The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1898-04-07
War News.
Iowa appropriates sS00,000 for pur'
poses of war

Chicago receives rush army order
for 900, 900 pounds Of canned meats.
The fleets at Key West and Hampton
Roads are ready for moving at mo-
ment's notice.
The purchase of st. Thomas, Danish
West India island, for a naval station
was discussed in the senate, Friday.
The London newspapers editorially
side with the United States. Bismarck
is also favorable to our country in this
emergency.
Cuban insurgents are eager to send
an army against Havana and ask only
recognition of independence from our
country and arms.
Unless something unexpected occurs
/ Congress will declare for armed inter-
vention and a movement of the naval
force is likely to follow very promptly.
Spanish torpedo boat fotilla reaches
the Cape de Verde islands, instead of
Porto Rico as has been reported, not
half way from the Canaries to Porto
Rico.
President and Sec. Gage, with chair
man Dingley of the ways and means
committee consider the matter of funds
and propose to call for war loan of
$500, 100000.
| A orders came from Washington.
Friday, To mount another gun rit h
away, ut Portland, the trial of big guns
at Portland Head did not take place
Saturday, as intended.
The Spanish warships Vizcaya and
Olmi ante Oquendo left Havana at 5
O'Clock, Friday afternoon. Immense
crowds gathered on the wharves and
cheered the iron clads as they steamed
away.
Thursday last, Gov. Black recon-
mended to the New York legislature the
appropriation of 100000 as an
emergency war fund. 1t was voted
unanimously by both branches of the
legislature.
Adjt. Gen Richards has procured uni
forms and equipments for the guards
even with every company mastering 100
men. Both Adjt Richards and Capt.
Morton believe that the guards will be
ready for active service.
Emperor of Germany sends sharp mes
sage to Spain, demanding indemnity for
lives of Germans taken by insurgents
and for property destroyed; to enable
the Spanish to keep the matter in mind
Spain reply to President McKinley's
demands are altogether unsatisfactory.
1t is diplomatic and argumentative
in tone and is undoubtedly designed
for delay. 1t contains the allegation
of the Cortez, April "a
The provision relating to armor plate
which in ordinary times would have pre-
cipitated a debate of several days, was
disposed of in 10 minutes, a proposition
to decrease the price agreed to in the
bill from $500 to $500 per ton being
drowned in perfect chorus Of nos.
Hudson Maxi.n, brother of the in
ventor of the Maxim gun, has invented
a gun which fires an aerial torpedo rs
inches in diameter, carrying ton of
dynamite five miles; it will, the inventor
says, destroy battleship within 200 feet
of where it strikes. u >. authorities are
testing the gun.
American relief for the starving re-
concentradoes is pouring into Cuba by
every steamer from this country, but
nobody hears that spain is spending
penny for any such purposes. Proud,
naughty, cruel Spain-she is saving her
money with which to purchase warships,
leaving American charity to feed the
furnishing victims of her barbarity.
Arrangements have been made for
mastering in the national guard. These
State organizations, of course, cannot be
used for foreign invasion, but it is plan
ned to use them as an auxiliary force for
the regulars at the coast forts, and to
take the place of troops called away
from army posts in the interior, where
it is necessary to maintain military
representation.
It is said that acting on the plans
made by Gen. Miles and the War De-
partment the National Guard of Maine
will be ordered out as soon as war Is de-
clared 1t is understood that the First
Regiment will be quartered at the audit
orium in Portland, and the Second Regi-
ment in the wooden buildings on the
State grounds at Augusta, pending such
time as they could be put under canvas.
After an exceedingly turbulent ses
sion of six hours, the House, Friday.
passed the naval appropriation bill and
then adjourned until, Monday. The war
spirit was manifested in all speeches
and over-rode the naval committee itself
by increasing the number of torpedo
boats and torpedo boat destroyers to "a,
Iuc Jul ds IopoItou proViuluS loI Dut L.
The amendment of Mr.. Cannon, chair.
man of the appropriations committee to
reduce the number of battleships to one,
was buried under an overwhelming
majority.
Senior Queseda for the Cuban Junta
says: Under no consideration, except
after recognition of the independence of
the Cuban republic will Cubans accept
| ..ks2 ,Ioka ba
no suspension of hostilites on our part
until our freedom has been assured
The next few MONTHS he continued,
''are the favorable ones for our opera
tions and we will pursue them vigorous
ly, while at the same time, disease will
wipe out half of the starved, disgruptled
and discontinued remnants of the
Spanish army from the island"
For the Reporter;
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