Hutchinson gazette., 1898-04-28

Washington to Send Military Supplies
20 Gen. Gomez
WAsHGNsroN, April 20. To the mill
Rry mind of Lieut. Gen. John M. Scho-
field is due largely the mastery be-
ginning of the war against Spain.
There is naval strategy board com-
posed of experts of the navy depart
ment. The members sit daily. They
form plans and make recommends
tiona There is war council, COM
posed of the highest officials of the
war and navy departments This
body passes upon measures to make
most effective the offensive and the de-
fensive plans. But the communicating
chief of the army and navy is at the
white house. His military adviser upon
the general policy and the details of
the campaign is Lieut.. Gen. John M.
Schofeld. The earnest purpose of the
president is to free Cuba at the mini
mum costof blood and treasure. The
peaceful blockade is IA fact established.
SIMPSONS feet has divided. Part of
it, enough of it, remains off Havana to
close effectively the principal port of
the island. Part of it has gone east
ward. The third part, smaller than
either of the others, for it has less
work to do has gone westward. These
movements mean that the blockade has
spread to Bahia Honda on the west, to
Matanzas and Cardenas on the east
of Havana. Two warships have gone
TO each of the three ports named, leav-
ing strong squadron still in front of
Havana. Next to the blockade, one of
the most effective steps to be taken
will be the breaking of all eommuni-
tion between Cuba and the mother
country Officers of the signal corps
of the army have taken possession of
the cable Office at Key West Censor.
snip over all messages going to Ha-
vana has been established. Nothing
will pass that way which will give hope
to Blanco. Looking forward to the
possibility of trouble with this country
with a foresight extraordinary for
them, the Spanish authorities recently
laid cable to a neighboring island.
and thus obtained a connection
with a route entirely outside of the
United States. That connection it is
the purpose of the United States to
cut. The Mar grove with a cruiser
Tor an escort, and carrying the neces-
sary appliances, has started out from
Key West to break this cable near the
Cuban shore end. AS soon as this eX.
pedition is successful Cuba will be cut
off from communica ton with the Span
ish government No instructions or
encouragement can reach BlancO from
the home government. There are
ways of strangling Spanish authority
on Cuba besides the sacrifice of Ameri.
can lives The well-planned campaign
will show them soon.
Prices OF Food Go Up In Havana
KEY VEST Fla, April 26. The first
pinch OF the blockade lis felt in Ha-
vana. Prices OF food have gone up 80
per cent, above normal-2O per cent.
since the blockade was established.
Food is already so scarce that even at
these high prices it is almost unob-
tainabie The silent pressure of the
Gordon of American warshipS weighs
more and more heavily ON the Span
iards. The fate of the reconcen.
trados now threatens them. Hunger
has already appeared among the poor.
er classes. Havana was unprepared
for a blockade. Food began to advance
April Is, and was 30 per cent. above
the normal when the blockade began.
Food and coal are arriving in Havana
from the stores in other ports from
which there is rail communication. but
all the food is converted into army
rations.
To Send Military Supplies to Gomez.
WASHINGTON, April 2G.-The war de-
partment is preparing to send a large
quantity of arms, military supplies,
shoes and uniforms to the army of
Gomez this week He asks for Ii. 900
stand of arms, some light rapid-tiring
guns and an officer who can instruct
his men in their use. These stores and
arms will be landed wherever Gen.
Gomez indicates. OF course, there
must be six or eight fathoms of water
20 allow the vessel carrying the cargo
20 get we'll into shore. The landing
will be covered by the guns of our
light-draft vessels, the Helena, Detroit |
OF Nashville.
FIRST MOVEMENT OF TROOPS |