The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-06-14

q IuJS dlltI llooh tioh t"N
partment, through the energetic Of
fees of it's censors, has succeeded en-
tirely in it's purpose to keep the move
ments Of the United States troops a
secret, for, beyond question, at the
close Of the day it was impossible to
learn here where the United States
troops are, which a been four weeks
gathering under command Of General
Shafter in Florida.
Stories of the appearance of mys-
terions warships in Cuban waters
floated through the navy department
during the day. The officers quickly
condemned them, declaring that if the
boats were Spanish they were nothing
more thar small armed launches and
not to be feared by any number Of
transports conveyed by such fine gun
boats as he Helena and Bancroft.
But, when these stories reached the
war department. they were received
with a different spirit. Nothing is
more helpless in warfare than an un-
armed troop transport full of soldiers.
she would fall an easy victim to the
smallest %gunboat, and the soldiers.
knowing their weakness in this re-
spect, are lOath to undertake to cross
the Florida straits until these dis
agreeable visitors have been removed
from the pathway. Without respect to
the character of the strange craft that
are said to be lodging the ~blockaders
at Havana they will be removed from
the scene of action in short notice, as
1t is understood that Sampson has
been made acquainted with the situa-
ton and will be expected to redeem his
promise to provide safe conduct to the
army when called upon. He has ample
force to conduct the operations at SAN
tiago to a successful issue and still
spare vessel of any power desirable
for use in the Florida straits.
SAMPSON ABLE TO ATTACK SAN
TIAGO.
1t was pointed Out today by a naval
officer that the admiral since the ar
rival Of the marine battalion on the
Panther has at his disposal what he
may regard as a sufficient force of men
to capture Santiago, even before the
troops arrive. The 600 marines on the
Panther, added to the marines al
ready with the fleet, would make a to-
tai of about 500 men. Without i'm
pairing the efficiency of his ships, Ad-
miral Sampson could spare a 1000 blue
Jacket force for a landing party and
with this total force of $500 men, if
the insurgents, who have been armed
by the United States government, do
their share, it seems possible for
Sampson to capture Santiago at short
notice. There seemed to be a very de-
cided air of expectation this afternoon
among officials who are acquainted
with the governments plans in the
campaign hat almost warranted the
conclusion that an engagement of
some kind was expected today.
PROGRESS ON THE NEW WAR
SHIPS.
Steady progress is making upon the
ships under construction by the gov
at the several navy yards, as
revealed by the monthly reports from
the various yards to Chief Constructor
HichbOrn. On the battleships, the
Newport News people are ahead, hav-
ing the Kearsarge and Kentucky SO
per cent. advanced toward completion,
n the Illinois 46 per cent. Cramp 81
Sons have the Alabama SO per cent
along and the Union Iron Works have
progressed So per cent. with the Wis
cOnsin.
Ten torpedo boats are now actually
under construction and have been
completed to the following extent:
III d -U-hllOIltI, DulIuIIS DIT
Moran Brothers, Seattle, 9S.5 per cent.
The Dahlgren, a 3~0-knotter, building
at the Bath Iron Works, Bath, Me-,
73 per cent.
The T. A. NJ. Craven, a 3O-knotter,
Bath Iron Works, Bath, Me-, so per
cent.
The Farragut, a 3O-knotter. Union
r Works, San Francisco, so per
cent.
The Davis and the FOX. 22.5-knc tiers,
Wolff & Zwicker, Portland. Oregon, So
and 50 per cent. respectively.
The Mackenzie. a 20-knotter, Charles
Hillman. Philadelphia, 90 per cent.
The Stringham, a 30-knotter, Har-
land & Hollingsworth, Wilmington,
Del, % per cent.
The Goldsborough, a 30-knotter,
Wolff & wicker, 7 per cent.
The Bailey, a ~3O-knotter, Gas Engine
and Power Campony, New Jersey, 2k
per cent.
The submarine boat Plunger, build
ing at the Columbia Iron Works, Bal
timore, similar in many respects to the
Holland, is said to be 70 per cent. ad-
vanced.
TO SEIZE THE LADRONE ISLANDS
San Francisco, June 9.-The Evening
Post will say today that the cruiser
Charleston Will not go to the Philip
pine islands Immediately, but that her
destination is the island of Guahan in
the LadrOne group, which are con-
trolled by the Spanish and hich are
about 1900 miles from Manila and
$500 miles from Honolulu. The chief
city Of Guahan is exceedingly well for
tiied for such a small place and affords
one of the best harbOrs and coaling
stations in the Pacific. About six
months ago the fortffications were
strengthened by the Spanish to present
a formidable resistance in case of at
tack.
The Post says that the United States
will seize the group and use the island
of Guahan for a Pacific coaling station
in addition to any others she may seize
in the future. The Charleston the
Post continues, was ordered to wait at
Honolulu for the first fleet of transports
that left the city and TO take the ships