Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1898-04-29

The navy department declares that no
American ship is in danger of capture, ev-
cry Spanish warship being accounted for
and in harbor closely watched, with one
exception.
The probability of an invasion of Cuba
before autumn grows more and more re-
mote on account of the difficulty of train
ing and equipping great volunteer Army
and the great mortality in Cuba during the
summer season.
There were riotous demonstrations at
the United States consulate in Malaga last
Saturday, and some damage was done.
For these indignities the Spanish govern
ment made ample apologies.
Gen. Ftzhugh Lee intimates to his Rich
mond friends that he expects to lead troops
into Cuba. He is reported as saying that
the Cuban climate will not, in his opinion.
prove especially disastrous to United States
soldiers if they remain under cover at
night and protect themselves from the
dews.
The raising of 125, 900 volunteers and
the expansion of the regular army to 81.
600, provided in the Hull bill, which was
passed in the House of Representatives
Saturday, will give the country an army of
1S6, 900 men.
A plausible reason advanced for the GOV
ernments action in not establishing a
blockade over the eastern portion of Cuba
is that it leaves the way open for the in
surgents to freely receive all needed sup
plies and munitions of war;
President Mckinley issued a proclama-
ton Friday declaring blockade of the
principal ports of Cuba. Notice of this
action was given to the European powers,
who were also informed of the decision of
thls government not to countenance pri-
watering.
The captain of the British steamer AS
! town, which arrived at Galveston. Texas.
a few days ago, from the Canary Islands. re-
ports that the delay of the Spanish torpedo
fleet was due to the deliberate disabling of
the machinery by the engineers, who did
not want to cross the ocean.
The steamer Paris, of the American
Line, sailed from Southampton Friday
for the United States, having on board $50
passengers and quantity of guns and am
munltlon. Great excitement was caused
Saturday by the report that she had been
captured by the Spanards, but the story
was pronounced false on Sunday.
The state department addressed Friday
an Identical note to all of the representa-
tives of foreign nations accredited to
Washington, notifying them of the policy
to be pursued by our government in the
matter of privateering and neutrality.
The same information was cabled to all
American embassies and legations abroad.
Capt. SIMPSONS squadron established
an effective blockade of Havana and the
nu rIy ~ .
Pedro, the second prize of the war. When
the people of Havana saw the blockadng
squadron approach they gathered on
housetops and hills to watch it; from
$4,000 to $4,000 men were armed to de-
fend the city.
The army Reorganization bill provides for
the three battalion formation, and author
ICES the % regiments of the infantry arm
of the service to be recruited up to a total
of 81, 800 enlisted men; the ten cavalry
regiments to a total of l., 900 enlisted men.
the seven artillery regiments to 16, 457 men,
and the engineer battalion of five com
panies up to 1852 enlisted men, which
makes total for these four arms of the
service, when at a maximum strength, of
6l,OlO. The measure also authorizes an
increase in the number of commissioned
officers of 259, of which 25 are permanent.
United States Minister Woodford and
his suite arrived in Paris Friday evening.
Their journey to the Spanish frontier was
exciting. At Valladolid the minister's car
was stoned by mob and windows broken.
The civil guards, sent with the party were
compelled to guard the car with drawn
swords. At Tolosa Spanish police at
tempted to arrest Joaquin Moreno, a mem
Der of Gen. Woodford's suite, and who
was claimed to be Spanish subject. Gen.
Woodford protested, and placing himself
in the doorway of Morena's compartment,
declared that he should only be removed
by force. The police finally gave up the
attempt. Morena is a subject of Great
Britain.
Great Britain made declaration of neu.
trality between Spain and the United
States on Sunday and notified the com,
manders Of the United States war vessels
in English ports to leave within As hours.
Admiral Dewey will blockade Manila and
other ports in the Philippine islands, and
probably make an attempt to destroy the
Spanish gunboats which have been operat.
ing with the land forces against the rebels
in SPANS eastern possessions 1t is prob.
able that the first real action of the wal
will take place in Philippine waters, and
} with the knowledge of the superiority OF
Admiral Dewey's squadron over that OF
the enemy, there can be no doubt as tc
what the result will be. The Spanish gun,
! boats in the Philippines are scattered
around the waters of those islands, and il
will be remarkable if some of them do moi
meet the ships under Admiral Dewey:
command.