The Somerset reporter., 1898-05-19
MONDAY. MAY Is.

and gunboat out of Havana -harbor to
decoy blocka ding fleet under big guns
of Santa Clara, but ruse failed and
Spanish vessels were driven back.
War department issues orders assign
Ing the volunteer regiments of the eoun-
try to various camps and commanders.
Rear Admiral L. A. Kimberly. re-
tired appointed prize commissioner at
Portland.
The secretary of the navy sent to the
house an estimate for an appropriation
of $50, 900. 600 in round numbers. to cover
the war expenditures of the navy for
the first six months of the next fiscal
year
Steamer Gussie returns to Key West.
after two futile attempts to land on
Cuban soil two companies of infantry
and a quantity of arms and ammunition
for insurgents.
All the members of the Spanish cabinet
resign.
Fortificatons of Cardenas levelled by
the gunboat Wilmington in a short but
spirited bombardment: 300 shells hurled
into fort. and Spanish fed, leaving many
dead behind.
The Spanish captain general in San
Juan sent the following: Our gal
liant men thrashed the Yankee upstairs
with awful slaughter. The victory was
great, magnificent. We were attacked
by Il warships, mich bombarded the
forts and town for three hours. We
made a heroic defense"
Orders have been issued for the as
semblng of 20 0S7 volunteers at Chieka-
manga. including one Massachusetts
regiment.
TUESDAY. MAY i.
The Porto Rico government prohibits
all messages to or from the United
States.
The administration has reliable infor-
nation that Blanco is short of ammuni-
ton, and that with his present supply
he could not maintain fight for tWo
days
General Merritt may not go to the
Philippines unless he has 5000 seasoned
troops. He says that raw recruits would
be drawbacks besides. they are not
enough for one of his rank
For the Philippine expedition the war
department is laying in a store of sup
plies which will. if necessary, keep the
army of l2.000 men f6S a period of six
months. About 2,160 700 rations are be-
ing accumulated.
Captain Dorst telegraphs that he
landed arms for the insurgents and
killed a few Spaniards.
Rev Thomas L. Sherman, son of Cen
eral sherman, to so to the front as chap
lain of a Missouri regiment.
Word has reached the war department
that many of the men who enlisted in
the Second regiment of North Carolina
had deserted. that companies We're being
daily depleted. and that Governor Rus
sell might have to resort to the draft in
order to furnish the two regiments which
is North Ca olina's quota.
Proclamatons have been issued all
over the country announcing the neu-
trality of Mexico between Spain and
the United States, and efforts have been
made to prevent its discussion
Senator Gray criticises the navy de-
partment for devoting so many valuable
ships to the defense of the New England
coast, which, he says, is in the least dan
ger of any section of our seaboard.
Second Massachusetts infantry, United
States volunteers, encamped at Lake
land, Fla
Blanco will exchange two correspon-
dents. seized with landing party. Thrall
and Jones. for two Spanish prisoners.
Dispatch from Madrid alleges that the
plan of the Spanish is to send fleet of
armor clads to the Pacific, crush Dewey
seize Hawaii and lombard San Fran
cisco and the Pacfie coast.
New Hampshires first regiment of
volunteers left Concord today.
WEDNESDAY, MAY Is
Freeman Halstead, an American news
paper correspondent, but a British sub
ject, arrested in San Juan de Porto
Rico, was taken into custody while in
the act of taking photographs of the
fortihcations, and given nine years i'm
prisonment.
Instructions given to the authorities
of Barcelona not to permit the departure
of large steamers which might be used as
auxiliary cruisers.
Captain general of Porto Rico cabled
Captain General Blanco that, although
the lombard ment of San Juan took place
at rifle-shot range, not gun of the fort
was sieneeG, and that the Spanish loss
was only Is wounded among the troops
composing the GARRISON
Uncontirmed reports from Havana say
that number of Americans in boat
recently tried to remove some torpedo, 5
at the entrance of Cardenas bay. where
upon one of the torpedoes exploded, and
the boat with Its crew is alleged 10 have
been blown up.
Authorities surprised by the nforma
tion that the number of insurgents has
been greatly exaggerated. and the num-
Der of effective Spanish as greatly mir
imized; the insurgents are but a few
guerillas, ard the Spanish have nearly
10000 effective men.
Criticism being made of the depart
ment for the delay in sending relief -
Dewey declared to be unfounded by
General Alger, who says it is caused by
the inability to secure large quantity
of supplies on the Pacific coast.
New Hampshires one regiment of in
fantry has started for Chickamauga
Second Massachusetts infantry, United
States volunteers, in camp at Lakeland.
Fla, names its camp for the state II
represents.
Spanish governor of the Philippines
offers a sort of play autonomy for the
natives to coax them from the Amer
leans.
William ]. Bryan will lead a reg-
ment of Nebraska volunteers, having
been authorized to raise one by Governor
Holcomb; offered himself to McKin' "
the day war was declared and now
hopes to go on the coming call.
Ensign Willard of the Machias w 5
tha frst man To plant our flag on Cuban