The Republican journal., 1898-07-14
War News in Brief.


York, and the seven seaman who compos-
ed the crew of the collier Merrimac,
which was sunk by Hobson and his COM
panions in the cham ell of the harbor of
Santiago de Cuba on June Sd last, were
surrendered by the Spanish military an
thorities July in exchange for prisoners
captured by the American forces. They
We're received with great enthusiasm both
by the army and navy, and their passage
from the picket line to the ship was a per
feet ovation
zen. Shatter S report of the battle of
Santiago July 1st shows that the number
killed and wounded was not as large as at
first reported. He says: The complete
report received of our losses on July
1st and End is as follows: Killed, -
officers; POS enlisted men; wounded. 81
officers and l., 2O3 enlisted men. MISSING
10 enlisted men.
The navy is preparing for a grand hunt
throughout the West Indies. There are
| number of Spanish war craft left scat
tered through coves on the Cuban coast,
| and lying in obscure little harbors in the
West Indian Islands. These are to be
hunted down and captured or destroyed,
o.
ly.
The Spanish steamer Reina Mercedes
attempted to leave Santiago harbor the
night of July Sth. The Massachusetts
and Texas opened fire and the Spanish
vessel was sunk opposite Estrella Cove,
1t was the intention to sink her in the
channel and thus block the harbor en-
trance. If so, this plan was defeated by
the IRE OF the ships, as she lies on the
edge OF the shore.
During severe storm off the coast of
Cuba July Sth II lighters, en- route to
Santiago, in tow of tugs. were swamp
ed and lost. So far as known no lives
were lost, The lighters were from
Mobile New Orleans and Charleston, and
were intended for the use of Gen. Shafter
IN transferring supplies and ordnance
from the transports to shore The War
Department is replacing the lost lighters.
The Norwegian freight steamer Bratton
was captured July Sth by the Brooklyn.
She had on board a cargo of supplies for
Santiago, sent by merchants at Kingston
and Port Antonio on speculation. She was
tied up until the fleet enters Santiago.
Gen. Miles has arrived at Santiago and
is IN command there. Six troop ships,
carrying 2500 men, six batteries of artil-
and supplies arrived there July Sth.
The Spanish squadron under Admiral
Camara has re- entered the Suez canal to
return to Spain.
Admiral Cervera, the Commodore and
Captains of the Vizcaya, the Reina Mer-
cedes, the Cristobal Colon and the Maria
Teresa, with 80 other officers and 692
men captured when the Spanish fleet was
destroyed OF Santiago, have arrived at
Portsmouth, n. H., and are confined
there as prisoners of war.
The New Iork Sun learns that of the
5GS Rough Riders who landed in Cuba,
only $50 are tit for servicA, the rest hay.
g been killed or wounded.
The first expedition of u S. troops has
arrived at Cavite, a d the second lett
Honolulu June %. Admiral Dewey re-
ports that the insurgents are still active.
Aguinaldo has proclaimed himself Presi-
dent of he Revolutionary Republic.
Negotiations looking towards peace pro-
gress slowly. 1t is asserted that the
United States makes the following de
mands as conditions OF peace: First, the
possession f Cuba and Porto Rico with
port in the Canaries. Second an in
demnity of e4S, 600, 900 (about $40, 0O0.-
O0O). Third, the rentention OF the
ment of the indemnity. Spain rejects
these offers. A Berlir dispatch saws:
The Queen Regent is willing to open
peace negot iations with The United States
without any mediation of the powers,
provided the conditions are not too severe.
Her maximum concession at present is a
declaration of the independence of Cuba
KEY WEST, July l.. 5.25 p. m. The
Nov, h.,
blockade runner, was captured on the I'd
instant by the L. S. auxiliary cruiser st.
Louis and arrived here to- day under a
crew consisting OF Port Officer F. j. AL
brecht and two men. The Wary is a %
ton vessel and was loaded with provisions
OF miscellaneous character, including
flour, rice, cheese, lard, potatoes and
beer.
Last week Gen. Shafter demanded the
unconditional surrender of Santiago,
which Gen. Toral, comm ander of the
Spanish forces, refused. For sundry rea-
sons the bombardment of the city was not
begun in earnest although some firing has
been going on for few days.
The latest dispatches Wednesday were
conflicting, but it is known that NJ adrid
has advised Santiago not to surrender.
ToIal is said to be looking to Blanco for
orders and the latter favors fighting to
the bitter end. Santiago is at the mercy
OF the Americans and its fall is inevitable.
LONDON, July II. The Madrid correspon-
dent of the Times telegraphing Monday,
says: "Senor Sagasta went to the palace
to-day, and rendered is resignation, and
that of the Cabinet. 1t is said that he
advised the Queen Regent to appoint
new Cabin t, largely consisting of the
military element, which would not neces-
sarily mean the adoption of warlike
policy, but probably the reverse" 1t is
generally expected that the resignation
will be accepted, but the result may pos
sibly be merely a partial reconstruction of
the Cabinet. The Ministers are now in
council, and Senior Sagasta has doubtless
communicated to them an account of his
audience with the Queen Regent
The secretary of war has ordered the
removal of all the submarine mines which
now protect the harbors of the United
States against the entry of hostile ships
This action was decided upon at Tues
days cabinet meeting. For weeks past,
in fact almost since the beginning of hos
tilities, the war department has been
deluged with protests from the CONNER
cial interests of the country against the