Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1898-04-08
Notes of the "war situation IS

A very large quantity of ordnance and
ammunition, bought by our government IN
Europe. is now on its way across the At
lantic. Several thousand modern infantry
rifles have also been bought abroad,
A Madrid despatch says: "Fifteen Span
ish meu-of-war will leave Cadiz immedi-
atey for the Cape Verde islands, and sew
eral battalions have started to reinforce
the garrison at the Balearic islands in the
Mediterranean.
The wreck of the Maine in Havana har-
Dor has been abandoned by our govern
ment. The wrecking companies have
stopped work and sent their tugs and 9th
/ er appliances home, and the stars and
stripes were hauled down Monday.
Mrs. Woodford, wife of the United States
minister, accompanied by her niece, left
Madrid Wednesday evening for Barritz
! Surprise was expressed at their departure,
but Miss WoOdfUrd remains, and it IS eX-
/ planned that the others will soon return,
The gunboat Diogenes, bought in En-
/ gland, is to be called the Topeka. after the
/ capital city of Kansas The small un-
named torpedo boat bought in England is
to be called the Manly, in honor of Capt.
John Manly, a distinguished sailor Of the
days Of the Revolution.
Capt. Sigsbee in the course of his exam
ination before the House committee on
foreign affairs stated it TO be his opinion
that his vessel. the Maine. was blown up
by a submarine mine located by the Span
sh authorities As to whether it was
fired by the Spanish authorities or not he
declined to express an opinion.
There have been many rumors of inter
vention proposed or actually attempted by
the Pope between the United States and
Spain. According TO the best information
obtainable the Popes action has been con
fined to a proposal 10 intercede between
the warning elements in Cuba and try to
have them agree on basis Of peace.
The United States torpedo boat Somers.
recently bought in Germany arrived Mon
day at Weymouth, Eng, where it was said
that she would coal and start at once for
New York. She will be accompanied by
the new cruiser Dlogenes. The United
States battle ship Oregon has arrived at
Callao, Peru, on her way down the coast
Ell route for Atlantic waters
The war department and the general of
the army are considering the question Of
utilizing the ii square miles which the
government owns al the Chickamauga
military park as the point for concentrat-
ing troops in the South for organization
and instruction, and also as the location of
such reserves as may be- needed for the
Gulf and South Atlantic Notifications from
New Orleans TO Charleston.
Claims against Spain aggregating SIG
100000 for injury and loss incident TO the
war in Cuba have been filed IN the state
department at Washington. 10y citizens of
the Tuit41 States ra.i4Irr frt tHaf corr.,.-r
They cover claims for personal injury.
imprisonment, loss of stock, burning of
sugar plantations. etc. These claims are
properly lndeNed iu the state department
and then sent 10 Minister Woodtori iu
Madrid. where they are presented 10 the
Spanish government for adjudication
Lieutenant Commander Coiweu. United
States naya. attache al London. bought
the cruiser Diogenes from the Thames iron
works Saturday Tor this government The
cruiser was built for Peru during the war
between thai county and Chill and the
British government would not allow IL to
leave on account OF the neutrality law
The vessel, which is about 80 feet long.
has been thoroughly modern.zed the past
year and is IN tirst-class condition, although
bought At an extremely low iigHe She
sailed Tuesday for this country.
1t is believed that the navy department
has secured all the warships that can be
bought in foreign ship yards In many
cases where ships We're in process OF con
structiou the department has obtained 1e-
iusaIs on them which will preclude the &C
QUESTION 10y Spain, should an attempt be
made oy that nation 10 get them. There are
number OF vessels now building on which
several months work is necessary before
they are completed, bu, the government is
not anxious regarding these
The program of the administration in
regard to financial prepa atoms for conflict
has been substantially completed and the
data turned over TO G0y. Dugley CHAIR
man of the ways and means committee. Il
covers SO far only three proposals-the /
granting OF authority 10 borrow OF the
clearing house banks on short-dated treas
ury certificates, authority TO issue long
term bonds, and the levy Of duties upon
tea and coffee, coupled with the increase
OF the tax upon beer.
Great apprehension was caused last Sat
urday by the announcement apparently
authentic, that the Spanish fiotila of tor
pedo boats and torpedo boat destroyers had
reached Porto Rico, only 1000 miles from
Havana, remarkably swift passage nav
ing been made. Ii was also announced
that the cruisers Vizcaya and Almirante
Oquendo had left Havana and sailed east
ward, presumably to meet the fleet On
Sunday, however, news came that the
feet was at the Cape Verde islands on the
extreme east coast of Africa, having been
compelled to 60 southwark by rough
weather So far as known ii still remains
there and SPANS purpose with regard to
1t has not been disclosed. Il has been re
ported that she would send a squadron of
four OF her largest warships TO Join the
tOtilla there and CONVOY il to Cuba