Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1898-06-03
|OT YET CONFIRMED.
OFFICIAL KNOWLEDGE OF BATTLE
AT SANTIAGO DE CUBA.

he Shore Batterles-BanlS of Spain Cant
Ielp That Country-Government Plan
bf Campaign.
+ Washington, June 1.-The naval Off
RS have been considerably mystified
roughout the day by the reports of an
gagement of Santiago. At the outset
ere was complete skepticism and a
sposition to treat the reported action
a myth, but gradually as the day adj
need the corrOboratiye evidence com
g from many quarters, including the
7icial announcements from Havana and
adrid, led the officials to concede that
me engagement had taken place,
though they did not regard it as a
rous one. No bulletins were issued
the department during the day and
the close of Office hours it was stated
lat no dispatches from Commodore
|hley had been received during the day.
lere is reason to believe, however, that
G department received indirect advices
rough the state department, possibly
t bearing out the detailed press des-
ltches, but sufficient to indicate that an
gagement of some kind had occurred
Santiago. The impression obtained
bring the afternoon that the execution
the general instructions to all United
ates naval commanders on the Cuban
last to prevent the construction or the
rengthening of batteries by the Span
rds, Commodore Schley, observing that
rl- fft tI,i- bind tnrac rrninn nm of Mnrrn
hstle, had drawn his fleet up close
ough to stop it. 1t is not believed for
instant that he made any real attempt
enter the harbOr, although it is ceTain-
conceivable that while engaged in the
SIX of shelling the shore batteries, find
g the Cristobal Colon in range, he
'uld not resist the temptation to try a
w shots at her.
The statement from Madrid in what
emed to be almost semi-oflicial form of
e acuteness of the financial stringency
8ere and the plain intimation that the
hnk of Spain and consequently Spain,
ere nearing the end of their financial
sources, was regarded at the state
bpartment as of more real significance
an many of the stories of battles on
nd and sea that have been coming oyer
e cables for the past few weeks.
The effect of this notice may be to has
the operations against Porto Rico,
st the prize slip from our grasp through
sudden and unexpected termination of
+ e war. An additional evidence that
he actual forward movement of the
my and navy has begun was given in
lie action of the foreign naval and mill
ry observers. They have been soiourn-
4 g leisurely in Washington for some
me, but within the last week all of them
ave started for Florida. The British
Hhval and military attaches were the first
! leave and now they have been followed
" the German, Austrian, Russian, Swe-
sh, Norwegian and japanese observers.
he government of Norway and Sweden
as no less than six military and naval
Kperts to observe various branches of
be warfare.
For the first time since the the begin
! ing of hostilities there appears to be
|pmething in the nature of an official
tatement of the plan of campaign of the
nited States government. This is con-
aimed in letter of Secretary Alger tc
he speaker of the house transmitting GER
'ain recommendations and statements OF
Fen. Ludlow which disclosed the pur-
bose of the war department to send TO-,
{ 90 men to Cuba, 10000 to start at once
. nd the remainder just as soon as they
an be made ready for departure. Their
here was an estimate for establishing
Electrical communications in connection
With the army sin Cuba, Porto Rico anC
! he Philippines" showing for the frs
i ime officially an implied intention on the
part of the government to land troops il
Porto Rico. OF course all these move
|nents have been anticipated by the press
but nevertheless a strong element Of
houbt existed and therefore the offiicia
tatement Of the governments purpose
made even in this indirect fashion created
! profound sensation here. The three
re to go together, Cuba, Porto Rico ant
he Philippines, and pass into the military
occupation of the United States troops.
Inasmuch as the secretary says thai
he second contingent of troops is to g
Forward as soon as they can be prepared
Il great deal of interest is attached to al
brder that was made to-day at the wa
providing for the organiza
ion of $4,000 additional volunteers calleC
For. The order officially established tn,
etatement heretofore made in these de
'Bpatches that large proportion of tn
'hew men are to be used to fill up the exist
Ing regiments of volunteers which are Il
most cases deficient in number. 1t is t.
be presumed from to-day's order that tn
volunteer regiment called under the frs
|call will be detained until they are file
|up in this fashion, so the the order ha
some bearing upon the plan of cam
|paign.
The war department received dc
|spatch to-day from Gen. Brooke in con
|mand of the forces in Chickamauga SCI
|ting at rest the reports as to inadequat
food and water supply there.
SOME FOOLISH PEOPLE
allow q couch IN RIM until II Optc haUOn