The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, May 24, 1898, Page 4

4 THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, TUESDAY, MAY 24, 1898. SAMPSON STILL SEEKING LERVERAS PHANTOM FLEET MAY IMPRESS TROOP SHIPS INTO SERVICE War Department Deter- mined to Hurry Expe- ditions to Manila. [f Vessels Cannot Be Secured at Reasonable Rates They Will Be Seized. NEW YORK, May 23.—The Herald's | how much,” I asked, “has been agreed Washington correspondent telegraphs: | upon for the City of Peking?” o ihe Pl e e [ et haln For itHe §TiekinE $30,000.0 mericans Heavily Handicapped buSERIOUS the Greater Speed of the Spanish Ships. squadron of Spanish ships. P =4 o e | have not been unwilling to pay other will, if nec immediately press In- | }a¢5 at the rate of $1000 a day. We to service vessels under American reg- | think that is fair, but we are not will- istry. The Government of the United |ing to be duped. We fully realize the States is to-day determined to put United States troops aboard boats at San Francisco and to land these troops at Manila—peacefully if it can, forcibly if it ust. 4 £ t Secretary of War Meikle: john, consenting to the use of his name, told me that the Government had every disposition to be reasonable and fair in compensation for the transportation“of troops to the Philip- pines, but one thing might as well be distinctly understood — that thes troops had to b ken across the P cific and put at the service of General Merritt. Mr. Meiklejohn was disposed to admit every necessity for prompt- ness that had for two days been point- ed out by the Herald, and was frank | ay that the question of transpor had been the ouly one to emb: ¥ to s tion ving provided for 7100 troops this I asked, “what provision has been made for the remainder of the 18,000 or 20,000 troops asked for by itt 2" » no direct rep! the Govern 0 more troops. This is the ca- pacity of six boats for w h the Gov- ernment is now negot g. These . expected to be furnished n Steamship Company, between Tacoma and six boal by the whose ships ply Hongkong. “As to the question of compensation, £ 306 108 108 308 08 108 00306 308 10 08 108 108 306 400 106 % 08 208 08 08 00 308 of the situation, as pointed out through the Herald to say to- best we could, hence I author- through the Herald, to say to- - morning that after reasonable | advances by the Government shall have hausted we propose to impress gravi ize you ing the Whither the Spanish fleet has sailed is the question that the board of strat- egy would give much to settle, but in default of information from Washing- ton as to the whereabouts of Cervera, such boats as we may need.” “Will you simply temporarily con-|Sampson and Schley are probably te them?” I asked. cruising swiftly about in the hope of No. A commission will be appointed ettle upon an adequate and reason- able compensation, and they will have | to go whether they will or not.” ‘With the advantage of at least four | ¥ Meiklejohn, while proceeding In |ynqts an hour in the average speed, the | his usual calm way, is In a decisive | a > |frame of mind, determined to put at | Spanish squadron need not be over- | rest all doubt as to the purpose of the | taken so long as coal can be had. If Government to support Admiral Dewey | sampson could keep the fleet in sight, effectively. No sutlers are to be permitted to ac- | {0 Tun it down would be but a ‘slmple | company the army during the war. As- | matter, but as Cervera can leave Samp- | sistant Secretary 3lviklegohn mgde thl; son’s swiftest vessels below the horizon announcement to-day after a thoroug 2 ’ _ | consultation with the army officials, | /D & few hours' run, it becomes neces | wha are acquainted with the operations | sary to employ some other means to | of the commissary department. Tomake | keep track of him. The hope of the Navy Department is that the bunkers of the Spanish squadron will become gaining some tidings of the fleeing Spaniards. SOME PROMOTIONS IN | may be made staff officers in the vol- | unteer service shall not vacate their so small a force; danger the lives of the few thousand men sent, possibly resulting A significant indication that an early invasfon is contemplated is found in the semi-official statement made at the War Department to-day that General Miles’ attitude which has been reported as opposed to the landing of troops in Cuba at this time has been misrepre- sented and that he is in favor of prompt action. On his behalf it is sald that he has posed sending a few thousand men to Cuba with a great quantity of stores and equipment, trusting to the support which might be given by the Gomez army, and that it is likely that an in- vasion of that sort might have occurred a week or two ago had he not so ear- nestly opposed it and to that extent only, it is declared, is he responsible for the delay.” - “earnestly and determinedly op- He has taken the ground that it would be a very unwise risk to send that it would en- in our the hands of the THE CONSULAR SERVICE | offices in the regular army was called up by Hull of Iowa. The measure, it William W. Rockhill