Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-04-30

blockade SQUADRON: "Key West.-NeW
Work. Puritan and Cincinnati shelled
Punta Gorda, at Matsnzas, yesterday,
to preyent the construction of new bat
teries which they were commencing.
The Puritan has been ordered to pre-
vent any resumption of this work"
The State Department to-day gave
ont a list of all governments that have
declared neutrality viz : Italy, Neither
lands, Sweden and Norway, Switzer-
land. Colombia, Mexico, Russia, France,
Korea, Argentine Republic, Portugal.
Japan and Uruguay. 1t will be noticed
that the Department list does not In
clude Great Britain, although she was
the first to proclaim neutrality, for the
reason that no official notice has been
given.
The Senate committee on claims to.
day decided to recommend the passage
of the omnibus claims bill reported
early in the session as substitute Tor
the bill providing for the payment only
of claims allowed by the Court of Claims
on account OF supplies taken by the
Union army during the civil war, which
passed the House few weeks ago.
The committee decided to make an ei-
fort to secure early action upon Its Dill.
Instructions governing recruiting Tor
the regular army in time of war nave
been Issued by Adjutant General CoI.
bin. Applicants for enlistment must
be between eighteen and thlrty'h'e
wears of age, of good habits and charac,;
ter. able-bodied, free from disease and
able to speak the Eoglish language.
Married men will be enlisted only upon
approval of the regimeutal command
ers. Minors must not be enlisted with
out the written consent OF fathers, only
surviving parent or legally appointed
guardian. