The herald., 1898-04-28

establish a base Of operations, open COM
munication with General Gomez and feed
as many of the reconcentrados as can be
reached.
The daring act of Lieutenant John C..
Fremont and party from the torpedo boat
Porter In landing under the guns of Mat
anzas Sunday night was hailed with much
satisfaction. A report is current that
Lieutenant Fremont landed pilot who
had conducted a number Of f1libustering
expeditions and that this pilot was dis
patched with messages to Gomez.
An official high in the War Department
is authority for the statement that the
volunteers called for will be held in their
State encampments indefinitely, to be
organized and hardened.
A plan has been proposed to gather them
in great camps at Washington, Richmond.
Atlanta, or Chickamauga, but 1t was de-
clared today that these troops would not
be moved to such camps for weeks. The
volunteers can be trained in their own
States as well as anywhere else, it was
explained, and thousands Of mothers and
wives will be relieved of much anxiety.
1t is urged there is no need of making the
service more trying than the situation de-
mands. The United States is on the de-
fensive and must await the action of the
enemys fleets because the American navy
has not a sufficient preponderance of
strength to warrant the taking of
chances.
The Insurgent Forces
NEW YORK, April GA passenger on
the steamer Saratoga that has just arrived
from Havana, who refused to allow his
name to be used, thinking it would injure
his business in Havana, said last night:
IT have covered the islands many times
during the revolution and must say the in
surgents are making magnificent fight. If
the United States desires to make its cam
paign in Cuba successful, 1t will have 20
cooperate with the insurgents. 1t would
| not be necessary for the United States to
send large force into Cuba, as such a
| thing would be dangerous at this season of
the year. The Spaniards are now relying
on the island more than they are on their
| own force Of arms. What the Spaniards
would most dread would be the co-opera-
| ton Of the American forces with the in
| surgents."
| Porto Rico Defenses
| NEW YORK, April ga dispatch tc
the Herald from San Juan, Porto Rico
describes the efforts of Spain to fortify
the harbor. Good progress has been made
with new battery to the east of San
Cristobal Castle, where fourteen breech.
loading Honto cannons have been mount.
| ed.
The most effective defenses are the sub.
marine explosives and necessary attach
ments. These together with 20 tons of dyna-
mite were stored aboard barge which
has been towed to the head of the harbor
This floating magazine IS guarded night
and day by an armed boats crew, which en-.
circles the vessel.
The Spanish forces were augmented or
April 10 by a battalion of soldiers. The
men were in state that reflected the
greatest discredit on the officers. Some
were so sick and weak that they were com.
PEELED to fall out of the ranks and craw
to the barracks as best they could. It II
not intended to keep them in the city, the
idea being to draft them off in companies
| to outposts in interior towns which are
very ineffectively guarded at present.
The hatred of Spain in Porto Rico Is as
bitter as in Cuba and the common people
would welcome an invasion by the United
States forces. There have recently beer
strikes and rioting on the sugar planta
tions.
Expects Invasion
ST. THOMAS, Danish West Indies, Apri
N.-The Spanish steamer Paulina, from
Barcelona for San Juan de Porto Rico
loaded with a general cargo, called her,
| today for war news and decided to remain
| here for further orders. Advices from
Porto Rico show that that colony is
awaiting invasion.