Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1898-06-09
EXCHANGE OF HOBSON and men REFUSED
Referred From Admiral Cervera to the Governor, From
the Governor to General BIanco.
INSURGENTS WHIPPED spANIARDs AT MANILA

KEY WEST, Fla. June 9.-Persistsnt
rumors, credited by naval officers OF
high rank here, are in circulation to the
effect that three Spanish warships have
forced their way into Havana harbor
One report says they consist Of one bat.
tleship and two cruisers.
-FOUR MORE OF THEM.
KEY WEST, Fla. June s.-12 m.-
Four suspicious looking vessels
thought to be Spanish warships, are OF
have been attempting to elude the
MORE SHIPS SIGHTED.
KEY WEST, June "a Government
tug from Cardenas Joined the Ameri
can fleet of Havana, yesterday, bring
from an auxiliary gunboat. These
were to the effect that Tuesday night
the gunboat sighted four vessels,
and torpedo boat, between Salt Cay
and the Padre del Cruz light. The
gunboat followed them and. when
within speaking distance, hoisted the
private fleet signal. The strangers an
swered with
THREE MAST HEAD LIGHTS,
which was not the required signal. I'm
mediately thereafter they put out all
their lights. The gunboat cruised after
the strangers two or three miles, once
approaching within 1000 yards, but
eventually abandoned the chase and
reported to the nearest ship of the
United States feet. Advices were
then sent to Commodore Watson by the
government tug, and he dispatched the
ship to Key West. The Commander
of the gunboat, which followed the four
vessels, says he is
SATISFIED THEY WE'RE SPANISH
war ships, either trying to get into
Havana or lying in wait for trans
ports. The affair, however, is involved
In much doubt. The British cruiser
Talbot left Havana on Tuesday and
may have been one Of the vessels
sighted.
CARRYING WITH HIGH HAND.
New YORK, June 9.-(Copyrightsd
special from st. Thomas, Danish West
Indies, reports Macias, Governor Gen.
eral of Puerto Rico, banished from that
island Walter Bett, Secretary of the
British Consulate at San Juan, after
subjecting him to fifty-six hours i'm
prisonment and otherwise maltreating
him. British Consul General Crawford
reported the affair to his government.
Bstt was accused of revealing Spanish
military secrets to the agents of the
United States. sN
CHARGES SPECIFIED.
New YORK, June 9.-The day after
the bombardment of San Juan, by the
ships of Admiral Sampson, General
Macias caused an extensive system Of
mines to be installed in the outer har-
Dor, in anticipation of the return of the
ships and a subsequent bombardmsnt.
Although the greatest care and secrecy
were observed by the Spanish in mining
the harbor, details of the work were
conveyed to Consul General Hanna.
He is now making an extensive report
to the Navy Department.
In some way Macias learned this,
and as the British Consulate has been
GUARDING AMERICAN INTpREsTs
at Puerto Rico since the withdrawal of
Hanna, he at once suspected that the
Englishmen conveyed the news to the
United States officials. He peremp-
t0rily summoned thirty British sub
iscts before him, put them through a
searching examination. after which
several were cast into prison for
twenty-four hours. Upon Secretary
Belts, General Macias visited most OF
his wrath. This British official was
practically accused of having revealed
The military operations and wal
dragged off to a dungeon. There ht
was kept ifty-six hours in the face o1
protests from = sH
CONSUL GENERAL CRAWFORD.
When released, Mr.. Belts was pre-
srnted with passports. He left for st
Thomas. The military plans of Gen
eral Macias were not disclosed I,
Hanna by British officials or subjects
but by trusted officers attached t
Nscias' own staff.
NO FURTHER NEWS.
CAPE HAYTIEN, Hayti, June o.
905 .. m.-Up to this hour there ha
been no cable communication wit
Santiago and no further news frou
any source has been received from th
American fleet.
CERTAINLY CUT. OFF.
CAPE HAYTIEN, Hayti. June 8, OF
q. m.-Eyen before the cables in Guam
tanamo Bay had been injured so the
could not be worked. the operators 8
Caimanera station were forced co fe
By the fire from American ships. y