davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The times., 1898-05-24
The Sixth massachusetts.

One Of the happiest incidents of the
war was the reception given to the
Sixth Massachusetts in Baltimore last
Saturday If there ever was a town
anxious TO show a hospitable spirit and
make up for the past, it was Balti-
more: and on the other hand, the Mas
sachusetts boys showed by every means
in their power that they appreciated
this cordiality. There We're naturally
few men in the regiment who remem-
bered that April day in 81, when the
old Sixth first set foot in Baltimore
and received its baptism of fire; but
they all knew about it, and the mem
ory made the present occasion all the
more delightful.
The reception was no impromptu af-
fair. 1t had been planned for weeks
A special invitation had been extended
to the regiment to stop there on its
way South, and the red tape of the War
Department had been stretched a little
for the occasion. The houses of the
citizens were decorated. The people
were in the streets watching for the ar
rival of the soldiers. The mayor had a
basket of flowers ready to present to
the colonel of the regiment, and every
soldier got a souvenir box of luncheon
Maryland and Massachusetts,. Balti-
more and Boston. clasped hands. The
whole-souled and hospitable spirit of
the Maryland people was never shown
in a happier or more honorable way
than in this reception to a former foe.
1t would be wonderfully fortunate
thing for this country if such scenes
could be repeated all along the route,
as the historic regiments of the North
move toward the front. If the field
of battle We're transferred to the
North. there is no doubt that the vet
Grams of Lees command, or the tigers
Of Louisiana, or the guerrillas of the
border. would receive just as hearty
an ovation in Boston and New York.
There may be a little bit more enthus-
iasm for Dewey in Vermont. and for
Fitzhugh Lee in Virginia, but that is
natural. Both these heroes would get
all the cheering their most ardent ad-
mirers could wish In either place. The
The times., 1898-05-24

war with Spain will be cheap at a mil
lion dollars a day If. as it has thus
far done, it wipes out sectional jealousy
and promotes national union. Thirty
years ago nobody would have dared
prophecy that Maryland regiments
would ever march to the tune of yam
kee Doodle" or that Massachusetts
men would sing without protest the
burning words of Maryland, My Mary
land" But it looks as if that would
happen all through the war, when the
boys are in camp together. And then
North and South. and East and West,
will all join in one mighty chorus of
Home, Sweet Home" and THE Star
Spangled Banner"
The times., 1898-05-24

chief signal officer. the pay department,
the subsistence department, the quarter
masters department. the ordnance de-
partment, for Notifications, the medical
department. the engineer department, for
torpedoes, for harbor defenses and for
the naval establishment, in all aggre-
eating many millions of dollars.
Next in the order in which il became a
law was the act. approved May H. TO
provide for organizing a naval battalion
in the District OF Columbia.
The clamor to enlist from some of the
Southern States by men who had been
shut out by the limitation put upon each
State and the failure in the act provid-
ing for the volunteer call to include en-
gineers led TO a supplemental act au-
thorizing the enlistment of a volunteer
brigade of engineers and an additional
force of 10000 immunes, which was ap
proved by the President May II.
ferfectinG Arrangements.
The next four enactments were good IL
Illustrations Of breyity in legislation. On
April u the President approved the act
increasing the number of surgeons IN the
Army by fifteen. each with the rank Of
first lieutenant and. in the case OF an en-
ergency, authorizing the Secretary of War
to appoint contract surgeons as may be
necessary at a compensation of not to ex-
ceed $3.50 a month.
Another omission in the hurriedly
framed volunteer call was corrected by
the approval OF a bill, May IS. authorizing
the organization of volunteer signal
corps, provided that two-thirds Of all Of
ficers below the grade of major and a
like proportion OF the enlisted men shall
be skilled electricians or telegraph oper-
ators.
On the same day the President approv-
ed the act granting authority TO officers
exercising separate commands 70 cause
subsistence. medical and quartermasters
supplies 10 be issued. and other aid render
ed to inhabitants of the island of Cuba
who are destitute and in imminent danger
of perishing unless they receive such aid.
and also authorizing the general officers
commanding troops in Cuba 10 furnish
the Cuban people such arms, ammunition
equipments, and military stores and sup
plies as they may require in order 10 in
crease their effective lighting force
The last act approved by the President
is one providing for the increased volume
of work in the adjutant generals depart
ment of the Army and authorizing the
appointment of one assistant adjutant
general with the rank of R.Qnei and an
other with the rank of major.
The times., 1898-05-24

Our District troops have arrived at
Chickamauga National Park and gone in
to camp. Their chances for early service
are excellent. They number more we'll
drilled lads than most of the volunteer
regiments and probably have a larger per-
centage of National Guard veterans of
several years service. The New York
proportion is only thirty per cent. Penn
sylvania does little and Massachusetts,
much better
The times., 1898-05-24
Dayy JOnes's.

