Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1898-04-28
WAR NEWS OF THE WEEK.
First Shot of the War Was Fired b,
The Nashville.

ade of Havana and other Cuban ports,
and the work of preparation was rap-
idly proceeded with Shortly after 6
o'clock Friday morning the fleet sailed
away. There was a wildly patriotic
demonstration in Havana Thursday
night, and General Blanco made
speech to the people piedging himself
to lead them to victory or die in the
attempt to repel the Yankee invaders.
The Holload submarine boat had a
highly successful official test in Raritan
bay. Hon. John Wanamaker rendered
his services to the governor of Penn
sylvania, agreeing to raise q regiment.
General Woodford, our minister to
Spain, left Madrid, the Spanish gov
eminent refusing to accept President
McKinley's ultimatum and presenting
Mr.. Woodford with passports. Charles
Emory Smith, of Philadelphia, was APP
pointed postmaster general, succeeding
Mr.. Gary. and the nomination was
promptly confirmed.
The war measure agreed upon by the
Republican majority of the house ways
and means committee last Friday pro-
vides for taxes on beer, wines, tobacco,
snuffs and chewing gum, and for a
bond issue of $500. 100000.
Minister Woodford left Madrid last
Friday night. His train was attacked
by a mob at Valladolid, and several
windows were broken by stones thrown.
But for the hard work of the guards
accompanying the train Mr.. Woodford
might have been killed. Before leaving
Madrid an attempt was made to arrest
Mr.. Moreno, Mr.. Woodford's secretary,
which the minister prevented.
The first shot of the war was fired
off Key West on Friday last, and it re-
suited in the capture of the Spanish
steamship Buena Ventura, lumber
laden, by the gunboat Nashville. The
prize was towed to Key West and her
crew of Is were made prisoners of war.
Captain Sampson, commanding the
North Atlantic squadron, was pro-
NOTED to the rank of rear admiral.
1t is understood, however, that the
promotion is to last only during his
present service, and it is made to
avoid embarrassments in the near fu-
ture A permanent promotion would
Jump number of deserving officers,
which the navy department wishes to
avoid. F. Augustus Schermerhorn, of
New York, presented to the govern
ment, without compensation, his mag
nificent and speedy steam yacht Free
Lance.
Another important event of Friday
last was the issue by the government
of an identical note to foreign govern
ments announcing the blockade of Ha-
vana and other ports. The note also
declares that this government will not
resort to privateering.
The camp on Chickamagua battle
field is rapidly filling up with troops of
the regular army. The camp has been
named by Commanding General
Brooke camp George III. Thomas. The
report that F'itzhugh Lee is to be mads
a major general of volunteers is hailed
with delight by the soldiers and by
citizens generally.
The events of Saturday and Sunday
last were the capture of several Span
ish merchant vessels by the fleet now
blockading Havana. The vessels cap
tured were the steamer Pedro, by the
cruiser New York; the schooner Ma
thilde, by the torpedo boat Porter; the
steamer Catalina, by the cruiser De-
troit, and the steamer Miguel Jover, by
the gunboat Helena. All were towed to
Key West, the schooner Mathilde be-
ing taken to that place by the news
paper dispatch boat Dauntless, formal
ly noted as a filibustering steamer. An
exciting incident for the men of the
fleet was chase after the Italian man
of-war Giovanni Bausan, which all be-
lieved to be a Spanish warship. The
sailors were elated over the prospect
of naval engagement. and were
greatly disappointed when the italian
and fired rear admiraPs salute in
honor of Admiral Sampson. The reve-
nue. cutter Winona captured the Span
ish steamer Saturnina at Ship Island,
Miss
The Spanish government issued de-
cree at Madrid on the question of priva-
teering. The government adopts priva-
teering in fact, but not in name. The
royal decree asserts that Spain main
tains her right to have recourse to
privateering when we consider it ex-
pedient," but "for the present only
auxiliary cruisers will be fitted out"
The decree gives American vessels in
Spanish waters 80 days in which to
take their departure, and ends with
saying that foreign privateers will be
regarded as pirates.
1t was officially announced last Mon
day that Assistant Secretary Roosevelt
will withdraw from the navy depart
ment and take the field as lieutenant
colonel of a cavalry regiment composed
mainly of western cowboys. The colo
mel of the regiment will be Dr. Wood,
of the army. Assistant Secretary
Roosevelt will join his command in two
or three weeks. Commander John
Wynne, retired naval officer, was
appointed a prize commissioner, with
headquarters at Key West, to act with
two others to be appointed as COM
mission to appraise vessels and cargoes
captured in the war. The navy depart
ment purchased two more tugs for the
auxiliary navy. John Jacob Astor, of
New York, has raised and equipped,
at his own expense, battery of ar
tillery, and will transport them to the
front when the government calls. 1t
was announced that the port of Fort
Monroe would be bloekaded from sun
set to sunrise each night
On Tuesday the president issued a
proclamation laying down rules as to
the seizure of prizes and giving Span
ish vessels in our ports until May 81 to
take their departure. Under the terms
of the proclamation it is elieved some
of the ships already captured will be
released. Fifty-five young men gradu-
ated from West Point Military acad-
envy, and were at once sent to Wash
ington to be given commands. The
steamer City of Paris, before reported
captured by a Spanish vessel, was
passed by the steamer Majestic in lat
itude 1882 and longitude 1906. The
torpedo boat Somers was forbidden to
leave English waters, owing to Eng
lands declaration of neutrality The
passage of Spanish mail from this
country was ordered stopped. The
Fuerst- Bismarck and Columbia were
purchased from the Hamburg Ameri-
can line for the auxiliary navy People
of Porto Rico are appealing to the Uni
ted States for arms and ammunition,
with a view of rising against Spanish
misrule. Five steamers and a number
of schooners and small craft have been
captured by the Cuban blockading
squadron. The little lighthouse tender
Mangrove on Monday night captured
the big transatlantic liner Panama
carrying 20 passengers and a crew Of
~. The Panama carried a valuabls
cargo, including a large quantity Of
corn to provision the suffering Span