The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1898-05-19
WAR NOTES.

i WAR NOTES.
j The President has decided to call fol
100000 more volunteers.
/ All the wounded of the United States
fleets are doing well at Puerta Plata,
Dominican Republic.
Spanish steamer Rita, brought into
Charleston by q prize crew from the
Yale, is at quarantine.
/ Admiral Sampson has reported to the
Navy Department from Cape Haytien
and says he will now go to CienfuegOs.
General Merritt has been appointed
military governor of the Philippines,
with General Otis second in command.
French cruiser Fulton, from Havana,
landed thirty-eight refugees at the
quarantine station at Kingston last
Saturday.
Troops of the Cuban army of invas-
ion and occupation are being concentra-
ted at Tampa, Florida, and Chicka-
manga, Tennessee.
United States dispatch boat Hugh
Mccullough arrived at HOngkOng last
Saturday night with dispatches from
Dewey to the government.
It is reported that q strong military
expedition is being organized at Cadiz.
and that it will shortly proceed to the
Philippine island, escorted by the Cadiz
fleet.
The Spanish Atlantic fleet was last
reported at Curacao island, near the
coast of Venezuela, in the Caribbean
sea, presumably endeavoring to reach
Cuba from the South.
The American fleet under Admiral
Sampson, bomparded San Juan de Por-
to Rico on the 18th inst, reducing the
chief fortress to ruins, but no attempt
was made to take possession of the city.
The latest reports of the naval battle
at Manila show that the Spanish loss is
greater than at first supposed. Ac-
cOrding to the best information obtain
able so far, 321 were killed and 700
wounded.
About 10000 volunteers have now
been mustered in under the presidents
call for 125, 900, and it is expected that
a second call for rs 900 or 100000 more
volunteers will be issued within q week
a large additional force having been
rendered necessary by the decision to
occupy the Philippines and Porto Rico.
T,,c:..,, yxyo,th d. o1ox,ccJ for, of III
crew of the torpedo boat Winslow, were
killed in an engagement in the harbor
of Cardenas, Cuba, on the 18th inst. by
the explosion of Spanish shell, fired
from land battery. The Winslow was
disabled by a solid shot which destroy
ed her boiler.
The first battalion of Washington
volunteers, consisting of 347 men, in
Guiding fifteen officers, reached San
Francisco OH the 18th inst. The second
battalion left on the Umatilla this week
and it is expected that the third battal-
ion will also leave this week, and that
they will all sail in few days for Man.
lila.
The steamer City of Picking, the larg-
est American built merchant steamer
on the Pacific, sailed from San Fran
cisco this week for Manila, with 1000
soldiers and 600 tons of ammunition.
The cruiser Charleston also left with
ammunition, supplies and 800 sailors
and marines, to reinforce Admiral
Dewey's feet. 1T is expected that the
trip will be made by the Charleston in
twenty days, and by the City of Picking
within twenty-five.
A special from Washington, dated
May Is, says: A big surprise awaits
the Spanish Admiral if he sails for
Martinique. There he is apt to find
squadron composed of the Oregon,
Marietta, Buffalo, Nictheroy, Mont
gomery, Yale and st. Louis. The lat
ter have been sent by Admiral Samp-
son to effect junction with Captain
Clark and remain near Martinique.
Under orders the Oregon has been
making rapid time since she left Bahia.
We have another warship. Admiral
Dewey captures the CallaO and prompt
ly adds it to his fleet. She came from
the southern islands where she had
months. Her commander did not know
tLldU wal lJdu pCCu uCCAni GU uuO AO 1ou
heard nothing OH his way up about the
battle at Manila. He steamed straight
for Cavjte, expecting to find the whole
| Spanish feet anchored there. She is an
iron gunboat of 2O8 tons, equipped with
four modern guns and carrying crew
of IS. The ship was spick and span for
Apmiral's inspection on arrival. The
American flag was promptly hoisted on
| the CallaO and she was added to Adj
miral Dewey's fleet. She will be useful
| for river work.
It is reported from Washington that
at least 5000 troops will be sent to the
Philippines as soon as possible and that
they will be followed by as many more
| If Spain undertakes to regain and hold
possession. The same dispatch says:
ssThe president fully realizes, too, that
the present is the worst time in the
year to send raw and unacclimated
troops to the Philippines. The summer
season there is just beginning, with its
insufferable heat, carrying in its train
disease and death. At this time Of year,
too, the plague, one of the most fright
| full curses of the eastern country, sets in.
The president has been warned that he
must expect to lose at least a third of
the troops who are sent to the Philip
pines through heat and disease. The
hot season, it Is said, begins in March
and lasts until June, while the wet sea-
son continues through July, August,