to be Minister was explained, was amendatory of the 3 2 recent ge: al volunteer act and was to Greece and Rounseville Wild- g man a Consul-General. | intended to make certain that no va- TON The Presi- | cation of regular officers would follow | staff appointments from the regular | Pay as only staff officers would be drawn. The bill was amended so as | to include army officers appointed to - | the volunteer engineer corps and was the stores falling into enemy, and thus giving them supplies which Spain is unable to furnish them, and that it would do very little toward hastening a conclusion of the war, even if the men were able to defend them- selves and their stores. He has ad- vocated, it is asserted, an immediate Consul at Antwerp, to ward gen, ; George H Consul _at 1 1 FOR TWO RAILROADS then passed. he House also passed the Senate bill { providing for the payment of volunteers from their enrollment, and authorizing the Secretary of War to pay troops em- | barking for Manila one month in ad- | vance. — |BUT ONE BID MADE up for any deficiency in supplies which | might be missed by debarring the sut- lers the department has decided to en- exhausted speedily, and under such commissary department. All these will | Onditions they cannot be refilled. be supplied to the soldiers at cost| The best information obtainable is to | prices. Many applications have been | to accompany the army with a sutler’s | one-half a full supply of coal on board, privilege. as owing to the operation of the neu- = = trality proclamations of the various at which the fleet had touched. Santiago appears on the charts of the bureau of navigation as a “first-class be had there under normal conditions. The Navy Department has special in- formation in this case, however, to the liers within a few days. ‘With an Inadequate supply of coal Cervera is terribly handicapped. Speed developing speed above twelve knots an hour his coal consumption is more than doubled. The cruiser New York large very materially the list of arti- cles which will be kept on hand by the et h the effect that when Cervera steamed | received from persons who are anxious to receive appointments entitling them | !0t0 Santiago his ship had less than countries but small quantities of fuel were supplied at the West Indian ports coaling station,” which means that up- ward of a thousand tons of coal can effect that there is practically no coal at Santiago unless sent there by col- in getting out of range and out of sight is his sole point of superiority, but in burns three times as much coal when making fifteen knots as when making Sale of Former Arms of the Union Pacific System by a Master for troops are to receive a month’s pay in invasion of the island with a force of between seventy and one hundred thou- sand men, and that this force should be landed as nearly as possible at the same time at different points. This programme is now about to be followed, with the possible variation above suggested of landing a part of the force a few days in advance. Arrangements were to-day completed the Phillppine expedition. The ———— CONSIDERING WAR REVENUE BILL Five Hours’ Time Taken Up in the Senate by Dissertations on Taxation. Central branch road, running from ville west to its western terminus, g that branch to Washington, and Prosser branch, from Concordia | north to the Nebraska line. These lines | were formerly arms of the Union Pacific | system, but for several years have been ted by the Missouri Pacific under | There was but one bid, that of | T. Jefferson Coolidge Jr. and Oliver Ames | op WASHINGTON, May 23.—For flve|of Boston, to whom the road was knocked hours to-day the Senate had the war | down for SI07.0. large " crowd ws revente eas: AT i expecting an exciting sale, but revenue measure under discussior pfcting S ercl The entire time was occupied by Chil- ton (D.) of Texas, Lodge (R.) of Mas- | sachusetts and Turley (D.) of Tennes- CERVERA'S STAY AT W hilo 'Lt oonifned Bimeel? 15 & % SANTIAG? WAS BRIEF. discussion of the proposed tax on cor- | i porations and bank deposits, strongly |1t 18 Said His Vessals But to 1By urging that such taxes be not imposed, | Again After Taking on a Supply C}:mmn am? ’;‘url»_ (‘uv{ur;d yg‘imy f’\:lly of Coal. the general features of the bill. Their TEW speeches dealt comprehensively with | thNE‘V‘V Yfip”}f{' May 23.—A dispatch to the theories oftaxationand were,there- | th€ oL rom Kingston, Jamaica, fore, in the very nature of things, legal | says: Direct Santiago advices say that and technical dissertations upon the |the appearance of the Spanish fleet off subject. No action of any kind was | that port compelled four American taken upon the bill cruisers, then bombarding it, to retire. = FEEl On entering the port Admiral Cervera discovered that when the Americans, who would now know his position, re- WAR MEASURES PASSED BY THE HOUSE | 7.7 710 tores. hin. et noonn o 2o 5 | trapped, as only one ship at a time Secretiry Alger Authorized to Pay | could pass the channel, so the ships Troops Going to Manila One quickly coaled and went out, purposing Month in Advance. to try to catch the American ships sep- 5 | arately, if possible, or, at any rate, to WASHINGTON, May 23.