Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1898-06-20

General officially denies that mails are
tempered with by our government.
Lieut. H. H. Whitney has turned
over to the government the maps,
pictures and information about the
Spanish forces in Porto Rico which he
obtained while on daring trip there
(which equals Lieut.. Rowan's work
of a similar character in Cuba.
Late dispatches show that Lieut..
Richmond P. Hobson originated the
lplan of blocking the Santiago chan
mel with the collier Merrimac, and
for that reason was selected to COM
mand the expedition. He and his
seven associates are prisoners of the
Spanish.
A gunboat which has been doing
blockade duty off Havana arrived at
Key West and reported that Blanco
is throwing up earthworks on the
MORO and Cabanas heights and con-
structing two sand batteries on the
Plya del Chivo, five miles east of
Havana.
The President of the Maritime
Canal company has offered to turn
over to the government 100000 shares
of Nicaragua canal stock on condi-
ton that the government guarantee
the payment of principal and interest
of a new issue of bonds amounting
to $1OO, 100000.
1t is reported that the cruiser Char
lestown will not go to the Philippine
islands Immediately, but that her des-
tination is the island of Guahan, in
the Ladrone group, which are con-
trolled by the Spanish and which are
about 1900 miles from Manila and
$500 miles from Honolulu.
A dispatch from San Domingo de-
clares that Austrian warships in
Cuban waters are being used to aid
Spain in running the blockade. Gen.
Salcedo and other Spanish offices are
said to have been landed in Havana
The report is denied at the Austrian
legation in Washington.
| Japan has potested against the uni
form duty of 10 cents a pound on all
teas, cheap or dear, provided for in
the War Revenue bill, alleging that
it will ruin Japan's tea trade with
the United States. Japan would
not object to duty graded accord
ing to value.
| Lord Salisbury told the foreign
ambassadors attending his diplomatic
reception that the British government
is strongly of the opinion that the
powers which have the most influence
with Spain ought to induce her to
| ask for peace ON terms which we
! would consider.
| Madrid advices are that the Sagasta
ministry is not expected to last. Star
walton riots have begun in some
provinces and threaten in others
and are believed to presage a condi-
ton when only military dictator
will be able to maintain any sem
blance of law and order.
Senior Sagasta's statement that the
Spanish government is not responsible
for Cervera's going to Santiago implies
that he may be court martialled. 1t
confirms the announcement that the
Spanish government did not intend
that he should take his squadron west
of Porto Rico.
! Gen. Alge, it is said, blames Assist
ant Secretary Meiklejohn for the
delay in getting troops started for
Manila. Gen. Miles complains of the
slowness of Quartermaster General
! Luddington, and Gen. Shafter finds
fault because suitable uniforms are
not provided for his army bound to
! Cuba.
A Madrid correspondent cables that
the queen regent is profoundly
alarmed, that the Sagasta ministry
is in imminent danger and that the
Spanish people, their illusions rudely
dispelled by Manila and Santiago, are
ready to rise in their wrath and over
thrown their government and all
existing institutions
Among army nominations sent to
the senate were those of Charles f.
Roe of New York and Thomas L.
Rosser of Virginia to be brigadier-
generals; Duncan B. Harrison, the
actor-manager, to be major of the
ninth United States volunteer In
fantry, and Hilary A. Herbert, Jr, to
be second lieutenant Of engineers
The fighting ships of Admiral Samp-
sons fleet are lying quietly off the
south coast of Cuba awaiting the
arrival of the troops. Guantanamo
and Daiquiri are both considered good
bases for OPP rations, and detach-
ments may be landed at each place,
while third body of troops may
leave the transports closer to San
tiago.
From Hongkong it is learned that
before the outbreak of the war, but
anticipation of that event, Gen. Agui-
naldo, the Philippine rebel leader,
negotiated with United States Con-
sui General Pratt at Singapore, and
Commodore Dewey at Hongkong,
with a view to securing independence
for the Philippines in return for aid
to our arms. Just what guarantees
he got, if any, does not appear.
CadiZ cOrreSnOndent cables that