Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1898-06-18

tAllu are uple " REFUSE " pass olSpulCutS
along. SO that the holding of the shore
ends by Admiras Dewey and Sampson
does not permit them to carry on com
munication. except through assent OF
the companies. These are private con
Germs. but they are bound to observe the
neutrality of their respective govern
ments. There is some anxiety there
fore as to the course of the operators
of the French lines in Hayti when they
receive messages from Admiral Samp-
son. Should they refuse to handle them
over neutral lines touching neutral ter
ritury. an interesting International ques-
tion might arise. The same condition
exists as to the Manila cable and the
failure to receive dispatches from Ma
Mia is attributed to the failure of the
British operators at Hong Kong to take
the messages. 1t is stated that negotia-
tions are now progressing which give
promise of Il satisfactory understanding
with the companies.
The war department officials are very
much embarrassed at the requests com :
ing from the newly appointed brigadier
generals to have regular officers assigned
to duty on their stats. The department
is not indisposed to allow fair represent
lotion of the regular army on the STATS,
but it is felt to be improper and unjust to
the regular army officers TO make up
these STATS entirely from among them,
The immediate consequence of acceding
to these requests has been to force the
volunteer officers of lower grades than
general officers upon the regular service
where they are frequently called upon to
command men much older in years and
ripper in military experience than them
selves. The result is dissatisfaction and
discomfort all along the line. for is a rule
the regular officers very much prefer
duty on the staff of generals of the reg
ular army.
Tampa. June 15.-After weeks of wait
ing and preparation the first army of in
vasion to start from the eastern shores
Of the United States, departed under
the command of General Shafter yes
terday. The fleet consisted of So YES
sells. four tenders and IA conveys. These
are all now upon the gulf of Mexico.
headed to the southwark until they pass
Key West at least. If their dest ina ion
be Cuba they will continue their present
course until Cape Antonio, at the west
Of the island, is doubled. when an east
erly course will he sailed until they
reach Santiago.
Shortly after 9 o'clock the tunnels of
The transports began to pour forth VOL
umes of smoke. The commanders gave
their orders to cut loose and the vessels
backed into the bay and anchored to
await the nrIar n call
riveted on the Seguranea. the flagship.
and when the final signal came, mighty
cheer arose from the lower row of port.
holes to her top, and hats We're waved
with wild delight The anchor was
quickly weighed and the great vessel
pointed her PROV down the bay. In a
few minutes the City of Washington.
Rio Grande. Cherokee IrOquOis and
Whitney followed. AS these boats
picked their way through the anchored
fleet, men shouted and bands played.
Every vessel ELECTED a wild display of
enthusiasm.
Kingston, June 13.--For three days the
scene of the chief military and naval
operations has been Camanera and
Guantanamo bay. The American flag
is flying on the shore and in the harbor,
first planted on Cuban soil by marines
from the Panther under Lieutenant Col
onel X. w. Huntington. covered by the
guns of the cruiser Marblehead.
The landing was effected without firing
Il single shot, and this despite Spanish
boasts that they would defend Caima-
nera to the last. When Color Sergeant
Richard Silvey of company c. First bat
TALON of marines of Brooklyn. raised the
flag above the ruins of the blockhouse,
the marines laid down their carbnes,
picks and shOvels. and tent poles. and,
lifting their caps. gave voice to a mighty
shout of SalutatiOn and satisfaction.
Saturday afternoon the marines were
subjected to bush attack by guerillas
and regulars. The fighting was almost
continuous for IL hours when reinforce
ments were landed from the Marblehead.
Four Of our men We're killed and one
was wounded. The advance rickets I'M
der Lieutenants Neville and Shaw are
unaccOunted for.
Washington, June Is. - Substantial
recognition has been given by the navy
department to the members Of the gal
liant crew which took the Merrimac into
the entrance Of Santiago harbor and
sunk her across the channel under the
very muzzles of the Spanish guns. Sec
rotary Long has signed orders to Ad-
miral Sampson. directing the promotion
of all the members of the crew. Lieuten-
ant HObsOn's reward will come later
through congress-
The orders direct the promotion of the
men as follows: Daniel Montague,
master to be a boatswain, from
$50 a month to $1,000 a year; George
Charette. gunner's mate, to be gunner,
from $50 month to $1,000 a year; Ru-
dolph Clausen, Osborne Deignan and
- Murphy. cOxswains, to be chief
boatswains mates. an increase of 500
a month; George F. Phillips, machinist,
to be chief machinist, from $40 month
to so a month; Francis Kelly, water
tender. to be chief machinist. from $37
a month to $40 month
In addition to the promotions steps
have already been taken towards the
presentation of medals to Constructor
HObson and the members of his crew.
what new honors await HObsOn, who
Planned and executed the brilliant coup,
have not yet been disclosed.
Boston, June ia Herald speclai
from Chickamauga park says that five
recruits of the Eighth regiment were
found asleep at their posts on the same
night. These sentinels were: Edwin
Fl. Poor and William F. Greenway of
A. Newburyport; William w.
French of company l, Lynn, Melvin P.
Paine of company NJ. SOmerville, and
Alexander LanstOt of company f, Bev-
pry. The Importance of wide awake
posts that night rests in the fact that the
regimental paymaster had $15, 900 in cash
in camp and $4,000 rounds of ammuni-
ton were in stock. The five men are to
be tried by general court martial, or
1ered by Major General Brooke. Ac-
rording to the articles Of war ANY SEN
tinel who is found sleeping at his post.