The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-06-20
ARMY READY
4 TO LAND.
It Was Off Santiago Early
This Morning.
HAS H0BSON BEEN KILLED?
Washington Authorities Believe He and
His Gallant Crew Have. The
Second Call For
Troops.
HAS HOBSON BEEN KILLED?

OF Santiago. June 49, via Kingston
Jamaica, June Gothic officers and men
Of the fleet are Inclined to believe that
Lieutenant Hobson aud his brave crew Of
the Merrimac have been killed by the Span
iards.
The most ominous token of death has
waved from Moro Castle.
The Spanish flag was hoisted on the fort
and kept AZ half mast for several hours.
1t is not known just what this act i'm.
plies. but the belief among tho Americans
Is that 1t Is notice to the fleet that Licuten.
ant Hobson and his brave men are dead.
Admiral Sampson firmly believes tina.
Admiral Cevera placed Hobson and his
fellow heroes in Moro to prevent the
Americans from shellng that fort.
lt has been positively learned that two
Marine Hospital, while the Others were
removed to ano' her part of the city.
They could not have been killed by shell
from the American vessels, as not projec-
tile struck Moro Castle where tho prison
ers were confined, during the lombard
ment.
What disposition was finally made of
the men can only DO onjectured, but the
prevailing opinion Is that they are dead.
Ii such is the fact, although there Is
room for doubt tile Americans must have
been wantonly murdered.
1t Is stated at tho Navy Department that
even should the fire of tho American fleet
inlet no injury upon Constructor Hobson
and his fellow prisoners it would DO easy
FOR the Spaniards to put theia to deaf b,
and insist that their lives were lost
through bombardmcnJ by thu United
States fieot.! This sort of warfare Is one
which none but tho Spaniards would en-.
gage In at the end of The Nineteenth Con-
Thu rIarinr pf hal, -, L.,
line OF fire of their own troops was de
vice OF the Middle Ages, long ago aben-
doned by civilized ages
In case HObsOn and his crew meet, or
have met, death through any act of Span.
ish barbarity, Admiral Sampson will hold
Cervera and other Spanish officers indi-
vidually responsible. Reprlsals will be
made In such degree as the United States
Governments shall determine.
NO excuses that their lives have been
lost through bombardment will be per-
United to stand In the way of most viRor.
Gus reprisals, In which Spanish naval of.
ficers and men. to at least the number Of
the American prisoners now in cUnfne-
ment. will be shot If Hobson and his men,
after the refusal OF the Spanish authorities
to exchange them. are not turned over in
safety to the United States naval or mill
tary authorities.
an interview with Almodovar do Rio,
Minister OF Foreign Affairs, in which the
Minister allowed IT to DO understood that
negotiations Ior peace were proceeding,
but denied that the Powers had inter-
vened.
He added that there wero no Quixotes
nowadays. even In Spain The idea of
German interference in the Philippines
was fallacious. Germany would NOT risk
Q war with as powerful nation as tho
United States for Tho sake Of helping such
q weak one as Spain.
Mole St. Nicholas, Hayti, June co.
Gen. Skaters army Of Is, 100 men on forty
transports has arrived off Santiago and
Guantanamo. The landing of the troops
will probably be accomplished today.
There will be no wild rush to get ashore
until General Shaftcr has conference
with Admiral Sampson and the situation
is thoroughly discussed. Sampson knows
the possibilities better than any one else
and the landing will BIO done according to
his information.
Heavy artillery and ammunition had to
be landed, camps established.
A hundred other things preliminary to
lighting must be attended to and they take
time.