We can't expect to whack 'em
Every time that We attack 'em,
For luck is sure to back 'em
Now and then.
But we're bound to have them going
If we get but half showing,
In spite of all their knowing
Tricks-and when
Our feet, alone or double,
0vertakes them, there'll be trouble:
And they're likely, in the squabble.
To lose men.
When our guns begin to thunder
There'll be lots of Spanish wonder
And q general going under
There and then.
For the demon of destruction
Is managing this ruction
With an all-absorbing suction
From below.
And Davy Jones has got 'em
Bills Of lading for the bottom,
And our Yankee tars will shot 'em
There TO go.
The mongrel crews, dod rot ,em!
If our Sampson once can spot 'em
He'll send them to the bottom
OF the sea.
Where the whole blamed Spanish nation,
Without regard to station,
Or final preparation,
Ought to be.
G. II. DOING.
The times., 1898-05-24

Friends OF Gen. Miles are denying that
he is or ever has been opposed to an early
invasion of Cuba. but assert that he has
protested against any scheme to land
few thousand troops at time. and leave
them unsupported for weeks. TO resist the
attacks of such well armed force as
Blanco could concentrate against them.
The General-in-Chef is in favor of throw
ing in an army of 10000 or 50, 900 men at
once, and then proceeding to the business
of cleaning out the enemy without any
scrt of delay. Gen. Miles is right.
The times., 1898-05-24
FOOD RIOTS IN CHINA.
Starving Peasants Loot Cities in the
Yang Use kiang Valley

Tacoma, Wash, May 2s-Advices
brought here by steamer from China yes
terday say food riots occurred last month
in the upper Yang Use Kiang valley.
Starving peasants looted Msu Chou and
other cities of the Che Kiang province
They killed the governor of Msu Chou
who had failed to keep his promise to
employ them on relief works. These riots
have greatly enhanced the danger of
general outbreak in Central China against
the Pekin government and foreigners
Missionaries throughout the Yang Use
Kiang valley have been warned of their
danger.
The Chinese emperor in recent proc
lamation requested officials to stop steal
ing public funds and placing dummy
names on the army lists.
The times., 1898-05-24

The following valuable note, written by
Napoleon at the time of his leaving the
camp at Boulogne in September. 1885, ex
plains further the particulars of this
great project:
What was my design in creating the fotilla
of Bouiogne? | wished to assemble forty or
fifty ships OF the line in the harbor Of Marti-
nque. by operations combined in the harbors OF
Toulcn, Cadiz, Ferro and Brest; TO bring them
back suddenly TO Boulogne, to ind myself in
this way during fifteen days the master OF the
sea TO have l5U, 900 men encamped on the coast.
5000 or 1900 vessels in the hotillI, and to set
sail the moment the signal given OF the
arrival OF the combined feet, The project has
failed II Admiral Villeneuve, instead OF en-
tering the harbor OF FerOl had contented him
SELF with joining the Spanish squadron and IN
stantly made sail for BTest and Joined Admiral
Gantheaume, my army would have embarked.
and it was all with England. BY con
structing pFaams and guRbOats | appeared to
be opposing cannon with cannon, and the enemy
were in this manner deceived. They conceived
that | intended 10 attempt the passage by main
force, by of my hotilla-
BY a previous treaty with Spain the
latter was bound to add thirty ships of
the line to the thirty-eight OF France, and
in all 1f0,0O0 men were 10 invade England.
Napoleon had been preparing for years
for this great blow.
The times., 1898-05-24
a wouId-be Volunteer.

