The Somerset reporter., 1898-07-07
WAR NOTES.

Governor Powers in his speech of
acceptance, on Tuesday, states that he
had written to many of the mayors and
municipal officers advising them to
assist any and all needy families of the
soldiers, and that he had no doubt but
that the Legislature would reimburse
them, as he should certainly advise
them, should he be reelected Governor.
This is good doctrine. Towns and
cities should be willing, and doubtless
will be, to take some little trouble in
this line. There can be no financial
risk in SO doing. The Maine legislature
will doubtless reimburse any reasona-
BILE necessary expenditure to meet
these extraordinary cases.
| A Washington special to the World
says that the Government has been
approached in an unofficial way with
regard to terms of peace with Spain
by the Ambassadors of France and Aus
tria, and sounded in other ways with
a view to learning what demands the
| United States might make. But Sec
rotary Day has resolutely turned a deaf
ear to all such questions, and emphati-
cally declines to treat except with
Spain. The President insists that no
proposition will be considered unless
made directly by the Madrid Govern
ment.
A Continental Ambassador states
that, according to diplomatic usage
and precedent, the United States is al
ready virtually in possession of Cuba,
Porto kico and the Philippines, and
would be SO considered in effecting
settlement
The navy department received dis
patch, July 1 from Admiral Dewey,
dated CaVite, June 27. He made no
mention of renforcements and said he
had avoided committing his govern
ment to any policy and had left Gen.
Merritt free.
Blanco ordered Cervera to leave san
tiago and the admiral replied that he
would be glad to leave, but his guns
were dismounted, he was without coal,
and the American admiral was waiting
outside. A GOODNESS is reported be-
tween the Capt. Gen. and Admiral Ger
vera.
Gen. Shafter with his army operated
against Santiago on the south, west and
northern sides There had been con-
tinued skirmishng with generally favor
able results to the American army with
considerable losses until July lst, when
after hours of fierce fighting, the Ameri-
cans succeeded in driving the enemy into
the city, but in doing so they sustained
the most severe losses of the war. The
| losses were estimated at 1000 killed and
| wounded. The advance of General
Skaters forces was checked by the
Spanards only at the city gates. 1t
was dark when the fighting ceased for
the day. At sunset our troops were in
possession of the ground they had gained.
Gen. Garcia with his Cuban troops at
the same time approached Caney from
the s, u beast, and other divisions of the
American army pressed toward Santiago
from the east, our forces thus presenting
a solid front from the coast to General
Linares' northern defences.
Both the American and Spanish fleets
early joined in the battle. While Ad-
al III
recently empaced batteries at Aguadores
Admiral Cervera's fleet was hurting
shells in the direction of the American
and Cuban forces.
There was desperate fighting all along
the line, in many places it was particu
larly fierce. The Spaniards fought with
valOr and contested every inch of the
ground. On that part of the lines where
the fleet could operate with the army,
effective work was done by Admiral
SIMPSONS ships.
On July 2nd Gen. Shafter had to be
content to hold his position without at
tempting a forward movement.
On Sunday, July 3, Admiral Cervera
attempted to escape from Santiago with
three cruisers and two torpedo boat de-
stroyers. They were Immediately at
tackled by SIMPSONS vessels and dis
abled by their guns. The vessels were
beached in last effort to save as many
of the lives of the crews as possible.
Admiral Cervera, on board his flagship,
headed his feet in the attempt to
get away at about $50 o'clock
so little were the Americans expecting
the dash that the flagship New York
was cruising up the coast to the east and
returned only in time to see the finish of
the fight and to fire SHOT or two at the
torpedo boat destroyers.
The Iowa, Indiana, Oregon, Massa-
chusetts, Texas, Brooklyn and the con.
verified yacht Gloucester, formerly the
Corsair, formed 10 position to give bat
tie as soon as the Colon was sighted
rounding the wreck of the Merrmac.
All of the American battleships open
ed fire AS soon as the Spanish ships were
out from under the guns of Moro, and
were soon IN hurricane of shot and
SHE'LL but the Theresa kept on bravely till
~