Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-05-05

FORCUBA
Spanish Fleet Leaves the
Cape De Verde
Islands.
But Several Ships Are
Disabled by a Col
liSion.
Some European Countries
Don't Like Proposed
Tonnage Tax.

Washington, April 30.-Friday was
a day Of alarming rumors, but for
tunately they all turned out without
foundation. The actual events OF i'm
portance were few.
The news of most interest was the
departure from the Cape Verde islands
of the Spanish fleet. Late in the at
ternoon cablegram came to the
state department from the Cape Verde
islands, bearing no signature, an
nouncing that the spanish cruisers
Maria Teresa, Almirante UQueEdo, Wis
caya and Cristobal ColoA, accompanied
by the Spanish torpedo BOAT destroyers
Fulton, Terror and turog, had sailed
III westerly direction. presumably
going towards Cuba and that the Span
lsh torpedo boats Azor, kayo and Ar
iete and the Spanish transports san
francisco and Ciudad de Cadlz sailed
at the same time IN a northerly direc-
ton, probably going to the Canary ISL
ands. The latter neet returned in a
few hours, having been in collision.
Captain Sampson sent a telegram
relative to the firing at the Matanzas
forts, but it was disappointment lack
ing in detail. The few words went to
confirm the official view that the affair
was nothing more than a naval recon
noissance.
No news came from Dewey's squad
ron now on its way to the Philippines
TO do Dartle with the Spanish fleet
Presuming that the admiral is bound
directly TOR Manila, the calculation
maze at the navy department shows
that he should nave arrived about z
O'Clock this morning, Manila time
Oelng Twelve hours earlier tnan ours.
Generals Lee ana Douse spent good
part Oh Inc DAY III conference with the
omclaIs, giving color to the reports
That rney are selected ror generals
Inc announcemenL that the State Of
leAd6, 4auen Win supplies Ior the re-
concentrates was destined Tor Sagua,
led 10 the SurmIse that probably this
port instead OF NlaCanZas mas been Sc
Iected for the landing place for the first
atLack or the United states troops. Ks
garuIng the harmless groWIs IN the
european press and threats TO lntimt-
daLe the Unlted states forces from
pIochadlng the Philippines, II may be
stated that this was Tully expected.
The <'0rtus ueae munster, looked
over a cable from Lisbon, giving the
substance OF the neutrality decree ga
zeIted there yesterday and said thai
IL was evidently accurate and covered
the entire subject. The minister
says that article ), which
permits belligerents TO MAKE a short
stop at Portuguese ports, would prob
ably be better understood by saying
that the belligerents would not be per
mitted to make long stays at Portu-
Suese ports. The British and French
ambassadors here have received in
structlOns relative to the tonnage tax
provision in the war tariff Dill, which
passed the house yesterday. 1t is
understood that the German ambassa-
dor will also receive instructions
Ga the same subject They doubtless
relate to joint representations against
the severity Of the new tonnage tax.
The leading diplomats are hopeful that
their representations will lead to a
modification Of the clause before the
new tariff bill becomes law, as other
wise they feel that the tonnage dues
will be SO burdensome on British,
French and German shipping as to
cause it to seek Canadian and Mexi-
can ports.
The republic of Hayti is expected to
maintain strict neutrality between the
United States and Spain. 1t is recog-
nized that all the sympathies of Hayti
are with the United States, yet, any
action by that country inconsistent
with strict neutrality would place
Hayti in the attitude of being the ally
of this country and open enemy Of
Spain.