Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-04-29
WAR NOTES.

that Matanza= is to be reduced soon
aud made base OF operations in the
campaign against Havana. MataDzas
Is city of about - 900 inhabitants. It
is about forty miles from Havans. With
which it Is connected by a railroad, for
which reason it is valuable port for
the United States forces 10 hold. The
city Is situated ct the end OF g bay. This
bay is defended By batteries on both
sides OF the harbor.
II is said in Washington that the
bombarding OF Matauz5y By Rear Ad.
niral SIMPSONS daet was done with
the full sanction OF the President.
Sampson had notified Washington that
MS ships had been fred on several
times from MatarZ2s, snd n reply 10
III: request for instruction was told TO
shell the place if he deemed i, neceSs-
sary. Besides reducing the foIticauons.
it i said that - Spaniards were killed.
Il Is said il Washington that il i
now only 3 question OF g few days when
the first detachment Of {. :. troops will
sail from Tampa TO be landed Oh Cuban
sail Eight large steamers have been
chartered bS the government a. trans
ports and 5000 men OF the regular army
will be speedily conveyed to some Gu
ban port, probably Matanzss. acting IS
guard and escort FOR the the muuition=
OF var which are 10 Dc supplied TO the
Insurgents. The names of the boats
are the Olivette and the Florida, ot the
Plant Line. now in the gull the South
ern Pacific Company's steamer AranzsS:
the New York and Texas Compan!s
vessel Couai, now 81 New YORK, aud
the Malamo, now 81 route 10 the gulf.
aud three dne ships OF the Boston Me-
chant and Miners Line, il Baltimore,
the Allegheny, the Berkshire, and the
Decatur Miller. The price paid for
these vessels Is from $1,000 to SIS 900
for the thirty days Tor which they aEe
| engaged. They will Dc taken charge Of
| by the quar,ermaster's department al
the earlies. possible moment. A. the
same time vessel laden with supplies
for the starving reconcentrsdo= Will be
sent to Cuba and will be protected by
ships Of war. The regular troops will
De commanded By Brig. Gen. ". r.
Snafser. He il st present in com mand
! OF the department OF California.
, a naval battle near Manila. Philip
pine Islands, IS likely 10 occur to-day,
| although this is not sure. AdFnisa.
D=wey'5 American squadron i expect
ed to arrive a. M.ai!!a a: 2p. n. Satur-
d.. aicn, in eastern standard time OF
me United States, Is ! p. N. Friday.
The Spanish feet IS believed 20 De wait
ing near Manila for the battle.
The Stale Department was notified
yesterday by An ba:Eador Cambon that
he French government had officially
declared its neutrality. The Depart
nent mas also b4en advised OF neutrali-
" OF Mexico, the Argentine Republic.
Korea and Belgium. Germany mas not
issued decree, bat the government has
given assurances OF neutrality to Am
6assador White at Berlin. Austria'= de-
lsy Is accepted a. al indication OF her
sympathy with Spain. a Rio Jsneiro
dispatch states that the Brazilian gov
ernnent's official organ has published
decree proclaining the neutrality OF
Brazil
Secretary Long yesterday called up
90 the naval militia OF Louisiana. South
Carolina, New jersey and Brooklyn for
service ia manning several vessels 0.
the coast defense feet.
TIE Vienna correspondent OF the
London Morning Pos. EayF: emperor
Francis Joseph privately contributed
100000 10 the national raval sub=crip-
ton in Spain and has further shown
lis sympathy by permitting a number
OF Au5troKungariaD officers to join
the Spanish flag. The Archduke Eu.
gene has gone to Madrid TO stay with
the Queen Regent.
An official dispatch from General
Blanco says: Part OF the enemy's
.quadron has gone eastward. One OF
the American ironclads has grounded
opposite DimaE, Province Of Pinar del
Rio, and three other ships are working
0 redoat her. Spanish volunteers are
watching On shore"
In the Senate al Madrid yesterday
General Donoso eulogized the captain
OF the transport Montserrat for running
the Cuban blockade Admiral Ber-
mejo, minister Of marine, replying
said tba, the government had decided
to confer a decoration on the officer.
Senator Toca declared that the Amer
can blockade OF q part OF the Cuban
coast was contrary to international, lsw
and calculated to cause great injury 10
neutrals. He hoped that neutral pow
ers would act in behalf OF their own
interests and urged the government
10 issue q circular note to the powers
explaining the situation. Admiral Bei-
uejo promised that the government
would take up the question with a
view OF Communicating its conclusions
to the powers.