, meatat 50 8 < cents a pound and flour 30 cents. ® ® The draft made on poverty-stricken Spain to feed her Cuban army may well be imagined. © ® This convinced the naval sharps that Admiral Cervera’s fleet will make a desperate attempt to reach ® a Cuban port and land supplies and ammunition. Havana harbor would natually be the destina- g tion of the Spanish fleet but for the fact that it would add to its steaming distance, and at the same @ ® time be more difficult to enter owing to the blockade maintained by our squadron of warships. In view of this situation, it is believed that either of the two principal ports on the south coast of Cuba—Santiago or Cienfuegos—will be the fleet’s destination. The Navy Department realizing this fact, Sampson’s fleet and the flying squadron will be posted between the enemy and these ports. This is all that is definitely known of our naval plans. While it is not believed there will be a juncture of our two fleets, it is considered altogetner probable they will be so situated, relatively, that either could quickly steam to the assistance of the other. The distance between Cienfuegos and Santiago is comparatively short. With our four swift scouting cruisers—the Minneapolis, St. Louis, Yale and Harvard—variously disposed so as to patrol Virgin, Mono and Windward passages and Cape San Antonio (the western extremity of Cuba) the early approach of the enemy could be heralded. Sampsonand Schiey could effect a juncture and by combined effort easily dispose of the hostile fleets. On the other hand, even though a juncture between our two squadrons seemed inexpedient, the ports of Santiago and Cienfuegos would still be blockaded. With Sampson at Santiago and Schley at Cienfuegos, the enemy could at the same time be intercepted—to Havana through the Windward passage by Sampson and around Cape San Antonio by the flying squadron. It is the universal impression in Washington that some such plan has been adopted. With Havana, Cienfuegos and Santiago shut against it, the Spanish fleet would naturally seek coal and provisions at the harbor of San Juan, and it is said that the American naval commanders would desire nothing better than to have it follow that course. If the Spanish admiral couid be enticed into the har- bor of San Juan it would be possible for the two flying divisions of the American navy to combine in a blockade of that harbor and either starve the Spanish forces into subjection or to enter the harbor itself and destroy the Spanish warships by the use of tactics similar to those adopted by Admiral Dewey in the har- bor of Manila. The execution of such a plan has been rendered practicable by the recent destruction by Admiral Samp- son’s fleet of the principal batteries guarding the entrance of the harbor of San Juan, so that in the event of a battle in that harbor the United States navy would have only the Spanish ships to cope with. In the opinion of naval strategists, the absence of land batteries would insure an American victory after a short fight. The Cuban invasion was discussed at the Cabinet meeting to-day, and, while it was agreed to rapidly mobilize the volunteers at Gulf ports and have them equipped and ready for a possible hurried change in the military programme, it was generally understood all around the President’s table, that no movement should be made to embark any considerable number of troops for Cuba untii after the two fleets had reached their respective destinations, or until it was ascertained that the troops could be landed without interference from the Spanish squadron. In brief, the Cuban invasion is held up for the present and the delay is for an in- definite period. The first military expedition to sail will be that from San Francisco for the Philippines, and within two weeks, it is believed, the second expedition, convoyed by the Philadelphia, will embark. By July 1st 16,000 troops, regulars and volunters, will have landed at Manila. General Merritt’s telegram to the President to-day denying that he had submitted to the purported in- terview published this morning satisfied the President that General Merritt had been misquoted. Merritt was represented as criticizing the administration for proposing to send only 1000 regulars to the Philip- pines instead of 5000. But despite the general’s denial, there is good reason to believe that he made some such statement, for it was partially confirmed by the arrival here from New York of a member of his staff, Colonel Hughes, inspector general of the Department of the East, who stated that it was General Merritt’s desire that about 5000 well seasoned regulars should accompany the expeditions to the islands. Secretary Alger and General Miles are considering the féasibility of sending immediatel; to San Fran- cisco three regiments of regulars now at Tampa. General Greely, chief of the signal service, will dispatch a corps of electrical experts and cable and telegraph operators to accompany the next troop ship that leaves for Manila. 