Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-05-04
THE BOYS IN BLUE
Continued from page ~

his ships may be sent away temper
Cuba from Rio de Janeiro. While the
officials of the navy department natur-
ally feel q warm interest in this race
of the magnificent battleship around
the continent. they profess to feel lit
tie anxiety as to the outcome, not with
standing the current talk of an effort
on the part of the Spanish flying squad
ron to cut off the Oregon.
The vessel sailed from Rio on a
course known only to the captain, and
the chances of being overtaken on the
high seas are very small. Even should
the Spanish vessels fall in with her, it
is by no means certain, not withstand
ing their numbers, that she would be
defeated by the combined Spanish
force, as her magnificent armor and
ordnance are superior in every respect.
size and quality to those of the Spanish
ships.
The proclamation directed against
the Spanish residents of the United
States by the state department has not
yet issued, nor is it certain that it will
issue, that probably depending upon
the course pursued by the Spanish gov
citizens in Spain.
China issued her neutrality procld-
nation, today. so there is now no place
left on the Asiatic coast open to the
free use of the war vessels of either
Spain or the United States. This is
remarkable i'll that China has never b.
fore issued 4 neutrality proclamation
and the naval officers are grateful for
the consideration shown by the Chinese
government in Withholding the issue
of the decree until informed that the
Americans had secured Il base i'll the
Philippine islands.
The army bought hospital ship. to-
day, for the benefit of the troops going
to Cuba. Comms&ary General Nash
was retired. making the fourth com
missary general to be retired within as
many months.
Reports received at the navy depart
ment from the Miantonomoh show that
the monitor was roughly handled by
the storm while making her way south
to Key West from League Island. Her
decks We're swept and frequent delays
were caused by the dsarrangement OF
some OF the ships structure. Through
out it all. however, the propelling ma
chinery worked splendidly.
Washington Will soon be gay with
uniforms as a result of an order issued
today, requiring all officers to wear tht
uniforms of their grades.
Adiutant General Corbin had a c n
ference with the President, this after
noon, concerning the nominations of
major generals and brigadier generals
will be sent to the Senate, tomorrow
Gen. Corbin took with him to the white
House full list of those nominations
which had been agreed upon by the
war department officials. After a 20
minute conference With the President,
Gen Corbin returned to the department
to make some alterations to the lis.
suggested by the President.
1t is understood to have been decided
to name Cen Shafter who has been
designated to lead the army Of invasion
into Cuba Gen. FitzhuGh Lee and Gen.
Joe Wheeler of Confederate army
fame. as three of the major generals.
1t is regarded as probable that the
President may also nominate Gen.
Woodford, former minister 10 Spain, to
be major general.
Concerning the appointment of brgadier
generals. il is said to be the purpose of
the President so far as possible to take
the candidates from the ranks of colonies
in the regular army. This will disappoint
some of the candidates for important
commands. The exceptions. If any are
MADE will be in favor of those states
which furnish one or more brigades OF
troops. In such cases. it is believed the
President will appoint as brigadier gen
erals officers recommended to him by the
Governors of the states from which the
troops come.
The French embassy is the only foreign
embassy in Washington which has re-
ceived official dispatches on the battle OF
Manila. These came from the French
ambassador at Madrid and We're drawn
from Spanish reports. IT WAS stated from
Berlin that the foreign officers there had
cabled reports to all the German embaS-
sizes, but the German embassy here Ia
not received Il word on the subject up Il
a late hour today. The British. French
and German governments have consul;
at Manila bur the cable interruption cuts
them off from any communication witt
their governments.
Who has cut the cable is source OF
much speculation. n leading diplomat
SAID circumstances would indicate tina
the cutting had been done by Spanish OIL
cials, on instructions from Madrid, in or
der to stop the transmission of further
news of the disaster there and in tina
way calm the storm of popular indlgna