—In the | give Sampson battle on the open sea. House to-day the Senate bill providing | The fleet went northerly. that officers of the re~ular army who —_—— . FRANCE'S NEW CHAMBEE OF DEPUTIES It Will Contain a Big Majority of Republicans of Whom There Are 254. Y PARIS, May 23.—The new Chamber of Deputies is composed of 254 Republicans, 104 Radicals, 74 Radical Socialists, 57 s, Socialists, 38 Rallids, 44 Reactionaries and 10 Free Lances. Te s Customs Duties Abolished. NEW YORK, May 23.—A dispatch i from Madrid says a Havana cable states that customs duties on provi- sions have been abolished at the block- aded ports. The dispatch also says the insurgents attacked Palma Soriano, near Santiago de Cuba, using quick- firnig guns, but were repulsed, the loss being slight, k. ADVERTISEMENTS. Pears’ No soap in the world is so cheap. No soap in the world is so lasting. dmund C. 3. Furth, to be Consul af in Chancery. ten, and the Spanish ships ar: amena- ¥ o ; i CONCORDIA, Kans., May 28.—At a pub- | ig to the same rule. Unless colllers | oy et & Special corps S londimls above to take ct July 1, | lic sale at 4:40 o'clock this afternoon 2 5 having been detailed for the purpose Special Master Hiram P. Dillon sold the | have been provided by the Spanish | ;3ep the act of Congress passed to- Government and can be promptly lo- cated by the Spanish feet, its destruc- tion is only a matter of a comparative- ly short time. The Navy Department knows that several colliers were sent to ‘West Indian waters before war waz’de- clared, but aside from those that met Cervera at Willemstad, Curacoa, no in- formation has been received concern- ing the whereabouts of any of them. ‘With two powerful cruising fleets in Cuban waters and a squadron of moni- tors guarding the'Yucatan passage the ‘War Department feels that the invas- ion of Cuba need not longer be post- poned, and all speed is being made in preparing for the transportation of the troops, a large contingent of which may leave Tampa before the end of the pres- ent week. It is suggested that 20,000 men be landed on Cuban soil west of Havana and strong fortifications thrown up to serve as a base of opera- tions. The landing of a larger force would follow later without difficulty. day. General Wesley Merritt, in his capacity of Military Governor, will at® once undertake the collection of the revenues of the Philippine Islands, es- timated at $20,000,000 per year, a sched- ule of tariff and port charges having been drafted by the Treasury Depart- ment, and hence it is probable that the American army in Manila will speedily become a self-sustaining institution. Commander Hemphill, who has charge of the naval enlistment, has made out a table showing that the re- cent recruiting of the navy has swelled that branch of the service by recruits frorh the following States: New Hampshire 22, Massachusetts 1474, Rhode Island 150, New York 1780, New Jersey 318, Pennsylvania 408, Maryland 444, District of Columbia 401, Ohio 67, Michigan 304, Illinois 182, Wisconsin 32, Minnesota 154, Missourl 54, Virginia 255, North Carolina 95, South Carolina 115, Georgia 17, Tennessee 8, Louisiana about the Oregon. She is safe at Key West. and perform her part in the task of destroying the Spanish fleet. that no serious defects in her machinery have developed. fore her. that has ever been made by a naval vessel. ers. OCo00000CO0CCC0 00000000000 Maine 99, | CALL OFFICE, Riggs House, Washington, D. C., May 23. Admiral Sampson and Commodore Schley are probably scour- ing the Caribbean Sea to-night in search of Admiral Cervera’s Commodore Schley, according to ‘“‘dead reckoning” of the Navy Department, arrived off the harbor of Santiago at least twenty-four hours ago, and if the Spanish squadron had not then left the de- partment is confident it has been effectually bottled up. Admiral Sampson left Key West Friday night, a fact stated in these dispatches at the time, and since somewhat tardily confirmed by Secretary Long. Following in the wake of Schley’s fleet the senior commander is believed to have rapidly overhauled his sub- ordinate and to have reached Santiago but a few hours after him. That Cervera had left some time before Schley’s arrival is the belief of every experienced official of the Navy Department who ven- tured an opinion on the subject to-day. With either Sampson or Schley to fur- nish support it would be possible to transport and land the troops while one of the naval commanders continued the pursuit of Cervera’s ‘‘vanishing squad- ron.” ©000000000000080000000000000000000000600000000000020 OO NN NSNS RNNaNG 150, Texas 81, California 606, Florida 113, The announcement by way of Paris that the Italian Government has pro- tested against the continuance of the blockade on the Cuban coast on the ground that it was ineffective met a prompt denial at the State De- partment, and it can be stated definitely that neither in Washington nor Rome have any representations on this subject been addressed to the Uni- ted