'These are expected to splice the Hongkong cable, establish a new terminal station and operate both the cable and land lines. The rules adopted by the Navy Department and applied to-day, restricting officials and employes from conversing freely with press representatives or others about the conduct of the war, amount to a rigid cen- sorship. General Greely, chief signal officer of the War Department, has closed another news avenue. The Haytien and Anglo-American Cable Companies, operating in Cuban, Jamaican and Porto Rican waters, have been warned not to accept any press or private cables giving information of the movements of war vessels. By this strict censorship the naval war board hopes to hoodwink the enemy as successfully as the Spaniards have deceived us. CONVERTED T0 CATHOLICISN ’(’)(:}fng was tg havpkbepn hanged on the | 2 inst. and Clark on the 27th. | for six years from Mar, The Board of State Prison Directors | paroled, as well as Fred ng"vészse'rvv::; | held its regular monthly meeting to- | four years from January, 1896, for as- day. Directors Hayes, Fitzgerald, Ray | sault to murder, and Lawrence J. and Wilkins were present. Director | Blackwell, serving a term for rohbery' | Devlin is lying ili of typhoid fever at | from November, 1895. A | his home in Sacramento. Both the | At the afternoon session the price of morning and afternoon sessions were | sugar bags was fixed at $5 60 per 100, | executive. At the morning session the | Warden Hale reported that the num- | price of grain bags was reduced from | ber of grain bags now on hand at the | $5 30 to $4 85 per 100. Clerk Ellis was | prison was 3,287,500; there have been John J. Hare, in for grand larceny Speclal Dispatch to The Call. | instructed to advertise for bids to fur- | sold, 497,722; there have been shipped, 3 : = nish a year's supplies for the San | 69,722; there have been sold and are SAN QUENTIN, May 17.—J. J. | Quentin and Folsom penitentiaries. All | awaiting shipment, 428,000; there are Ebanks. sentenced to expiate his mur- | bids for the former must be sent in by1 now on hand and available for sale, der of the Stiles family on the scaffold | June 11 and for the latter by June 18. ' 2,859,500. May 27, has become a convert to the | tenets of the Catholic church. The | San Diego murderer held frequent | consultations with the sisters for some time, the result of which was that some time ago he made a request that Rev. Father Lagan visit him. The priest held several interviews with Ebanks, and finally became convinced of the | sincerity of his professions of faith. Accordingly he will be confirmed be- fore going on the scaffold. “It is true that Ebanks has become a convert,” said Father Lagan yester- day, after he had visited the murderer | in his cell. “He will be confirmed some { time prior to the execution.” ‘Wife-murderer Owens of Stanislaus County and Clark, the Napa murderer, will not be executed this month, a stay of execution in each case having been served on Warden Hale, pending ap- peals to the State Supreme Court. 00000000000 000007000000000000000000 POSSIBLE MAKE-UP OF SPAIN'S NEW CABINET MADRID, May 17.—It is announced semi-officlally this evening that the reconstructed Cabinet probably will be made up as follows: President of the Council—Senor Sagasta. Minister of Foreign Affairs—Senor Castillo. Minister of War—Lieutenant-General Correa. Minister of Marine—Vice-Admiral - Butler. Minister of the Colonies—Senor Gamazo. Minister of Finance—Senor Lopez Puigceiver. Minister of the Interior—Senor F. R. Capdepon. Minister of Justice—Senor C. Groisard. Minister of Public Instruction—Senor Romero Giron. C0000000000000C000 ©000COO0CC0O0O0 00 0ORCO [ 00000000O00000000000000000000000090] foYorororereleloleololofeyoYoloYololololelofofojelelololofolofofolelolo] HEAVY FIRING OFF TORTUGA PORT AU PRINCE, May 17.—A great sensation was caused here by the arrival to-day of the military commandant of the Isle of Tortuga, off the northwest coast of Hayti, and due north of Port de Paix, near the entrance to the Windward Passage, who brought word Haytien War Department of what Is belleved to have been a naval en- gagement on Sunday. canoe. sel that might be engaged. [CXOXOJOJOIO} [CJOIOIOJOLOXOIOYOJOXOIOIOXOOJOJOJO FOYOYOXOXO] The commandant reached Port de Paix from the Isleof Tortuga in a He reported to the War Office that throughout the whole of Sunday a very persistent cannonading had been heard island, and that from its duration and intensity there was a strong pre- sumption that a very serious action had taken place. A thick fog at the time made it impossible to distinguish any ves- fSlololoXoXoXoYoXoYoooloXoJoXoXoJoJOROIOIORCROJOJOROROKO] to the east of the [ooJoolololoJoJololotololololoYoYoXo Yo YO RoYoO) NEARING THE FULL QUOTA Volunteer Army Now Numbers Over Ninety Thousand Men. Seventeen Regiments Report to General Brooke at Chickamauga. Officers and Men of the Fifth Corps Glad That Shafter Is to Head Them. Special Dispatch to The Call. Call Office, Riggs House, Washington, May 17. The volunteer army is rapidly near- ing completion. Reports received by Adjutant General Corbin to-night show that 92,580 men have been mustered in. Bighteen States have completed their quota as follov California, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Maine, Mary- land, Minnesota, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsyl- vania, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and ‘Wyoming. Orders to the volunteer troops move were given as follows: First Wisconsin to Tampa, Second Illinois to Tampa. Light Battery A (Illinois) to Chickamauga, Third Michigan to Tam- pa, Battery B (Pennsylvania) to Chick- amauga. CHICKAMAUGA NATIONALPARK, May 17.