Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1898-07-01

Port Antonio, Jam, June 2S.-Aside
from the energetic attack of the Span
iards on the first American camp estab-
lished in Cuba nothing has astonished
the inhabitants of Camp McCalla in
Guantanamo. and indeed the squadron
generally, so much as the present long
dry interval in the midst of what was
supposed to be Cuba's rainy season
The Cuban auXilaries say this is the
usual thing for this vicinity, and prOph-
esy no more rain till the first of August
uShers in the hurricane season. They
say there is little or no rain along the
low hill area on the southeast coast ex-
cept in May and August.
All reports from inland agree in pic
turing the Spanish situation as desper-
ate. The Cubans infest Santiago and
Guantanamo so closely that even dis
patches between the two are captured
oftener than they get through. Even
then the replies are usually gathered in,
and the tone of both appeal and reply
shows that Spanish hopes are steadily
sinking. The military governor of San
tiago made peremptory demand three
days ago on Guantanamo for food and re.
Inducements. The captured reply de-
spondently stated that Guantanamo is
worse off than Santiago, and nothing car
be sent The Cubans watch every creek
and cross-rOad, gathering in Spanish
Couriers and bringing them in to Me
Gala or Sampson.
CDnAn MgTn11o
negro, called by the marines "Old
Machete" for his fondness for the Cubar
| national weapon. He has with him his
little boy, the only one of his family left
All the rest, even to his nieCes, have been
! butchered by the guerilas. In action
the old man becomes half mad with ey-
Citement, drops his gun at the first
chance for close quarters and uses his
big machete like a fail.
Washington, June 2S.-A vital blow
is to be struck at Spain. Across the
| ocean is to sail a squadron of two bat.
! tleships and four cruisers. They are Il
prey upon the commerce of Spain. tC
! lombard the Spanish cities, and, unless
Admiral Camara gets out of the Medi
| terranean sea, to capture and destroy
his fleet.
The war is to be carried into the
| enemy's country. The people of Spain
are to be given an object lesson. In
stead of being fed with craftily con
| cOcted stories of Spanish victories, they
are to see American ships, to hear the
| shrieking of American shells, and tC
! feel the terrible effects of a lombard
ment. The fleet is to sail at once, anC
is to carry terror and destruction to the
| Spanish coast.
This is one side of the picture. On The
other hand, the real meaning of tho
| theatrical announcement by the navy
! department is that Spain is to be
frightened, if possible, into suing fol-
peace, The president is heartily tiret
of the war 1t has already LASTED
longer and cost more in lives and money
than he had anticipated.
London, June 2S.-The Madrid CORE
epondent of The Daily Telegraph says;
Spain is in a state of ferment, of tran
sition without parallel during the presen
century. Troubles of the gravest kline
are brewing all over the provinces
Every political and social institution i.
threatened in turn, and the least nerv
Gus among far-sighted politicians appre.
hend a complete debacle.
Uncomfortable as it may seem, the
majority of Spaniards have no Interest
in the war, and even display willing
ness to forget the past and to endeavol
to rub along without colonies. TIL,
statesmen responsible for the loss of the
colonies are utterly reckless, and the in
difference to the peoples ruin mani
tested by the governing and upper mid
die classes is probably unparalleled il
history. Hunger and misery are making
themselves felt throughout the country
There will soon be 35, 900 unemployed il