The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-06-27


Sunday at their desks in the war and
navy departments to-day. there did not
seem To be any expectation of import
ant news from the seat of war. Secre-
tary Alger explained this readily. In
his view the army had reached one of
those stages incident to the progress of
campaign and is not effecting any new
formations.
According to reports. there is only one
road leading to Santiago. and along this
the army necessarily has been obliged
To move in single column. Strong re-
connoitering forces were prudently
thrown out ahead. and IL was these
that engaged in the action OF Friday
morning. Before undertaking a battle
our army must be formed in regular
battle array, not a single column front
as IL advances along the road As part
or this plan the advance must halt and
walt until the rear guard comes up
In the secretary's opinion the work was
going on yesterday. The forces left at
Balquiri We're being hurried up to the
'front.' near Savilla, where the Spaniards
are supposed to be in force.
The president, in quick appreciation
or General Skaters energy, has sent a
cablegram concentrating him and the
men composing his army on the excel
lent work they have done. Secretary
Alger added his tribute to-day I'm the
course OF "A short talk with an asso-
ciated press representative. He said he
felt sure Shafter would prove himself
to be wise, brave and prudent general
lie was particularly impressed with one
snort statement in Skaters dispatch
received yesterday. stating that he
wanted nothing. which the secretary
regarded as an evidence of the self-re-
lHraFN oh r,.sN1.
less, the secretary is sending along re-
Inducements with all possible prompt
ness. He believes that General Duff
nelds troops, to the number of Lib
which embarked four days ago from
Newport News. will arrive at Baiuulrf
tomorrow, and within four days 900
more troops, which leave Fort Monroe
to-day, viii be at the scene of action
In addition, there VIII be a further
movement of troops 10 Santiago just as
soon as the men and transports are
ready. Possibly General Miles may GO
with them. If the troops are not needed
when they arrive nothing will be lost,
Tor they can be very well employed else
where and will have the advantage of
seasoning. The secretary took occasion
To state again that General Shafter is
being allowed the widest liberty of ac-
ton, unrestricted by unnecessary orders
from Washington. For this reason II is
not possible to foretell General Skaters
plan OF operations against Santiago, the
matter being largely In his hands
General Greeley received a dispatch
last night from Lieutenant Colonel AL
len, in charge Of the signal corps with
Skaters army. He said he was about
to extend his line Of telegraphic COM
munication westward from Playa del
Este to Aguadores which is only a half
dozen miles east OF Moro castle and
very much nearer the advance OF the
American army. This will be done by a
shore cable which already exists be-
tween the two points A field telegraph
has already been dispatched from Tam
pa, so that in the course Of a few days
General Shafter viii have a telegraph
instrument In his own tent. putting him
In direct communication with Wash
ington.
Assistant Secretary Allen has been
STRIVING to procure for General Shafter
the tenders he desires for landing the
heavier supplies II the army and the
siege train. lie has just seized several
golfers at Key West. which, on account
or their light draught. will serve as ten
ders. These have been ordered To steam
with all speed for Baiqu.ri.
The story printed by an English news
paper of the killing of Captain Bob
Evans and some of his men in the con-
ming tower Of the Iowa by shell from
the Spanish cruiser Nizcaya Is pro-
nounced at the navy department to be
a cruel canard. No word has been re-
ceived from Sampson to-day and with
a cable line near him it is not enter
tained for a moment that he would fan
TO report an occurrence of such great
gravity.
The state department has discovered a
suspicious craft lying at Fort de France.
Martinique. She Is collier and pre- !
sumably trying to convey coal either to
Cervera at Santiago. or TO Blanco at
Havana. via the Isle of Pines and
Bataban
Captain sigsbee Of the St. Paul and
some of the other commanders Of the
American scouting vessels have been
notified and are expected to defeat this
purpose Captain Sigsbee yesterday
warned British ship from seeking 10
enter the harbor Of San Juan de Porto
Rico on the ground that IL was block
AIDED.
No formal notice has yet been given
of the blockade OF the port. but the
captains action Is in line with the con-
Of international law. namely.
that blockade may be initiated with
out formal notice by warning from a
naval commander.
The news from Spain that that gov
ernment has succeeded in buying three
vessels gains not the slightest
here.
Although Admiral Camara's feet is at
Port said. there is still doubt whether
his vessels are bound for the Philippines.
Rumors reach here that there are only
lronclads in the feet. the Pelayo and
Carlos Y. having left the squadron and
to Spain. III this should be 50.
either the spanish have realized the fol-
~ Of having their domestic ports un-
m fhaR~ hat-
nation from the British government
that the navigation of the Suez canal
cannot be jeopardIzed by allowing such
deep craft. unwieldy ironclads. To at
tempt the passage.
Some attention has been attracted by
A special from Madrid TO "A British pa
per saying that Camaras purpose is not I
"a nays-aN hut n. nd k..F3