—At 6 o'clock this eleven regiments of infantry, one of cavalry and five of light artillery— 12,000 men all told—had reported to General Brooke, In command of tha Chickamauga army. The different regiments have been , provided with camping grounds, tents and equip- ments as rapidly as possible and the historic battle-field begins to present proof of what the United States can do in the way of assembling a volun- teer army. General Brooke this morning com- pleted the assignment for the first division of the Sixth Provisional Army Corps, Major-General James H. Wilson commanding, as follows: First Brigade—Brigadier-General A. S. Burt: First Ohio, Colonel Hunt; Third Wisconsin, Colonel Martin T. Moore; Fifth Illinois, Colonel J. S. Culver. Second Brigade—Brigadier-General C. E. Compton; Fourth Ohio, Colonel A. B. t; Third Illinois, Colonel Fred Ben- Fourth Pennsylvania, Colonel D. B. H. Case. Third Brigade—Brigadier-General v. Lawton; Sixteenth N onet Haling: Second Wisconsin, Col- onel C. A. Born; One Hundred and Fifty- seventh Indiana, Colonel George M. Studebaker, Brigadier General Lawton to-day re- ceived orders to report to Tampa, ahd Colonel Wilson J. Huling, of the Six- teenth Pennsylvania, being the senior officer in Camp Thomas, was assigned to the Third Brigade of the First Divi- sion. General Brooke. who has been trans- ferred to the Department of the Gulf, will retain his headquarters at Chicka- mauga. General James H. Wade, who has been assigned to the Third Army Corps, will report to General Brooke to- 1t is expected that General morrow. Wilson's corps will have been com- pleted by Wednesday evening or Thursday morning, by which time Gen- eral Wade will be here to assist in the reorganization of the divisions of his corps. TAMPA, Fla., May 17.—The assign- ment of General Shafter to command the Fifth Corps, which embraces two- thirds -of the entire regular army of the United States, s received with satisfaction by both officers and men. The regular troops will be the first to be landed in Cuba, and General Shaf- ter's reputation as a fighter leads the men to believe that their work will be cut out for them from the start. Arrangements have been practically concluded for the placing of the thir- teen regiments of volunteers which will be included in the Seventh Army Corps under Major-General Fitzhugh Lee at Lakeland and Dade City, at least until the troops at Tampa are moved. The water supply, which has been a cause of much annoyance at Tampa, is abudant at Lakeland. WASHINGTON, May 17.—First Lieu- tenant Charles Young of the Ninth Cavalry has been relieved from duty at Wilberforce University, Ohio, in order that he may accept the position of major of the Ninth Battalion of the Colored Ohio Volunteers Infantry. Lieutenant Young is the only colored officer in the line of the army. This is said to be the first instance in which a colored officer has been given the command of a battalion of troops in the army. DENVER, May 17.—The First Regi- ment Colorado Volunteers, Colonel Irv- ing Hale, departed for San Francisco this afternoon. They occupy four trains, two going west over the Den- ver and Rio Grande Railroad, and two over the Colorado Midland. The sol- diers marched from camp through the city to the depot, and were wildly c¢heered by the crowds lining the ireets. ANCOUVER BARRACKS, Wash., May 17.—Major Thomas H. Barry, as- sistant adjutant-general of the Depart- ment of the Columbia, received orders to-day to repert at the Presidio, Cal., for active fleld duty in the Philippine Iolands, He will leave for San Fran- cisco to-morrow night. to | | City, was at the War Department to- evening | Pennsylvania, | | | ed and dispatching them post haste to TROOPS T0 GO WITH MERRITT Three Regiments of Reg- ulars Coming From Tampa. Views of the General Favorably Received by the De- partment. He Objects to a Published Interview but Gains His Point, Nevertheless. Special Dispatch to The Call Call Office, Riggs House, ‘Washington, May 17. Secretary Alger this afternoon re- ceived the following telegram from General Merritt: GOVERNORS ISLAND, N. Y. Hon, R. A. Alger, Secretary of War, Washington: 1 desire you to know that the interviews published in the New York papers this morning are in every way in- correct and unauthorized. I had intended to take no mnotice of them, but I under- stand the articles are taken seriously in Washington. WESLEY MERRITT. Colonel R. P. Hughes, inspector-gen- | eral, with headquarters at New York | day on a mission from General Mer- ritt in connection