To the Editor of The Times:
VIII yon kindly tell me how much it costs
to get into the Army private2 OF course.
Id rather go corporal, even sergeant.
but ! am only twenty years old and have worked
but three years since | left school. and all
have saved is $3.50. and could not aspire 50
high that small sum- Nv father was a captain
in the army during President LincOln's Admin
istration but commissions were not bartered dur
ing those glorious days. and officers didn't wear
for epaulets. and merit was a consideration
when selecting officers for promotion.
BASIL CROMWELL
1t will cost yeu nothing, of course, to
enlist in the Regular Army If you are
passed by the surgeons, and upon the next
call for troops you may volunteer.
The times., 1898-05-24

With the Oregon at Key West, and like
ly to Join SIMPSONS squadron tomor-
row. our sea force in Cuban waters
would be adequate to a fight with the
whole Spanish navy. Unfortunately, it is
necessary to come up with an enemy be-
fore engaging him, and Cervera shows
most hearty disinclination to be found.
The times., 1898-05-24

1t Is pretty well understood that the
War Department is IN favor of an in
crease Of the volunteer force and it is
asserted that the President takes a SINH
lar view of the matter. we may as well
have enough soldiers while we are about
it. for any service that might become
necessary, and the sooner we have re-
spectacle modern Army, and arms for
them, the quicker we shall have the re-
spect of other military nations. A good
way to avoid foreign interference is to
be prepared to mee5 and oppose it.
The times., 1898-05-24
Which Way:

(From the Chicago Post.)
''Al the reports of the battle of Manila Bay
leave me doubtful upon one point"
.'What is that7'
81 cannot quite make out whether Span's feet
was composed of submarine boats or air ships .
''Why?"
'.Weil, some Of them, it is said, went up
and the others went down.
The times., 1898-05-24
richtinc VS.. strnterr

(From the New York Commercial Advertiser-}
II the new Spanish cabinet is warlikc. so much
the better. Vigorous prosecution OF the war by
Spain means fighting instead Of playing strategy
The sooner Spain fights the sooner the war will
be over. and the cheaper il viii be. II Ad-
mirai Ceryera will only be wariikc. tcO Blanco
may be out Of Cuba in another month.
The times., 1898-05-24
For Solution.

(From the Detroit Free Press.O
Problems for class in subtraction torpedo
boat is followed by a torpedo boat destroyer.
which, in turn, is overtakcn by destroyer of
torpedo boat destroyers. They engage. Give
mai::der."
The times., 1898-05-24
ADesnernte Remedy.
(From the New York Journal

(From the New York Journal.l
Handout Harry-Say Teddy. believe III have
ter wash me face.
Ticpass Teddy-Are yer crazy?
Handout Harry-Naw, but me complexion is
gittin' so dark dat people takes me fer a Span
lard an dey sets de doFg on me before | gifts
a chance ter ask fer a handout.
The times., 1898-05-24

There is a foolish story going the
rounds in England 10 the effect that
American recruiting officers are tempt
ing Irish soldiers in the British service
to desert and volunteer with us against
Spain. Our English friends should under
stand that we can get all the volunteers
we need without crossing the Canadian
frontier, much less the Atlantic If we
wished we could recruit whole divisions
of German veterans, and brigades of those
who have served their time in the Aus
TRAN or the Italian army. 1t will be at the
end of long and exhausting war with
some first class power when we have
10 go to Great Britain for soldiers.
The times., 1898-05-24
All Is Forgiven.
(From the Manchester Uni

1t is said that George Dewey, when youngs-
ter, stoned the neighbors' cats and smoked clay
pipe behind the barn. Those grave ofsenses will
be forgiven, however. in the present hour of his
great service to his country.
The times., 1898-05-24
CIRCULATION STATEMENT.

Re=cers Of The Times who may at any time
ts unable 10 procure copies Of it at any news
stand railroad station railroad trains. viii
confer favor upon the management by sending
20 ths Office information OF the fact.
The times., 1898-05-24

Communications intended for publication in
The Times should be tersely and plainly written,
and must in all cases be accompanied by the
name and address OF the writer. Rejected COM
nlunieations viii not be preserved, and only man
t. their authors
The times., 1898-05-24

