Evening star., 1898-05-07

The War with spain,

Spanish and American forces occurred in
the harbor Of Manila, capital Of the Philip
pine Islands, Sunday, May 1: an American
fleet, under the command Of Commodore
Dewey. consisting of six principal vessels.
dispatch boat and two icolliers, entered
the bay under cover Of darkness and sue
cessfully attacked a Spanish fleet, consist
ing Of nine principal vessels and a number
of small gunboats; according to the meaeer
reports first received before cable commun-
ncation with Manila was INTERRUPTED the
Spanish fleet was annihilated and the
guns Of Cavite, the principal land defense
OF Manila, were silenced; Commodore
Dewey notified the Spanish authorities of
his intention to lombard Manila, and. it ia
understood, turned his attention to the
outer fortifications while awaiting the mott
f1cation period to expire; the official report
from Commodore Dewey was greatly de-
layed. and when received indicated that
several hundred 9paniards had been killed
and wounded in the engagement while only
about six Americans were wounded, with
no fatalities. In view Of the developments
in the Philippines. the Navy Department
decided to send troops for the occupation
of that territory. together with aid for
Commodore Dewey, and the Trans-Pacific
liner City Of Pekin was chartered for this
purpose, while the United States cruiser
Charleston was put in commission to serve
as convoy. The blockade of Havana con-
t1nued. but an important change of pro-
gram altered the circumstances: in view of
the possible approach of a Spanish fleet
toward Porto Rico. the Havana squadron
was divided and the heavier vessels, under
command of Admiral Sampson, were dis
patched to the vicinity of Porto Rico, there
to await the coming of such of the enemy's
vessels as might appear, or in their an
sence to take possession Of Porto Rico: If
was anticipated that an engagement of
some KIND would soon occur. The United
States battle ship Oregon and sunboat Ma
rletta, together with the dynamite cruiser
Buffalo, formerly the Nictheroy of RraziI
sailed from Rio Janeiro northward: nre,
cautions were taken to avoid an encounter
between these vessels and Spanish war
ships Several captures were made bv the
blockading squadron. the most important
iseing that of the Spanish steamer Argo
hau.a' on BOARD OF which were number
OF spanish officers and soldiers
The French mail steamer I.afayetta va
eVerhauled, she having persisted in an ef-
fort to enter Havana harbor after warning.
st1 she was taken to Key West, but the au-
thorities In this city Immediately ordered
ner release, as it was discovered that the
French government hal been assured that
TINS vessel would be permitted to touch
r,a1aa1a.; nakana on her way to Vera Cruz without
not been given to the officers of the block
aqlng squadron. Preparations We're press-
eu Ior dispatching an army of occupation
10 Cuba: the concentration of troops of
the regular army at points in Florida con-
tinued ana arrangements were made for
their transportation. The President pro
ceeded with the organization of the yolun-
teer army by nominating to be major gem
erals Senator VIM. ]. Sewell of New Ter
sey, Representative Jos. Wheeler of Ala
Dama. Fftzhugh Lee of Virginia, James n
Y Mlison OF Delaware and brigadier generals
Joseph C. Breckinridge. E. 8. Otis, John I.
Coppinger, VIM. r. Shafter, VIM NJ. Ora
nam, James F. Wade and Henry C. Mer-
ram; ne also nominated number of regu-
lar army colonels to be brigadier generals
fho
would be divided into seven divisions. ten
tatlVe arrangements for the concentration
OF portion Of this army in camp of in
struction in the vicinity of this CITY. Word
was received in Washington that by direc
tlon OF the legislature Of Hawaii, President
Dole mad rendered to the United States
IN .se opportunity to take military possession
OF Hawaii for such strategic purnoses nc
misnt be necessary in the war with Snain
me so-called Cuban autotomist congress
was opened with elaborate ceremonies in
navana' capt Gen Blanco delivered a
cnaracter1stic address extolling the virtues
OF spain and condemning the action of tho
united States. The United States tug Lev
oen landed a large store of supplies for
Marso1 Ne Suoan insurgents on the coast near
Mariel, under the cover of fire from the
gunboat Wilmington, which dispersed a
troop of Spanish cavalry that attempted tn
interfere with the operations. A general
movement toward the concentration of
Spanish troops in Havana and A few other
large cuban cities was begun; Gen Pando
evacuated the city of Bayamo. which was
Immediately occupied by Gen. Calixto Car
ca with a force of Cubans News of the
fall of Manila caused intense excitement
IN Madrid and precipitated disturbances
both IN the cortes and in the streets of
q cues; martial law was proclaimed in Mad
iiu ana several other centerS Of POPULATION.
evidences accumulated that the ministry,
was IN danger of collapse and that reyolu.
lionary outbreaks We're imminent: bread
sit.s sit,s .t" occurred throughout Spain and the
Ia
the cortes the government was severely
for it's lack Of forethought as
disclosed by the easy victory of the Amari-
ea oans at Mania 1t became understood that
ohe reason Tor the failure of the Spanish
meet at CadiZ to sail on an offensive errand
was the lack of ammunition and the re-
fusal of foreign-born engineers to co-oper-
ate with the SDaniards in hostile enter
prises. 1t was reported that Fredertck w
Ramsden, British consul at Santiago de
Cuba, was in danger; the British govern
ment sent aid and later Ramsden was re-
ported to be safe.
CONVERSATIONAL.
The Senate finance committee began the
consideration of the war revenue bill. IT
vas disclosed that majority of the COM
mlttee would probably vote against the
bcnd issue proposition. While considering
the proposed amendment to the Constitu-
ucn IN reference to the matter of the
PRESIDENTIAL succession the Senate by a
narrow majority negatived an amendment
proposed by Senator Mills for an income
tax. The House committee on foreign re-
latlons began the consideration of Repre-
sentative Newlands' joint resolution for the
annexation of Hawaii, and it was agreed
10 press that measure on the attention of
the House The House passed the army
cenclency bill The fortifications bill was
agreed to in conference. The Senate con-
sidered the post office appropriation bill
ana voted to restrict urban mail deliveries
to maximum of four deliveries daily.
Foreign.
Ihe German emperor announced that in
the war with Spain Germany would pre-
serve neutrality. while caring strictly for
German interests Lord Salisbury, in a
speech at the annual gathering of the Prim-
rose League said that he hoped that the
war of Spain and the United States would
seen end; he was savagely criticised by
Spain and Spanish sympathizers for his
expressions of implied friendship for the
United States. Unofficial announcement
was made in London that Sir Julian
Pauncefote, British ambassador at Wash
1E Egton. would soon be succeeded by Sir
Thomas Henry Sanderson. Bread riots
continued in Italy. 1t was said that Chile
Diy IoG