The Mena weekly star., 1897-09-22
STARTLING STORY.
Report That Gen. Woodford Had Pre-
 sented an Ultimatum to Spain.
THE BICYCLE FOR ARMY USE
Lieut.. Moss Makes Report of Ills Journey from Fort Misscula to St. Louis Southern Attitude Towards
 Colored OmciaIs.


 WASHINGTON, Sept 22.-A dispatch from Madrid to the Paris Temps that Gen. Woodford had delivered an ulti- matum to the Spanish government that, unless the Cuban war was brought to an end during the month of October, the United States would feel called upon to interfere, receives no eredence here. It would be contrary to all pre- cedent in international negotiations for Minister Woodford to practically close the controversy to diplomacy upon his first interview with the Span ish premier. There is hardly doubt but that he recounted the situation in Cuba to the dpke of Tetuan in forcible way, and pointed out to him that the loss of Cuba to Spain was inevitable. He recounted, too, most likely, the great damage that the commerce of the United States was sustaining in consequence of Spain's failure to put down the rebellion, and probably hinted that the United States interests demanded some solution of the situation. But that he told the Spanish premier directly that Spain would be given until the end of Octo- Der to end the war, and tn at if she did not end it by that time the United States would take steps to secure the independence of the island, is con sidered here to be altogether improb- able.
 Tne Bicycle for Army Use.
 WASHINGTON, Sept 22-The war de- pertinent has made public the report of Lieut.. J. A. Moss, Twenty-Fifth in- fantry, who commanded the bicycle corps which made the long journey from Fort Missoula, Mont, to St Louis last summer. The document is filled with information of the greatest value to bicyclists who contemplate making long trips a-wheel.. Every ounce of food eaten, every days events, mishaps, are set down with military exactness, yet in style that makes the subject entertaining reading for wheelmen. There were many long us les of walking and sleeping in the rain, of toiling along in the hot sun or sleet, or suffering from the use of alkali water, of hunger and of thirst. The purpose was to test the bicycle as q military adjunct, and Lieut.. Moss sums up as follows: ''The bicycle has a number of advantages over the horse it does not require as much care, it needs no forage, it moves much faster over fair roads, it is not conspicuous and can be hidden from view more easily, it is noiseless and raises but lit tie dust and it is impossible to deter
 !. thermore, the fighting strength of a bicycle corps is not diminished by shorse holders.' Under favorable con- ditions the bicycle is invaluable for courier work, scouting duty, road pa- trolling, rapid reconnaissance, etc"
 Attitude Toward CoIored Ohicials.
 WASHINGTON, Sept. 22.-The killing of the colored postmaster at Hogans- vile, Ga, was the subject of much comment among the representative colored men who called on the presi- dent yesterday. One of them, Ma tional Committeeman Hill, of Missis- sippi, who was postmaster at Vicks- burg under the Harrison administra- tion, said that the Hogansville incl dent was in no way characteristic of the attitude of the people of the south. The racial feeling had been largely overcome, he said, and such as existed was confined to the smaller communi- ties. The choice of colored officials would not, he said, lead to any general opposition, so long as the men named were capable of transacting the public business.