The commonwealth., 1898-06-16
WAR NEWS.

During the last week dItuOuSu ho
yreat battle has been fought to forward
1r retard the success of American arms,
vet there has been a gradual progress
in our favor.
In the Philippines, the lnsurgen1
leader Aguinaldo is fast closing his
lines around Manila, and cutting on
the Spanlards from railway and tele-
graphic communication with the sur
rounding country. Dewey's guns frown-
ing from the harbor cut off all hope OF
succor to the beseiged city from the
sea. It seems to be only a matter OF
time before Gen. Anguish, commander
of the Spanish troops, will be forced to
surrender. Cable dispatches say that,
Saturday, a battle was being fought
between the Spanlards and insurgents.
Should the latter succeed the fall OF
Manila will probably be the result. In
case the city should be. taken Admiral
Dewey has promised to prevent a mas
sacre. No American troops have
reached the Philippines yet. However,
two expeditions have left, and third
is being prepared.
Rear Admiral Sampson's bcmbard-
ment of Spanish Notifications on the
eastern coast of CUBA, last week, re-
suited in the capture OF Guantanamo.
a small town about forty miles from
Santiago. In the tight which occurred
on the landing of the marines, the
town was burned. Eight hundred men
under the American flag are holding
the place as a site for. the landing of
regular troops.
It is said that there are good roads
leading from Guantanamo to Santiago,
over which the American army would
have little difficulty transporting its
heavy seige guns and baggage. A force
OF Cuban insurgents, many Of whom
have been armed by the United States
government, are camped around San
tiago, ready to cooperate with our
troops, when they arrive.
The invasion OF Cuba which the
United States have had in contempla-
ton for some time seems to be rapidly
drawing near. The first detachment,
consisting of $4,000 men, will be sent
over III fif transports. This might
haze been accomplished last week but
the government unwilling to send out
such & large Geat unguarded, ordered
the expedition to be delayed until a
sufficient escort could be provided.
The transports will lie conveyed by six
teen war vessels headed by the Indiana
With Cervera's feet closed up in
Santiago, a good landing on Cuba
assured by the capture of ofGuantanamo,
and such a strong feet to engage any
Spanish war vessels hat might wish to
attack them, the American army is
we'll nigh certain of be,ng before San
tiago in very short time.
AS the war seems to progress toward
a success for American arms, the desire
for peace in Spain and intact all con-
tinental Europe seems to grow.
Threatened at once with famine, bank
ruptcy, and revolution for Spain peace
is rendered almost imperative. 1t is
stated thas sic has requested the Euro
pean i,5~ess TO intervene. Il
they do not accede to her request, it is
only matter CT time before she Will
be forced to sue. Her most candid
friends depIore the COMMENCEMENT O.
tile var and see nothing before her but
defeat.
June 13. at 3 O'Clock, Saturday
afternoon the Spaniards made an at.
tempt to regain the ground which they
lost at Guantanamo last Friday. The
fight lasted thirteen hours, ending
Sunday morning, when reinforcements
were landed from the Marblehead. The
Spaniards were covered by thicket
close to the camp, while the position
of the Americans, on open ground, was
rendered all the more conspicuous by
the white canvas OF their tents. Early
in the engagement the Marblehead
launch, coming close to shore, nlateri
ally aided our troops by her heavy guns
and powerful electric lights with which
she could sweep the neighborlne
woods and show parties of the enemy.
The Spaniards retired about dawn
Four Americans were killed and one
wounded. The dead are Assistant
Surgeon Gibbs, Sergeant Charles FL,
Smith, and Priyates McColgan and
Dunphy. The attacking force oil
Spaniards has been yariously estimated
from 200 to 1000. Their loss is un-
known, as they carried off their killed
and wounded but 1t Is believed to
have been considerably greater than
that of the Americans.
June IA. The invading army con.
sisting of~thirty two transports and 49,.
600 officers and men sailed from Key