Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1898-06-23
THEDEARTHOF NEWS.
No Word Received from Admiral
Sampson or Dewey.
GIVES RISE TO NO APPREHENSION.
Certain Signs of RestIessness Exhibited by
officials of the War Department In
dicate that Important News is
Expected Very Soon.


of actual events there was little to re-
cord Yesterday. No word came from
Sampson at Santiago or from Dewey
at Manila. This dearth of affirmative
news from the respective seats of war
gave rise to no apprehension. The
officials are resting secure in the be-
lief that the marines at Guantanamo
can easily maintain themselves until
the troops arrive, and the worst that
can be feared at Manila is Eot harm to
Dewey, but to the Spaniards in the
city.
The officials in the war department
do not give out any specific informa-
ton as to when Gen. Shafter will land
in Cuba, but from certain signs OF
residences exhibited by them 1t is evil
dent they would not be surprised to
have some very important news within
the next "a hours or SO hours. The
| naval officials are confident Sampson
will have established cable connections
| within that time so that news of the
| arrival of the American troop trans
ports off Santiago should not be longer
| delayed than required for dispatch
| boat to make the run of 40 miles east
ward along the coast to the shores of
| Guantanamo harbor where the cable
| will be working under the protection
| of Col. Huntington's marines.
There was an exhibition of feverish
activity at the war department yester-
| day, so pronounced as to attract atten-
tion even in these stirring times. 1t
was apparent that renewed efforts
were making to complete the equip
ment of the troops already gathered at
the concentration points, and that
preparations are in progress to move
number of troops.
| So far, however, 1t is stated that nc
orders have gone out for the actual
movement, and what has been and is
being done in that direction is merely
preparatory.
| Very likely definite action will fol-
| low a conference which Secretary AL.
ger and the president will have with
Gen. Miles when he arrives here to-day
from Tampa The general Is better
| aware of the exact state of fitness OF
the troops at the southern rendezvous
points than any one else, and the presi
dent and Secretary Alger in all proba
bility will be bound by what he has to
say in deciding upon the further dispo
sition of troops
| If Gen. Miles, as Is thodght to be
probable, recommends further con
centration of troops on the southern
seaboard, the new camp at Eernan-
dina, Fla. will be made ready for the
reception of the additional troops.
The officials have been forehanded as
to this camp, profiting by the expert
ence gained in the establishment ot
the two great camps at Chickamauga
and Camp Alger.
The president has not yet decided
what measure of reward shall be meted
out to Hobson for his brave achieve
ment The men he led have been taken
care of; Secretary Long attended tc
that himself, because it was a matter
entirely within his authority, and they
have been made warrant officers. the
ideal of sailors ambition. Hobson is
to be advanced, that is settled.
The department called upon Ad
miral Sampson for recommendation
in this case but in advance of it's ar
rival had about decided to advance
Hobson ten numbers, which would
have placed him just below Constructor
Linnard, when doubt arose as to
whether the young man would not
prefer transfer to the line. His rela
tlves were consulted, among them his
uncle, Representative Pearson, o.
North Carolina, and it was decided tc
allow Hobson to max his choice as be
tween the line and staff. Steps &C
cordingly have been taken to acquain'
him with the departments purpose
and ask his pleasure in the matter.
The navy department has sent 20 the
battleship Massachusetts, complete
new breech mechanism for one of the
big 13-inch guns of that ship. This il
due to report reaching the depart
ment about week ago that the breech
of one of the guns was out O.
order. The new mechanism will
be delivered in day or two
and can be readily substituted fol
the old breech. The condition of thii
1s-inch gun gave rise to rumors yes
terday that the Massachusetts had suf
fered rather severely during the frs
action off Santiago and that two Of th'
big guns were disabled and a gunner
killed. There was no basis for the ru
NOR beyond the disordered breecf
mechanism referred to.