The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-05-17

say UHau some OIL bno loAu<ng Amer lean
newspapers have been SO far lacking in
patriotism as to print plans of the cam
paign and projected movements of naval
ships with the result that the war board
has been obliged to completely revise its
plans in tbs knowledge that the Span.
iards had promptly taken notice of the
publications and were prepared to profit
by them.
Complaint was made to Secretary Long
that the newspapers were working injury
to the government in such cases. 1t is
not the purpose of the Secretary to pre-
vent the press having any information
that is not calculated to cause miscar-
riage of the plans of the department, but
1t remains to be seen whether the naval
officers to whom the order has been
directed will not by their ironclad inter-
probation of it bring about a modification
in the interest Of liberality.
The opening of the blockade at Havana
to certain vessels is rather curious pro-
csedings that may lead to very consider
able widening of the blockade itself, SO
that in the end, the neutral vessels not
loaded with contraband or supplies, the
carrying of which into Havana would in
terfere with the naval and military opera
tions of our government, may pass ths
blockade under suitable regulations laid
down by the United States. The state
ment that the Navy Department still
hopes to make an exchange of prisoners
at an early day, shows that the mission
Of the Uncas yesterday was by no means
a complete failure, as has been stated.
The troops going to Manila are to be
prepared for six months stay, accord
ing to the number of rations furnished,
2,160 000, and preparations for their de-
pa1ture are being pressed with the great
est energy.
The Charleston should have sailed today
from San Francisco. The marines who
have been lying in Key West harbor on
board tho Panther, sweltering under a
semi-tropical sun, are to be transported
to a more comfortable vessel, the Reso-
Lutte, which will accommodate them bet
ter. Intimations have been received here
that Captain General Blanco at Havana
is very short of ammunition in which
case the powerful batteries at the entrance
of Havana harbor would be deprived OF
large part OF their defensive strength.
This state of affairs may lead to some
desperate attempts at blockade running
on the part of the Spaniards, In the hope
of getting more ammunition into Ha.
yana. 1t is believed that the supplies SO
frequently referred to as being on the
Spanish flying squadron were of this
character, rather than food supplies which
makes it all the more important that
Sampson and Schley should succeeded in
keeping Admiral Ceryera from reaching
Havana or Cienfuegos or any port in
Cuba connected with Havana by rail.
Commodore Sohley probably is well
down on the Florida coast now and
should be able to guard the Florida
straits by tomorrow or next day. His .ap-
pearance on shat side Of Cuba would en-
able Sampson to bring his iron clads with
perfect safety to Cienfuegos on the south
side and with this disposition of our naval
force and the free use of considerable
number of our scouting vessels, it Is hard
to see how the Spanish fleet can escape
from the Gulf Of Mexico or the Caribbean
sea.
The Navy Department. is getting
better and better quality Of armor as the
contracts expire. A thirteen inch plate
tested at Indian Head Saturday with q
ten inch gun showed itself to be equal or
superior to any piece of armor that has
ever been made, for, with the highest
velocity at 1864 feet per second, the shot
penetrated only IL inches without crack
ing the plate. 1t was the very last piece
to be delivered under the existing contract
and is intended for the Kentucky.
The War Department rushed ahead it's
propositions for the mobilization and
through equipment of the volunteer army
and the progress which is being made is
most gratifying. The Important event of
the day was the definite selection of The
corps commanders. The announcement,
however. does not contain surprises.
Though Major Wesley Merritt is accredited
to the department of the Pacific suoh
designation is made for1nc lily, but it is
known that he will go to the Philippines
in command of the army there and will
be accompanied by Major General Ouis.
The designation OF General Fitzhugh Lee
as commander Of the seventh corps with
headquarters at Tampa, would seem to
indicate that he is to accompany the
army of invasion to Cuba.