Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1898-05-19


of the whereabouts of the Spanish
fleet, is going to allow any of its hard
worked little cruisers and gunboats
engaged in blockade duty on the Cuban
coast to fall victims to the huge Span
ish iron-clads, Their commanders
will be promptly advised of the prog
ress of the Spaniards.
The determined attack made by the
Marblehead and other vessels on the
ocean cables running seward from
Cienfuegos shows that the government
finds it necessary to cut off all COM
munication between Captain General
Blanco at Havana and Spain by cable.
That effort was not wholly successful,
owing to the appearance of superior
force of infantry aided by machine
guns, which appear to have taken the
American sailors in boats engaged in
the cable cutting by surprise. They
were prepared to risk a few rifle shots
but not the murderous fire of maxim
guns. However, Captain McCalla, who
is noted for determination and courage,
if for any quality, will not abandon
the task until he succeeds. Con-
sidering the great strategic value of
such a move the loss sustained by the
American vessels was Insignificant and
the venture was certainly warranted
by the results.
The war department shows no signs
of relaxation in war preparations, but
appears to be making ready for HOSTILE
ties on the theory that they may last
long time. Thus bids were opened Sat
urday for supplying the government
with a large number of armor-pierc
ing shells of the largest calibres such
as are used almost entirely by coast
defense guns in attacking or repelllng
heavily iron-clad ships. Another trans
port was chartered Saturday at New
York. indicating that the movement Of
to be long delayed, else the govern
ment would not go to the expense of
chartering a boat Immediately. Two
of the big tugs bought by the navy
from private parties were christened,
the Hortense becoming the Tacoma,
and the William H Brown becoming
the Piscataqua.
Official information has been received
that Spain fled protest at the for
eign office in Paris against the permits
sion given by the French authorities
at Martinique to the United States aux
| iiary cruiser Harvard to remain in
the harbor st. Pierre at Martinique
seven days to make repairs. The
French government took speedy action
on the protest and insisted that the
cruiser being disabled has full right
/ TO remain seven days or such time as
may be necessary, to complete her re-
pairs and that meantime no steps will
be taken to have her leave
At a late hour Saturday night the
officials of the navy department stated
that they had received no informa
ton Of SIMPSONS fleet beyond the As
ISOLATED Press dispatches announcing
it's arrival at Porto Plata. Porto Plata
is a small seaport on the North Do
minican coast. The French line ca
bic runs through this point and also
runs down 10 Curacao. where the
spaniards were sighted. Sampson
probably will put in at Cape Haytien
and it is from there that the first Of
fetal report from him is expected
From Curacao to Porto Plata In
straight line the distance is about 500
miles. though going through Mono
Passage and circling around the cen
trail part OF the North Dominican coast
to Porto Plata 1t probably would be
about GOO miles This indicates the
stretch separating the two fleets Since
last heard from Sampson has covered
a distance between $50 and 300 miles
From Porto Plata to Havana, In which
direction Sampson Is now going, Is
100 miles. The Spanish feet Il nov,
approyimately based on a straight line
calculation. about ] 200 miles from Ha-