Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1898-04-28
spo1Ls OF WAR.
Rich Spanish Vessels Fall Into Gus
Hnnds-Blockade Of Port of Ha-
vana Established.

Winona, from Mobile, captured the
Spanish steamer Saturnia at Ship Is
land, Miss, at one o'clock Sunday.
Key West, Fla, April 25.--The Span
ish transatlantic steamer Catalina was
captured Sunday 12 miles from Havana
by the cruiser Detroit. She has just
arrived here under prize crew. When
the first shot was fired, her captain
made desperate effort TO escape his
pursuer, and the chase was prolonged
for eight miles. Finally a solid shot
brought her to. She is carrying cargo
of 6,000 tons of slaves.
The gunboat Helena on Saturday cap
tured the Spanish merchant steamer
Miguel Jover. valued at 100000.
New York, April 25.-A dispatch to
the Press from Key West says: The
gunboat Wilmington Sunday captured
the Spanish schooner Onadidia with a
deckload of charcoal intended for Ha-
vana, where it is extremely valuable for
fuel. At this writing the Cushing is
bearing down on a schooner to the
southeast. The breeze is slow, and,
while she has on all sail, the Cushing
will overhaul her shortly. She has the
start, but the Cushing has the steam.
Tie torpedo boat Porter captured the
Spanish schooner Antonio, laden with
sugar for Havana. The Antonio was
sent to Key West with prize crew of
four men under Naval Cadet Duboise.
Key West, Fla, April 25.-According
to dispatch boats which have just
| rpnnhnI thiS from, INIT oil
States fleet the port of Havana is block
AIDED, but otherwise the situation is I'M
changed. Contrary to reports previous
~ received these boats say that not
shot has yet been fired by either side.
The fleet range from eight to ten
miles from shore, along which they are
extended to fully 70 miles in the follow
ing order, running from west to east
Mayfower, Iowa, Newport, Detroit,
Marblehead, Indiana, New York, and
Wilmington, with the torpedo boat
Porter attending the flagship.
MORO Castle and the city of Havana
are in good view from the flagship with
glasses, but the coast, as is always the
case, is covered with a haze. No news
of what is occurring in the blockaded
city has been obtained and the newspa-
per men are equally in doubt as to the
intentions of Rear Admiral Sampson
and the United States governments.
On Board the Flagship New York, off
| Havana, April 25.--The batteries at
Havana fired ten shots at the fleet on
Friday night. No reply was made.
During the early morning Sunday the
MORO Castle batteries again opened fire
on the feet, but without the slightest
effect. There have been no casualties
among our forces up to this hour and
not single shot has been fired against
the batteries.
The city is on the verge of panic in
anticipation of the bombardment. Gen.
Blanco inspected the Notifications of
MORO, La Punta and Cabanas Sunday.
Several thousand troops are waiting
behind the sand batteries at Chorrera,
where it is expected the American sol
Giers will make a landing. Gen. Pando
is expected in Havana to-day. He will
be placed in charge of the Spanish army
massed for the defense of Havana. More
troops are arriving from the interior of
|
a troop train ten miles from the city,
and ten men were injured.
New York, April 25.--A letter from
Gen. Gomez says he will be in front of
Havana before April 90 with 10000 men.
Washington, April 25.-Rear Admiral
SIMPSONS orders respecting the reduc-
ton of Havana contemplate no i'm
mediate bombardment of that city. The
guns which comprise the batteries pro-
tecting the city may shoot as much as
they please at the ships lowering at the
entrance of the harbor, but there will
be no return fire at present. 1t is by
means of the blockade now in progress
that the department proposes to pave
the way toward procuring the capitula-
ton of Havana. How long the block
ade will be maintained and when the
combined land and naval forces will
make their attack upon the city is
matter of pure speculation at this time.
There is no reason to believe that the
authorities contemplate more vigor-
Gus campaign at Puerto Rico than that
which they are following in the case
of Cuba. Puerto Rico is an extremely
important base of supplies for the Span
ish fleet, and it is appreciated that it is
necessary for the United States to OBJ
tain possession of it as soon as possible.
Several men-of-war from Rear Admiral
Simpsons fleet are understood to have
been sent to San Juan, and when con-
gress formally declares war to-day it
will be possible to carry on effective mil
itary operations against the island.
Madrid, April 25.-A cable dispatch
has been received from Capt. Gen.
Blanco saying the United States squad
ron approached on Friday night within
tive miles of the port and then disap-
peared in northerIy direction.
The government has received no Off
cial information of the capture of any
American vessels. The impartial prints
| a list of the American ships in the Med
| iterranean, pointing out that they will
be easy prey for the Spanish warships.
1t is believed that the Spanish adj
mirals at their meeting Saturday APP
Il n