The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1898-07-07
WASHINGTON LETTER.
tTron Our Regular Corresponds ~
WASHINGTON. D. O., July 1, 1898.

WASHINGTON. D. O., July 1, 1898.
Important moves in the campaign for
the crushing Of Spain have been numer-
ous this week, and the President il nat.
urally much plesed with the outlook.
Gen. shafter, whose army is now in po
sition under the notifications at Santiago,
which he says he can take in 4S hours
from the time he begins the assault, Is
only waiting to get his heavy siege guns
in position before beginning the attack.
The minor victories already won eince
hs army landed haye inspired his men
with confidence and make them eager
for the main assault:to begin. The ex-
tension of the blockade to all Cuban
ports and to Porto Rico will make each
add to the miseries of Gen. Rlanco and
the Spaniards cooped up in Havana.
The first section of Gen. Merritt's army
has arrived at Manila, under command
of Gen. Green.
There is not the slightest fear in Wash.
ington that any trouble will be caused
at Manila by any open act of the German
fleet now there, but information hes
been received that has aroused appre.
hension that the influence of the Ger
man naval officers, which is said to be
secretly operating among the semi savage
Philippine insurgents, may cause serious
trouble. No official information about
this has been given out, for obvious
reasons. 1t can be stated, however, that
President Mckinley proposes that tie
army sent to the Philippines shall take
possession of those islands, and hold
them, regardless of obstacles.
In reply to the criticisms of the food
and clothing furnished the volunteers,
Secretary Alger says that light summer
clothing is being made as fast as posi-
BILE and that it is being issued to the men
as fast as it is ready for use; and of the
rations he says that the army ration is
based upon the experience Of the Com
missary Department in the civil war.
The meat ration as now issued consists
OF fresh meat six days out of every ten,
bacon two days, pork one day, and
canned salmon one day.
For two days this week the House de-
voted its time to discussing and acting
minor measures which had been fas or
ably reported from the Military commit
tee. While the Democrats did not ac.
lively oppose any of these bills, remarks
made by Representative Cochran, of No.,
and others, indicated that they would
have done 80 had they not been afraid
to follow their. natural innlicationt.
Breaking a quorum by absenting them
selves was as tar as they dared to 90,
and had there not been consid erable
number of Republican iabsentees they
could not have done that.
According to advance sheets of a con.
sular report made by E. Spencer Pratt,
US. Consul General at Singapore, there
are extensive deposits OF excellent coal
in the Philippines. Mines are being
worked near the city of Cebu, from
which English steamers have been
coaled, and from which there is a rail
road to the sea. Admiral Dewey's fleet
will probably test the quality of this coal
shortly.
If the Spaniards could visit the bureau
offices of the Navy Department directly
for getting Commodore Wat.
sons fleet in proper condition to start
upon its long voyage to attack the cities
on the Spanish coast, they would no
longer believe, as the cable reports them,
that the order for the departure of this
feet was bluff. Whatever they may
bslieve now, in about three weeks Con-.
modore Watson's heavy guns will con
vince the Spaniards that war, in it. most |
horrible aspect is right lat their doors. |
President Mckinley meant business |
when he issued that order to Commo.
lore Watson, and nothing short of an |
.bject surrender on the lpart of Spain |
will prevent the order being carried out |
o the letter.
The fight against Hawaiian annexa-
ion has been daily weakening in the
Senate. The anti's has discovered that
he majority were out forlblood and will
og to remain in Washington just as long
IS the anti's choose to keep up their
'peech- h-msking against annexation, and
hat under NO circumstances would Con-
yress be allowed to adiourn until tho
resolution had been voted
,pon. Some OF the Democratic Sena-
ors who had been counted upon to aid
n hlibustering have heard from their
constituents, and have announced that
hey would take no part in delaying
'ote after the legitimate speech. making
over. An agreement to vote may be
cached any day, and the general. opip-