States Government. As a matter of fact, Italy probably is the maritime power of all others with which the Uni- ted States has had absolutely no corre spondence in the slightest degree con- nected with the Cuban blockade. As to the allegation that the block- ade is ineffective, it is said that, on the contrary, it has been singularly suc- cessful, and that so far as known not a single neutral ship subject to deten- tion has passed the lines without the express consent of our Governnient With the beginning of the present week all Spanish vessels in the United States which sailed after the outbreak of war, are subject to seizure, as well as all Spanish merchantmen found on the high seas, save those that left port for the United States before April 21 last. The President’s proclamation of war allowed such ships lying in our ports or bound for them thirty days in which to discharge cargo and also insured them safe passage home. That period of time expired last Saturday night. This, it is expected, will tend to free the State Department from com- plications. Under the energetic management of Captain Bartlett, who was recalled from the retired list into the active ser-. vice of the Navy Department for the purpose, there has just been perfected a most admirable and thorough system of coast signaling for war purposes. The Navy Department itself estab- lished thirty stations on the coast, manned by naval militiamen. Then it | called into service 1060 lighthouse em- ployes and 1000 life-saving men, mak- ing a total of over 3000 men who patrol the great shore line from Bar Harbor to Galveston night and day and in all weathers, watching for the approach of an enemy or for a signal from any passing United States warship. It has been arranged that all of these watchers can communicate in the course of a few minutes with a tele- graph or telephone line, and all ¢enter in the office of Captain Bartlett in the Navy Department, who is thus pre- pared to give the War Board instant notice of any significant ship move- ments on the coast. It is said at the Navy Department that it will be at least five days before the Monterey can be started on her long journey from San Francisco for Manila, the delay being on account of the preparations that must be made for the very exceptional service required of the vessel. Naval Reserve to be Sent. CHICAGO, May 23.—Two hundred and five members of the Illinols Naval Reserve will be sent to the Gulf coast to-morrow. It is said they will be glven a chance to serve with Admiral Sampson’s fleet. 000000000000 00000000C000000000000000000000000000000000 BATTLE-SHIP OREGON SAFE AT KEY WEST. NEW YORK, May 23.—A Washington special to the Herald says: There is no longer any uneasiness After a race against time for nearly 14,000 miles, the vessel has reached Sampson’s base of supplies, and will, after replenishing her coal bunkers, be ready to go to sea Though no details can be learned as to the condition of the Oregon, it is evident, from the excellent time she made on the latter part of her voyage It is expected that she will take on a full sup- ply of coal as rapidly as possible, and while this is being put aboard, her entire engine room force will be busily engaged in going over her engines and boilers and putting them into shape for the work she has be- In many respects the run of the Oregon from San Francisco, down the western coast of the con- tinent, through the straits of Magellan and up the Atlantic coast to Key West, is the most remarkable Never before has a great battleship been driven at her highest cruising speed for such a long distance, and that the Oregon has been able to do so well is a high testimo- nial, not only to the skill with which she has been handled, but also to the work of her designers and build- 0000000000000 00000000000000 ~ SITUATION IN SPAIN Bread Riots That May Soon Lead Up to a Revo- lution. Malcontents and Opponents of Re- gency May Join in Civil War Under Weyler. Copyrighted, 1598, by James Gordon Bennett. | against the Queen Regent has really MADRID, May 23.—The situation in Spain is much more serious than it is generally said to be. Black clouds are gathering over the peninsula, and, in spite of all that will be done or will be attempted, it will be impossible to avoid the storm, which will burst with terrible effect and sweep away every- thing in its path. But the great ques- tion which will evidently cause a revo- lutionary movement, of which I have | spoken, is of bread. The bread ques- | tion has already led to sanguinary con- flicts in some towns in the provinces. | There have been some killed and | wounded among the rioters, upon whom | the troops fired, and if quiet has been established in Madrid it is because the | Mayor, Count de Romanones, has been able to make temporary arrangements with the bakers. Spain Is just now passing through a | very serious economic crisis., It is the | result of an extraordinary rise in ex- | change on France, which one day | reached 111 per cent. Taking advan- | tage of exchange, French and Belgian | corn factors have bought up all the wheat in