The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-05-20

~ Intervention OF the great powers or
should abandon all present hope of
peace and fight to the bitter end On
that question, affecting the vital in
tereStS of the country, the nation
! have we'll been invited to express an
opinion by a voice of it's representa-
tives in parliament and there was a
possibility that a more pacific policy
might rise, because Senior Silvela, the
, leader of a party which had shown
! itself more bellicose than the liberals,
had used in the chamber certain vague
expressions which seemed to show
that he favored making another effort
to secure peace.
; Senior MOret accordingly launched
the idea in the chamber, but Senior Sill
vela refused to accept the olive branch,
and the cabinet, containing representa-
, tives of both policies, relapsed into it's
old difficulties. The only course now
was for Senior Sagasta to choose for
himself between the two policies, let
ting those retire who objected to the
. policy adopted. This he has now done
, and it is understood that he will chose
colleagues from among those in favor
of continuing the struggle with all
, possible energy"
THE SPANISH FLEET.
-uracoa, May 1.-THE Spanish
squadron under Admiral Cervera,
which left last evening after the crui
sers Vizcaya and Infanta, Maria Te-
ressa had taken on about 700 tons of
coal and a great quantity of p%rovis-
( ions, has not been sighted today.
When the squadron disappeared it was
going westward
London, May 16.-The Paris CORES
pendent of the Daily Mail says: A
number of Spanish warships which
were recently destitute OF armament
has been supplied with krupp guns.
They ave also been supplied with all
the n~ecessaries, includig German ar
/ tillerists.
The Daily Mail says t.4is morning:
According to the most trustworthy in
forIH2tion, the Spanish cruisers Car
denial, CisnerOs, Princess uc Asturias
and Catalina are not yet ready for sea
and, therefore,, cannot have arrived at
Martinique
FORTIFYING TAMPA HARBOR.
Tampa, Fla, May 16.-The steamer
Gussie which sailed from Port Tampa
last Tuesday, laden with arms, ammu-
milton and supplies for the Use of Gen-
eral Gomez's army and with two crack
companies of the First infantry, re-
turned today, bringing most of her
cargo back. The story of the failure
of the expedition has already been
told. 1t is hardly probable that an
other attempted will be made to land
the supplies until the whole expedition
moves. The army officials are strong
ly inclined to lay the blame Of the
failure of the GusSie's expedition to the
wide publicity given to the sailing.
The Spanish forces in Cuba were I'M
dOubtedly kept fully posted ON every
detail of the movement and made
preparations to meet the Gussie when
she appeared off the coast. 1t is init
mated that a press censorship at Tam
| no n h r-o I1i-l11 .In,,1l n az
ment of troops take place from here
in the neal future. Had such a course
been pursued before, it is claimed hat
the chance Of a successful landing of
the Gussie's supplies and placing them
in the hands of the insurgents would
have been greater.
Richard Harding Davis, the author
whose nomination as assistant adju-
tant general of volunteers with the
rank of captain was recently confirmed
has declined to act. Mr.. Davis said
that while he deeply felt the honor
conferred upon him, yet the fact that
he vas entirely ignorant of the duties
of officers and the fact that there were
many officers in the regular army de-
serving of promotion, forced him to
decline.
TO THOROUGHLY PROTECT TAM
PA HARBOR.
The necessity of affording protec-
ton to the enormous amOun of coal,
ammunition end government supplies
of all kids at Port Tampa and the
dangerous proximity of the Spanish
fleet to Florida waters have resulted
in the pushing to completion of the
Qualifications at Egmont and Mullet
keys, commanding the entrance to
Tampa bay. Several 5-inch siege u IN
and finch HOwftzers to be placed in
these Notifications have already ar
rived and others are on the way. There
is also on hand a plentiful supply of
ammunition and torpedo material. The
harbor from the entrance to Port
Tampa has been thoroughly mapped
out and the locations for torpedoes
and submarine mines decided upon.
Inside of a few days the harbor Will
be thoroughly protected.
THE MILITARY CAMP AT MOBILE.
Mobile, Ala, May 16.-Colonel l. D.
Dorusy. of the Eleventh infantry,
who was given a three months sick
leave about ten days ago, returned to
camp last night, having been to New
York, Washington, and ST. Louis. He
is senior colonel and has taken COM
mand Of the second brigade. Brigadier
| General Hawkins, received his COM
mission today. it having gone round by
way of Tampa by mistake.
The Second cavalry began the rou-
tine of drill today, having a fine drill
ground a half mile west Of the infan-
try encampment.
Colonel Hunt, Of the cavalry, who
suffered from a fail from his ors
while at C~hickamauga, is still some
h under the weather. He and staff
were formally received by General
Coppinger at headquarters tonight.
Lieutenants T.. S. Schiey, Ferd w.
Kobe, H. G. Coleman, F. C. Stritzen-
ger. of the 2rd infantry, stationed at
New Orleans came over today to ap-
pear before the examining board for
promotion. Schley is a son Of Commo-
dore Schley, of the flying squadron.
l Ffty-seven wagons for this command
We're received here today from Jeffer-
~sonville, Ind. -