Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1898-05-27

Transportation for 10000 troops for
the Philippine Islands has been pro-
vided for, and the government il
searching for further transport ships.
The trouble met with is over the price,
owners asking more than the govern
ment wants to pay If necessary YES
sells will be pressed into service.
The third battalion of the State
troop is to be garrisoned ut Fort Van
couver, instead of going in active service
at the Philippines, as was promised
at the time of enlistment. There is
much dissatisfaction in consequence of
this order, but the boys must learn
that TO obey is the first duty Of
soldier.
A Gibraltar dispatch Of Wednesday
says that information obtained there
from trustworthy sources reports
consignment of forty Krupp guns suit
able for forts or battleships from Es-
sen in Germany to Cadiz, and it is
now on its way through Spain. 1t is
said that the guns passed through
German, French and Spanish custom
houses as kitchen furniture"
Polo, ex-Spanish Minister to this
county and late spy for the Spanish,
plying his vocation in Canada, Il PROV
ince which has at least friendly
feeling for the United States, has been
incontinently fired from that country.
He leaves the Spanish consul to con-
tinue the work, but he is under sur
Vigilance and will go too if the slight
est violation of the neutrality laws is
discovered.
The stupidest war joke yet perpe-
trated was when n quid nunc the other
day approached our City Marshal
with the information that One half
the American fleet is under water"
The chief "bit" only to be informed
that the half to which the keel is ut.
tached was under water. 1t was only
at the earnest solicitation of bystand-
ers that the chief refrained from run
ming the joker into the calaboose.
Spain is about to wrcak her VEN
geance upon some of her naval officers.
Commander Montejo, who allowed
Dewey to destroy the Manila squad
ron, is charged with cowardice, and is
to be court-martialed. And the poor
captain of the Spanish revenue cutter
Callao, which so innocently ran into
the jaws of our fleet at Manila, not
knowing that war existed, is to be shot
for not returning the fire OF the Amer
leans
The steamer Centennial, under
charter of the government of the
United States as war transport for
service between this coast and the
Philippines, has just emerged from
the government dry-dock at Port Or
chard, and is being prepared rapidly
rs possible for sea. She will be able
to carry 500 men, can make twelve
knots and is regarded as a very sea-
worthy vessel. She has been em-
ployed in the China trade.
Everything seems to indicate that
Dewey is the right man for the times
and circumstances. A late dispatch
from Manila says that the German
consul there tried to land provisions
from II German ship, but Dewey re-
fused permission. The consul then
declared, according to the dispatch,
he would force the landing under the
protection of two German cruisers, but
Dewey threatened to fire upon the
cruisers and the attempt to land the
supplies was abandoned.
Much valuable time has been fritz
tered away in sending reinforcements to
Dewey at the Philippine Islands. Let
us hope that it may not result in dis
aster, for it may be that Spain has not
abandoned all effort for their recap.
ture. The distance from Barcelona to
Manila is only fifty miles greater than
from San Francisco to the same desti-
nation. So in q race, the return of the
Charleston for repairs and the go-easy
method of embarking other transports,
may cut considerable of a figure.
Official cablegrams from Cuba con.
firm the report that Admiral Sampson
and Commodore Schley, with their
combined squadrons, are now in front
of Santiago de Cuba, blockading Ad-
miral Cervera. Spaniards maintain
that Santiago possesses sufficient de.
Tense to render null and void any ag.
gressive action the Americans may
take. The position of the American
squadron will cause the govern.
ment to take immediate action, though
it is unknown rs yet what form this
action will assume.
An unusual hustle in war circles
about Washington is said to be due
to the Presidents determination to
have Porto Rico occupied by Ameri-
can soldiers without further delay
The troops which have been concen-
trated at Gulf ports, rumor says, are
to be transferred by 20 vessels already