with the assignment of regular troops to accompany the Philippine expedition soon to start from San Francisco. General Merritt’'s preference for a larger number of reg- ulars than it was proposed by the de- partment to give him has been known for some time, and his views on that | subject are shared by many of the| army officials. They realize that Gen- | eral Merritt will have a delicate and | important duty to perform as Military Governor of the Philippines, and they | agree In expressing the opinion that the general should have an adequate and well-disciplined force at his com- mand to maintain order in a city that will be filled with discordant elements. There are not enough regulars in the West to furnish the number that Gen- eral Merritt thinks should be sent on the expedition, and consequently Sec- retary Alger and the department of- ficials have been considering the advis- ability of withdrawing about three of the infantry regiments from Tampa, | where a large number are rendezvous- | the Pacific Coast. These men are well seasoned and| thoroughly disciplined, and are just the kind General Merritt believes should | ba sent on the trans-Pacific trip. Captain Jesse M. Lee, United States Infantry, who has been stationed at Tampa recently, reported at army headquarters to-day in response to tele- graphic instructions, and it may be he | is here with reference to the sending | of some troops now there to the Philip- pines. General Greely, chief signal officer, is making arrangements to send a detachment of six officers and fifty- five men, made up largely of telegraph | operators and electricians to accom- pany the Philippine expedition. ADVERTISEMENTS. You some- times hear men telling with foolish ~conceit of how hard they overwork and that they neglect their health in the pursuit of mon- ey. There are thousands o f men who admit these things a sort of — pride, and slap themselves on the chest and laugh at the idea they will some-day regret their reck- Jessness and neglect. They langh at Death, but in a short while, a very short while, the laugh is on the other side. Death waits while they laugh. He who laughs last, laughs best, and in due time Death dances on the prostrate body of the laugher. There are many funny things in this world but death is not one of them. Neither is ill- health for it is one of Death’s weapons and the most effective. ‘When a hard-working man feels out of sorts, and has a poor appetite, and doesn’t sleep well, and goes to work in the morning tired-out and heavy headed, he should take Dr. Pierce’s Golden Medical Discovery. It is the best health-bringer and health-keeper known. It corrects all disorders of the di- gestion, invigorates the liver, restores the appetite and keeps it hearty and keen. It drives impurities from the blood and dis- ease - germs from the body. It builds healthy flesh, firm muscles, steady nerves and active brain cells. It brings sleep and restores ambition. It cures nerv- ous irritation, nervous exhaustion and nerv- ous prostration. It cures g8 per cent. of all cases of consumption. It is the discovery of an eminent and skillful specialist, Dr. R. V. Pierce, now and for thirty years past, chief consulting physician to the Invalids’ Hotel and Surgical Institute, Buffalo, N. Y. DR.PIERCE’S s ieyy i is largely a mat- & ter ‘uf ‘otod health, and good health is largely a matter of healthy activity of the bowels. Doctor Pierce’s Pleasant Pellets cure constipation. They are safe, sure and speedy, and once tnkg do not have to be taken -{;ur. One little “‘Pellet” is a gentle ive, and By weeer'whe PELLETS. ADVERTISEMENTS. THIS IS WHAT Our logical belief is that he who sells:at small profit sells quickly. He who quickly sells sells much. He who much at small profit quickly sells earns little on much.and much by many. Our $10.00 sale is attracting a greatsdeal of attention. continually growing larger. Purchasers are crowding and Without a doubt it is another week of world-beaters. Several hundred Single and Double Breast Suits and 8- Button Cutaways, in all the latest shades and the latest They and designs imaginable. are simply represent which quality tells. sells. stunning, a garment Price During this sale $10.00. Positively worth double. in $3.50. Sailor Suits, Middies and Reef- ers, in ages from 8 to 10. For the older boys, plain effects, ages 9 to 18. The garments are elegantly trimmed with Silk Soutache and Silk Braid. Some with green collars and shields trimmed with red in- laid cloth and white soutache. The above garments are great- ly reduced from tbeir regular prices. 95¢. Our Fedora at this price has proved such a success we have de- cided to continue the sale. Sold for less than manufacturer’s cost. Our Furnishing Goods De- partment offers this week over a hundred dozen -col- ored shirts; long and short bosoms ; bodies made of New York mill cotton; open front andback ; double felled seams; fit perfection. Sale price 50c. Reduced from $1.00. Over a hundred lines of g | § g We cheerfully exchange goods or refund money. | S.N.W00D & Co., 718 Market Street.