Spain, which they at once ex- ported, realizing considerable profits, and when the Cortes urgently passed a bill forbidding the export of cereals it was too late. The stock. of corn and wheat had already crossed the frontier, | leaving Spain without food for her | own people. It, therefore, became ne- | cessary to buy flour abroad at ruinous | prices to meet the immediate needs, | and the exchange made the Spaniards | lose considerable sums which have been | gained by the French and Belgians. | Hence the rise in the price of bread, | and hence the general discontent in the | provinces and sanguinary demonstra- started, and serious complications will probably arise before long. Every one dreads them, every one fears them and only a miracle can prevent them. MAY RETIRE ARMY AND NAVY OFFICERS the Bill Introduced Authoriznig President to Show Favoritism if He Desires. WASHINGTON, May 23.—Senator Chandler to-day introduced a bill pro- viding that during the war with Spain the President be and he is hereby au- thorized, in his discretion, to place on the retired list any officer in the army above the rank of lieutenant- colomel and any officer in the navy above the rank or relative rank of commander, and to fix, in his discre- tion, as the retired pay of any such officer any rate now by law provided for officers retired for any of the vari- ous causes for retirement; and the President may fill every vacancy hap- pening through retirement by promo- tion through selection and not accord- ing to seniority. GREAT PATRIOTISM OF NEWPORT CITIZENS ‘Will Build the Fastest Torpedo Boat Destroyer Afloat and Present It to Uncle Sam. NEWPORT, R. L, May 23.—Citizens have inaugurated a movement for the purpose of having the citizens of Rhode Island build and equip the fastest tor- pedo boat destroyer afloat and present it to the Government. Sone It is intended to give the contract to In Madrid the rise has not yet made | the Herreshoffs and to name her the itself felt, because the Mayor promised | Oliver Hazard Perry, in honor of the to indemnify the bakers with municipal | hero of Lake Erfe, who was born in funds, but the credits allotted for this| Newport. purpose are not large, and when they F. P. Garretson started the subscrip- | 5 : | tion with $1000. There is considerable are exhausted Madrid bakers will also Enthunfashers over the matiee! be obliged to raise their prises. What will happen then? That is what is most 5 feared in Government circles. The peo- To Increase the Engineers. ple, already in sore straits, will inevi-| WASHINGTON, May 23.—At the tably join the numerous political and | other malcontents, and the result may very well be a civil war, for the mal- | contents and opponents of the regency | —Carlists, Republicans, Socialists and Anarchists—who, 1f an opportunity arose, would group themselves under General Weyler with the sole object of overturning the Queen Regent, already form an imposing majority. After this revolution, which the army will be powerless to put down, will Don Carlos come into power or will a re- | public be proclaimed? It is very gif-| ficult to prophesy on this point. It is certain, however, that the Queen Re- opening of to-day’s session of the Sen- ate a communicatiorn was received from Secretary of War Alger, together with the draft of a bill providing for a grad- ual increase in the number of officers of the Corps of Engineers. The bill pro- vides that the Corps of Engineers of the army shall consist hereafter of one chief of engineers, with the rank of brigadier-general, seven colonels, four- teen lieutenant-colonels, twenty-eight majors, thirty-five captains, thirty first lieutenants, twelve second lie tenants and the battalion of enginee: The communication and the bill were referred to the Military Affairs Com- gent does not enjoy much sympathy among the people. The movement | mittee. ADVERTISEMENTS. ALL YUKON - RIVER POINTS ALASKA COMMERGIAL C0'S STEAMERS. THE PIONEER LINE, ESTABLISHED ON THE RIVER 1869. IX FAST AND COMMODIOUS RIVER STEAMERS NOW IN SERVICE AND oON o, the river; six new steamers bullding In addition and will be ready to run when naviga- tion_opens. Passengers by our line are assured IMMEDIATE CONNECTION AT ST. 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The last three vessels are favorably known to all who have trav and ew St. Paul will be the finest and best appointed vessel on uu.elrendn.vi A e, g Dates from San Francisco About dune 5th and at Short Intervais Thereafter. The advantages we offer are immediate connection at St. Michael a: - ties for handling the traffic. We can start up the river the mumelnt "xf\f’.‘;‘;d‘u'f?;i’:ni"”’ OUR BOATS ARE THERE AND READY. Letters of credit and certificates of deposit issued pavable at our station: connection with Wii:~, F RGO & CO. we have established a puc11°'éx§,'li,§‘vfe’av;§? tmrnn:‘mxlor?o:‘:x‘cf o d‘i‘r’:g rhver. ‘n'e[ Sumpany also Waintains stations and does a_general ness af nts Y Copper River, Cooks Inlet, Tu; in Arm.pgtc.‘ sl S Y Suthern Allska, incinaing teamer Dora. 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