Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1898-06-02
NOTES ON THE WAR SITUATION


Madrid newspapers urge the cutting
of American cable connections across
the Atlantic if the Cuban cables are
severed.
Mai Gen. Wheeler, of Alabama, has
requested the President to appoint
Vim. jennings Bryan, of Nebraska,
to "a high position on his staff.
Port Au Prince, Hayti: 1t is reported
here that a Spanish feet of II vessels
passed the Mole st. Nicholas, going
northward through the Windward
Passage.
Blanco is having large quantities of
sweet potatoes, vans and other vege-
tables planted in the immediate vicin-
ity of Havana to furnish food for the
besieged city.
Since the bonn bardment of San Juan,
Porto Rico, the Spanish have planted
new torpedo mines in the exact spots
occupied by the L. 5. vessels during
the bombardment.
The Spanish government has ordered
all the Spanish steamers from 1000
tons up capab BILE of steaming mini
mum of 10 knots. to be impressed as
auxiliary cruisers.
Col. Grigsby's battalion 1sG cowboys
from the northwest, dressed in full
cowboy outfit, created sensation in
Chicago where they stopped one day on
their way TO the front.
Mai. G. Shiba of the Japanese army,
is at Chickamauga to study American
tactics and conditions of army life in
this country. as "A representative of the
mikado. Maj Shiba reported to Maj.
Gen. Brooke and was made an honor
airy member of his staff.
The postoflice department requests
all persons addressing mail to officers
or privates in military camps to plainly
write upon the letter or parcel the
company, regiment and state, for ex-
ample John Doe. Co. ID. 10th Illinois
Iafantry, Falls Church, Va"
The battery offered to the u. S. gov
ernment by John Jacob Astor has been
accepted. 1t will be mountain bat
terry The gun carriages and guns are
detachable and are packed on the backs
of mules for transportation. The bat
terry will be made up Of six HotchlSiss
rapid-fire guns.
1t is asserted on the best authority
that both cable lines between Kings
ton, Jamaica, and Santiago de Cuba
Il. 4 L. ha lirn no
tween Kingston and San Juan de Porto
Rico continues in operation, in spite Of
the endeavors of the American fleet to
cut the cables.
In anticipation of the early occupa-
ton of the Philippine islands by the
military and navy forces of the United
States the treasury department has al
ready begun the formulation of regu-
lations and scheme of customs tariffs
which will be collected by the military
authorities and turned into the treasury
of the United states as "a military con-
tribution.''
Grave foreign complications may
grow out OF the action of the Hawaiian
government in allowing the United
states 10 make Honolulu base of sup
plies and naval operations in the Pacific
France and Germany. through their
consular representatives in Honolulu
have taken action which is construed
to indicate their displeasure at the
course of Hawaii.
A courier froro Brig.-Gen Rafael de
Cardenas. commander of the insurgent
forces in Havana province. has arrived
al Key West. The insurgent forces in
that province now number 5000, better
mounted and armed than ever before.
They move almost up to the outskirts
of the city. The insurgents are pinched
for food. but will wait eagerly for the
order TO cooperate with the L. ;. army.
Panama: Passengers arriving here
on an Italian steamer from Cartapcna
report that they saw seven warships
supposed to belong to the Spanish fleet
The ships were apparently heading foi
Port Limon. Costa Rica. A correspon'
dent at Port Limon cables that eight
ships were sighted about ten miles
from the port. Owing TO heavy fog
II was impossible to distinguish the
flags of the fleet. but they were war
ships The eight vessels were going in
northerly direction.
The Senate passed the bill allowing
Secretary of War Alger a second assist
ant secretary.