The Portland daily press., 1898-03-22
TORPEDO FROM SPANISH wARsHlp.
Cuban Officer Relieves Was Cause of
Blowing Up the Maine.

who was present when young Gomez
committed suicide on seeing his leader,
Gen. Maoeo. fall, is in this city.
Colonel Chado came by the steamship
Conchas, taking passage at Havana. He
eluded the viligance of the Spanish
authorities and travelled under an as
sumed name.
When Col. Chado left New York two
years ago he weighed 2l0 pounds; today
he weighs 115 pounds.
II have heard something of the stories
published in this country Of the distress
in Cuba and Of the thousands that have
died and are dying of starvation. Moth
ing that has been published, nothing that
could be published, could tell the story as
1T really is
"I know of my own knowledge that in
many sections of Cuba they are digging
up the earth for the worms that they may
find. 1t is not every one who is able to
dig. Most of the people are SO weak that
they are unable to move.
the men who are doing or hope to do the
fighting that eventually must end in
triumph, but the poor women, the chill
dren and the reconcentrados. ~-
Ruin is everywhere visible.
"Spain has been guilty Of acts that
must make civilization stand appalled,. y
Of the present feeling among Spauiards
at Havana, Colonel Chado said that it
was becoming more hostile for Americans
every day.
"There is feeling among them, he
said, "that the United States Is afraid to
fight and that they can do anything they
please. I am firmly convinced as man
can be that the Maine horror was not due
to any submarine mine. This belief Is
SHARED by all Cubans. The Maine was
blown up by torpedo. Further, I be-
Spanish warShip Alphonso XII.
GAS to our reasons for thinking So:
First, there is the fact that the night be-
fore the Maine explosion the Alphonso,
which had been anchored near, was
moved to safe distance away. Second,
the fact that not once since the day of the
explosion has any seaman or marine from
the Alphonso been allowed to go ashore.
The only inference is that the officials are
afraid the sailors might become intoxi-
GATED and talk too much.
THE NEW ORLEANS AND ALBANY.
Washington, March 21.-Secretary Long
issued an order today that the Amazonas,
the cruiser recently purchased from the
Brazilian government, hereafter shall
ear the name of "New Orleans,as in
honor of the principal city of Louisiana.
Telegraphic instructions were sent to the
naval officer in command of the vessel,
who will take immediate steps to carry
them into effect New Orleans was chosen
as the name of the new warship for the
reason that Louisiana is one of the very
few states of the Union not represented in
the navy at this time.
Secretary Long has rechristened the
cruiser Abrouau recently purchased In
England from Brazilisn government and
hereafter she will be known as the AL
bany, in honor of the capital of the EN-
pire state.
London, March 2l-Commander Willard
II. Brownson, U. S. NJ, who is visiting
Europe in the interest OF the United
Statos naval department has started for
France to inspect the ships which are
corning which vessels negotiations have
been proceeding Previous to leaving
France he spent two days inspecting the
Admiral A broual, O sister vessel of the
Amazonas, and some torpedo craft at
Ellswick and elsewhere. Commander
Brownson is understood to have been
highly pleased with the Abroual though
6n0 Ollueu 0CbUts dutAorl0ics uioy uooAcc
to change some details of her plans before
she is completed.
CUBAN ARMY IN FINE CONDITION.
Key West, March 21.-Col. Salcoda, of
the Cuban insurgent army, who arrived
here yesterday from Nassau with COM
panion after severe experience in an
open boat. said today:
'sThe Cuban army is in excellent health
and condition General Calixto Garcia
has 10, 500 men in the Eastern department
between Santiago de Cuba and Cana
guey. These forces have twelve field
pieces. two dynamite guns and two
million rounds of rife AMIN unition."
The colonel is here on sick leave ar
his companion is carrying dispatches
from General Gomez tn the Cuban Junta
at New York. -,
CONSUL BARKER BETTER.
Havana, March 2i.-The United States
consul at Sagua La drande, MIR. Walter
3. Barker, in a letter just received here,
says he is not suffering from nervous
prostration, but Is in tine health and
spirits, lowing to the food supplies which
are at last on hand sufficient to afford re-
lief.'' Mr.. Barker adds: "As consul, or
ex- consul, will continue here giving an
unko 0Ao 49, ny PS"SA Va s'AoSS fSSPN~ V-~S
have won oil my sympathies.
The surrender Is announced in this
province of the insurgent colonel Sabato
and Major Dusche with eight unarmed
insurgents Col. Tojeda Of the Spanish
forces reports having been engaged near
Manzanillo, province of Santiago de
Cuba, with the insurgent Brigadier Gen.
eral Bonites. The Spanish version of the
affair says the insurgents lost four men
killed, that the Spanish captured two
prisoners and that the government force
lost four men.
TO BUILD THE NEW DOCKS.
Washington, March 21.-The President
today appointed Civil Engineer Mordeoai
T. Endicott to be chief OF the bureau of
yards and docks. navy department., to
succeeds Rear Admiral e. o. Matthews
whose term expired last Tuesday.
In view of the probability of the early
construction of four OF five new dry docks
this bureau becomes one of the most i'm
portant in the navy department Mr..
Endicott is an engineer officer of big re-
pute. This position as bureau chief will
also make him member OF the general
board which determines questions of gen.
eral policy relating to the navy. He was
a member of the Nicaragua canal com
mission Of which Col. Ludlow was presi-
dent several years ago, since which time