St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1898-05-11
e Great Naval Battle at Manila.
General News of the War.

One Of Jacob Vallderbilt's 0rands0ns a MEMBER
Of Washingtons Regiment.
William Howard Vanderbilt has joined
Company c of the First Regiment OF
Washington Volunteers, and expects to
be very soon on his way to the Philip
pine Islands with other Pacific coast
troops. He is a grandson OF Jacob Van
derbilt of New York, and second cousin
of Cornelius Vanderbilt. He is a six
footer and 81 years old. When the
twelve companies comprising Washing
tons regiment marched through Tacoma
to Camp Rogers, he became possessed OF
the desire to join the army. After many
solicitations on his part, his father con-
scented to allow him to do so. Young
Vanderbilt then FASTENED to Camp
Rogers and enlisted as private of Com
pany c, his enrolment filling the COM
pany's roster.
Col. +. G.. Smith, late president and
now one OF the receivers of the {. V. K X,
has issued circular to heads Of depart
ments and employees, notifying them
that all employees who are members OF
the militia or shall volunteer to serve
their country in the present war with
Spain shall have their present or equlva-
lent positions reserved for them on their
return unipjured and capable of perform
ing the duties of said positions.
Dole Makes an Offer
President Dole has sent long commu-
nication to President Mckinley, offering
to transfer the Hawaiian Islands to the
United ates for the purposes OF its war
with Spain and to furnish the American
ships oil war in Pacific waters with large
quantities of coal, supplies and ammuni-
ton. This action was taken by the eX-
ecutive after secret conference of the
Hawaiian cabinet called to discuss the
position to be assumed by the govern
ment toward the two belligerents. The
news of the declaration OF war by the
United States against Spain was received
here April 81, by the Mariposa, which
arrived from the Australian colonies with
advices from the United States to the
14th inst.
Our Prisoners.
The first prisoners OF war left Key
West Thursday for the North. They
were the Spanish soldiers captured on
the Argonauta by the Marblehead, Nash
vile, and Eagle. Since their arrival
they have been on the Guido, one of the
other Spanish prizes. Thursday after
noon they were taken off aud put on a
steamer to be sent to Fort Mcpherson,
Atlanta. There were twenty of them,
eleven officers and nine privates. They
took their i'll luck good naturally, and
told every one that they had been treated
so well they could hardly consider us
enemies.
All of them were small, insignificant
looking men, and comparison with the
burly colored soldiers OF the Twenty fifth
made them ridiculous. Each of Uncle
Sans men would make two of the Span
ish.
The twenty-four men who were pas
sangers on the prize steamer Panama,
and who are held as prisoners of war,
were not sent North. Their cases will be
disposed of when the courts decide what
is to be done with the Panama. All oil
these men were on their way to Cuba to
join the Spanish army when captured.
Dewey's Story Of the Victory.
These are the dispatches received from
Commodore Dewey announcing his vic.
tory at Manila:
"MANILA, May 1.-The squadron ar
rived at Manila at day break this morn
ing. Immediately engaged the enemy
and destroyed the following vessels:
Reina Cristina, Castillo, Don Antonio de
Ulloa, lsla de Luzon, Isla de Cuba, Gen.
eral Leo, Marques del Duero, Ell Cano,
Velasco. transport Isla de Mindanao,
and one other vessel, and water battery
at Cavite. Squadron is uninjured. Only
few men were slightly wounded. The
only means of telegraphing is to the
American Consul at Hong Kong. Ishall
communicate with him. DEWEY"
"CAvITE, May Al have taken posses
sion of naval station at Cavite, Philip.
pine Islands, and destroyed its forti6ca.
tions. Have destroyed iorti6cation at the
bay entrance, paroling the garrison. Icon
troll the bay completely and can take the
city at any time. The squadron is in ex.
cellent health and spirits. The Spanish
loss is not fully known, but very heavy
$50 killed, including captain, on Reina
Cristina alone. am assisting in pro.
tecting the Spanish sick and wounded
Two hundred and fifty sick and wounded
in hospital within our lines. Much ex.
element at Manila. Will protect foreign
residents. DEWEY"
Secretary Long has sent this despatch
to Commodore Dewey:
"The President, in the name of the
American people, thanks you and your
officers and men for your splendid achieve
ment and overwhelming victory. In rec
ignition he has appointed you acting
admiral, and will recommend a vote O
thanks to you by congress as founda
ton for further promotion"
French Steamer Captured.
The big French liner Lafayette of San
tanazaria, with full complement O
passengers and general cargo bount
from Corunna, Spain, April 20, wa
captured off Habana Thursday night b,
the Annapolis. The Lafayette was head
ing directly into Habana and was cap
tured only after an exiting chase.
1t is reported that the Lafayette, il
addition to being a regular French mai
steamer, is a French naval reserve vessel
mounting guns and carrying crew
sufficient to make her ready for activ,
service at short notice. This, it is said
adds considerably to the gravity of thu
international aspect of the case.
Great Demand for Flags.
The War Department is unable to pc
f1aps ennuph for IFS nee nc thera &c
scarcity OF bunting. There are only TIVE
factories in the country, and, although
they are working day and night an,
with largely augmented forces Of men
they are getting behind in their order
more and more.
The primal reason for the scarcity c