Important as have been events during
the past two months and fast as they
have crowded upon each other, the legis-
lation of Congress shows very few en-
actments bearing upon the existing war
between the United States and Spain
Since the situation became acute early in
March, down to the present day. total
of but fourteen lars have been pass
and approved that have any bearing
whatever upon this war But under these
few measures the military and naval es-
adjustments of the country have been
vastly augmented, the sinews of war have
been supplied and victory has perched
upon our banners whenever and wherever
the enemy has been met. The United
States, responding as it has always re-
sponded, has thrown a large army into
the field and within the short period Of
two months has emerged from a peace
to war footing with Army and Navy
that will make a record for itself if it
ever be brought face to face with the
Spaniards.
The first of these bills was that ap-
proved March s. providing for two ad-
hitloHdl iS5ihlSHlo VI "
thoroughly man the seacoast fortihca-
tions; a bill passed at time when it was
hoped war could be avoided. but as a
precautionary measure the wisdom of
which has since been made manifest. The
bill was antagonized as every proposed
increase in the Army for years has been
antagonized. but under the press of the
war fever it became law and the men
authorized to be enlisted under IL were
a,IiSted nopa +oo- coop
The times., 1898-05-24

Napoleon carried out this scheme with
such consummate skill that but for
couple of curious mishaps it would have
succeeded. His real armada was to as
sembie at Martinique and was to return
suddenly to Europe while the British
squadrons were dispatched TO distant
points to succor their menaced colonial
possessions. The strategem thus ably con-
ceived was completely successful. Not
one person in the British dominions, eX-
cept the sagacious Admiral Collingwood.
penetrated the real design. The French
decoy fleets returned in safety from the
West Indies TO the European latitudes.
leaving Nelson three weeks sail in the
rear, and when the emperor was at Bou-
logne. in August. 1905. at the head OF
10000 men, fifty ships of the line were
assembled in the Bay of Biscay, when
the united British squadron did not
amount to much more than half that
force.
The times., 1898-05-24

Rubber Supplies for Soldiers i'm
camp Goodyear Rubber Co. s07 Pa Ave.
The times., 1898-05-24
Millions for Defense.

The very next day came that response
of Congress to the suggestion that hint
be given Spain as to the earnestness of
this country and the widespread character
Of its resources. Congress passed without a
word of debate under the guise OF de-
fciency appropriation a measure appro-
priating $50, 100000 for the national defense.
every dollar Of which was to be expended
under the sole discretion of the President
of the United States. Under that law
many auxiliary cruisers and several ships
of war were purchased and contracts
were entered into for the purchase and
delivery of large supplies of ammunition
and projectiles. This fund, large as it
seems. was but an incident in the prepara-
tons. and ii was exhausted weeks ago Ii
was approved by the President March g.
Under the authority of this carte
blanche the President and his advisers
proceeded in their preparation for what
seemed TO be the inevitable, and there
were no further war echoes in the legiS-
latiye halls until the bill was brought I'D
for the relief of the sufferers in the Maine
disaster, bill which caused some stir
ring speeches and which, as passed, re-
ceived the Executive approval March 90
Early in April there began to be earn
est and persistent war talk. BY this time
public men said that nothing short of act
ual hostilities would cure the sore that
was ranking in the bosom of the Ameri-
can people and that nothing less than
sound thrashing could avenge the loss
of the Maine, the published report of the
Court of Inquiry having in the meantime
shown TO the country that Spanish treach-
cry was the cause of that deplorable dis
aSIeT
The times., 1898-05-24

At the appointed time the French fleets
started on their decoy business across the
Atlantic and pretended to make a great
racket in the British West Indies when
they got there. They bombarded some
small places and plundered others and
got back safely to Rochefort without
meeting any British war ships. 1t fright
ened the English TO see such safe
blockade running. But the next ruse was
on a large scale. On March 30 Admiral
ViHeneuye started from Toulon. and com
blning with a Spanish fieet-making in all
eighteen ships of the line and ten frigates
pushed again across the Atlantic.
In April Admiral Gantheaume, with
Twenty-Five ships OF the line, tried to
leave Brest on the same errand. But
providence seemed now to begin TO spoil
the work of the new armada, for an eX
traordinary calm lasting all through
April and May kept him cooped there. So
Napoleon told him TO stay there till the
other feet recrossed the Atlantic.
The times., 1898-05-24
CONGRESS AND THE WAR
Brief Synopsis of Legislative
Action on the Situation.
FOURTEEN MEASURES PASSED

the Force to Man the Sea Coast
FortifcatiOns and Ending With
the Bill to Increase the Force In
the Adjutant Generals Omce-
Many Millions Voted for Defense.
The times., 1898-05-24
SPANISH STRATEGY.

