The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-25
Yesterdays Developments.


denied by the Navy Department..
AT the close of Office hours Secre-
tary Long said he believed the
Spanish feet was still In Santiago
de Cuba harbor. He had no infor-
nation to warrant the report of an
engagement in the Windward
passage, and he did not believe the
auxiliary gunboat Mangrove had
been captured, as reported. The
report from Spain that two tor
pedo-bont destroyers are to join
Admiral Cervera's feet as soon as
IT reaches Cadix is regarded as an
attempt to make Americans believe
the "armada" is on Its way home.
system of coast signal stations
from Bar Harbor, Me-, to Calves
ton, Tex, has been perfected by the
Navy Department.. Observation
towers have been erected, which
are manned by State naval miIf-
tia. The Iife-saving corps and
the lighthouse keepers cooperate.
The system is SO perfect that
no hostile feet can approach the
Atlantic or gulf coasts without the
fact being made known at WASH
ingtOH immediately.
Criticism of the strategy board
has resulted i'm n statement by the
Navy Department that the boards
principal duties are advisory; that
Is, to collect information concern
ing the movements of the enemy
for the benefit of manders of
our fleets. The strategy board
does not automatically give orders
of any kind. Dewey, Sampson and
Schley have been untrammeIed in
carrying out their plans of cam
paign.
The POstOffice Department Is en-
deavOring to expedite the delivery
of mail to soldiers at the various
camps, and has made suggestions
as to the proper method of ad-
dressing letters and packages.
Mail arrangements for the Philip
pines have also been perfected.
Soldiers, sailors and marines may
send letters anywhere without
prepayment of postage, the pos
tage to be collected on delivery.
A cabIegram from Admiral Dew
ey, dated Manila. May 20, but filed
at HOng-KOng May "a, informed
Secretary Long that provisions
were scarce at Manila, that for
eigners were mehaced by Spanish
soldiers, and that they would be
removed to Cavite. UncOnfirmed
special dispatches stated that the
German consul threatened to land
provisions under the protection of
cruisers, that Admiral Dewey re-
piled he would fire at the German
war ships, and that the cOnsurs
threat was not kept. Admiral
MOntejo, it Is said, will he court
martialed for cowardice and the
commander of the GunbOat CaIIaO
shot for not returning the fire of
the Americans. Two more trans
ports have been loaded with troops
at San Francisco for Manila. The
soldiers were given an enthusias-
tic farewell. Other transports will
- he. secured at the earliest possible
moment, and 1T is expected to have
about 10000 soldiers ON the way to
two.
The President has sent another
list of army nominations aud pro-
motions to the Senate, and that
body, in executive session, has
confirmed a batch of appointments
sent in last week.
Dispat tches from Madrid say n
"mystcriOus silence reigns in off,
ciaI circles" and that the govern
ment discIOses nothing from the
seat of war. Advices from Havana,
however, report nineteen Amer
lean war ships of that city. Sa-
gasta has completed his Cabinet,
the Duke AImedOvar de Rio having
accepted the foreign portfolio.
Senior Puigcerver, minister of
finance, who may resign, in IL
statement to the deputies, said
Spain's finances were In a satisfac-
tory condition, but he affirmed the
necessity of increasing all taxa
tiOn 20 per cent. to carry on the
war. Special dispatches say the
peninsula is verging ON revoIu-
tion, and that the gravest crisis i'm
the history of the country is ap-
preaching.
An attempt was made by the aux
Hilary cruiser ST. Louis to cut off
communication between Captain
General Blanco and Madrid, but
the wrong cable was severed. The
cable connecting Porto Rico with
the outside world has been cut.
The general health of the Indi-
ana soldiers at Chickamauga Park
continues good. There has been
another outbreak of measles, but
no dangerous cases. Private
Steinhauer is improving. Most of
the officers of Colonel Smiths reg
iment have abolished vvhisl<ers
and mustaches. The troops i'm
camp, numbering about $4,000.
have settled down to the daily
routine of soldier life.
Three alleged Spanish spies have
been arrested at Camp Alger. The
ed-and-fifty-ninth Indi-
ana Regiment has not vet been as
sAsA~N ~ A~ "AS""~, D~e "aA re-
port direct to corps Headquarters.
The War Department reports that
10000 volunteers have been mus
tered in. 1t is probable another
call will be issued, but no action
has yet been taken.
-
wide, and it would be necessary first I
destroy the forts, but this. it is believed
would not be difficult task.