The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1898-06-16


entirety in Santiago harbOr was re-
moved when Admiral SIMPSONS dis
patch reached the navy department
last night. Up to that time infOrma-
tion as to the number and character of
the vessels lying in the harbor, shield
cd from observation by the hills, had
been obtained through Cuban sources
supple mented by such glimpses as
could be obtained by naval officers
from the outside entrance. Now, how
ever, according to Lieut.. Blue, the
ships have been actually seen by an
American officer, counted and inspected
from such points of vantage as were
afforded by the high hills surrounding
the harbor. The officials here are full
of praise for Lieut.. Blues achievement
Victor Blue has been long known in
the navy as an enterprising and dar-
ing young officer, but ii required a
good deal of sustained courage for him
to go ashore in hostile country and
alone make this reconnaissance. lie
was, in the eye of military law, moth
ing more nor less than a spy, and had
he been captured by the Spaniards he
would have been tried by drumhead
court-martial and executed.
Considering the fact that the ma
rines' fight at Guantanamo last Satur-
day night was really the first engage
ment of the war on shore, Admiral
SIMPSONS reference to the affair in
his dispatch posted this morning was
remarkably brief Hence, it is in
ferred that perhaps too much impor-
tance has been attached to it by the
public. The action of Lieut.. Col.
Huntington in removing his men to a
h., 4
position occupied by them on Crest
heights is taken here as an indication
that no offensive movement is to be
attempted by the marine corps, but |
that it will limit It's operations to the |
defense of small point in Guantana- |
mo harbor to protect the coaling of |
our warships and perhaps to serve as
n cable station when the necessary |
operators and instruments are secured |
from Cape Haytien to enable Samp- |
son to reopen the cut cable.
The officials here were very reluct-
ant to believe that the Spanish who |
fought the marines at Crest heights |
had been guilty of the horrible bar
barism of mutilating the bodies of
soldiers The first press reports by
some of the officers were supposed to
be based upon the horrible wounds in
fiicted under certain conditions of
range by the steel clad bullet of the
Mauser rifles. Admiral SIMPSONS re-
port, however, seems to remove all
doubt on that point for his surgeons
undou btedly would be able to distin-
guish at once between the effects Of a
bullet an of a machete.
Thessantiago Expedition Delayed
WASHINGTON, June 14.-Official in
formation has reached Washington to
the effect that the fleet of transports
with troops for Santiago which was
supposed to have left yesterday for
Cuba, had not sailed up to an early
hour this morning. No reason has
been stated. SO far as can be learned,
for this very unexpected delay in the
movement against Santiago, The Off
Gals positively decline to discuss the ,
matter, but clearly show by their
manner that the news Is most unweI-
come 7
Later advices received during the {
afternoon show that a start was ac-
tually made yesterday, but that the ,
movement dragged and that many of
the ships did not move until some time
this forenoon. 1t is supposed that all
the vessels are now fairly under way.
Il hC EaDAAO pHoOho4N Will NC 1u1Iy IN | .
formed tomorrow concerning the
as the authorities here have
determined to withdraw the censor
ship thus far enforced from Florida
points some time tomorrow. Allow
ing three days for the trip, Gen. Shaft
er's forces will be in the vicinity of |
Santiago by Friday noon, and it is ex- t
pected that tho aebarkation will take t
the rest of that day and night and part I
IF the following day. I
With the first expedition actually /
out of the country, the authorities
ne re have quickly turned their atten-
ton to another expedition even more
important than this initial one. It is q
that the plans for this second '
invading force will be matured at 4
once, and that as n result another ex- a
petition will leave from an Atlantic I
coast point within the next ten days, L
his time for Porto Rico. The details
or this movement are approaching
There are about Is trans :
PORTS already available and the list :
viii be increased as rapidly as posi- ;
Die. Some of these may be ,,
lsed for later expedition, but those p
N hand and to be secured viii readily
accommodate force of 20, 600 men
Recent reports from Porto Rico have
Indicated that the Spanish force there
loes not exceed 1900 or 5000 men. !
Ilso that it may be deemed necessary !
o send large army of occupation.
such as II is, however, it will have an
important mission 70 perform, and :
With this force pursuing an aggressive :
in Porto Rico and Gen. Shat
er's $4,000 men on Cuban soil, an
abundance of stirring action Is assured
rom this week forward.
The Illinois republican state conven- t