The Spanish, in leading our warships
so tortuous chase in West Indian wa
ters. must have been close students of
Napoleon's wonderful tactics that SO
nearly gave him the victory over Eng
land just before the battle at Trafalgar.
These special operations of the great Cor
sican won lengthy If not eulogistic men
ton from Sir Archibald Alison in his
History of Europe and it is from the
Scottish authors first volume that the
facts here appended are condensed.
The times., 1898-05-24


Napoleons military genius was largely
displayed in the organization of his forces.
With their extension and the multiplica
ton of their wants his powers appeared
TO expand in an almost miraculous pro-
portion. and the active superintendent of
all, which secured the utmost limit of
human exertion when only $4,000. was not
sensibly diminished when 100000 were
assembled.
In 1906 Bonapartes mind was filled with
the idea of invading England. He arr
ranged at Boulogne a pretended flotilla
of invasion armed with cannon never in
tended for use) with such marvellous skill
that 25,000 soldiers could be put on it,
and were for practice-in ten minutes.
He merely intended this fiotilla to serve
as transports for 100000 men when the
right time had come, That would not be
until he had gathered a vast fleet in the
English Channel. while the English fleets
were decoyed to distant parts of the
world.
The times., 1898-05-24

Meanwhile Nelson was in the most cruel
state of anxiety. He was bearing up
from the Gulf of Palma for his old posi-
ton off Toulon, when, on April 4, he met
the brig Phoebe with the long wished-fOr
intelligence that Villeneuve had again
put to sea and when last seen was steer
ing for the coast of Africa. Upon this
Nelson set sail for Palermo under the i'm
preston that they had gone to Egypt but
feeling assured by the 11th, from the In
formation brought by his cruisers, that
they had not taken that direction, he in
stantly turned and beat up with the ut
most difficulty against strong westerly
winds to Gibraltar, devoured all the while
by the utmost anxiety lest, before he
could reach them, the enemy might men
ace Ireland and Jamaica. In spite of
every exertion he could not reach the
straits till April go At length on May 5
ne received certain information that the
combined fleet had made for the West
Indies.
The times., 1898-05-24

Nelson had only ten sail of the line and
three frigates; the crews were worn out
with fatigue and watching. and the ad-
miral was sick with care, but he set ey-
cry sail for the West Indies. He calcu-
lated to gain ten days by superior activity
and did so. The French reached Marti-
nique May Il; Nelson reached Barbados
June 4. The French had gone off without
capturing any English colony. Nelson
thought they must surely have gone to
Trinidad, South America to capture that
colony. So far was he misled by false in
telligence that he cleared his fleet for ac-
ton June Z. hoping to re-enact the battle
of the Nile at the mouth of the Orinoco
But no French were there. The British
commander had been purposely given a
wrong scent.
The times., 1898-05-24

Meanwhile Napoleon was in as great
worry as Nelson. On June he wrote
from Milan to the minister of the marine:
I'VE cannot discover what has become of
Nelson. 1t is possible that the English
have sent him to jamaica
The fact was that the French and
Spanish sQuadrons had left Martinique
May 2S by Napoeon'S orders, to pick up
the fleets at Ferrol, ,Roehefort and Brest,
making fifty ships, of the line, and then
steer for the British Channel and victory,
avoiding battle If possible. THE grand
object of the whole operation said Ma
poleon, ''is to procure US a superiority for
a few days before Boulogne.
It was only at Antigua, June 13, that
Nelson saw the trick and suspected an ul-
terror combination, and sent fast sailing
ships to warn England, and 1t was then
that Admiral Collingwood saved England
by predicting the plan of Napoleon almost
in the above words.
The speed of the brig Cureux sent by
Nelson, arriving at London July 9,
helped the deliverance. Sir Robert Cal
der was sent to combat the invading ar
mada 1t met it and there was prelim-
mary fight in fog with an advantage to
the English, and Villeneuve, instead of
obeying orders, turned in at Ferrol and
the plans of Napoleon were utterly frus-
trated.
Napoleon in rage, turned In his light
ming was to plan the campaign of Aus
teriitz ghen followed the battle of Ira
falgar on the sea, and the criss-crossne
of the Atlantic by the Napoleonic fleet
was forever at an end.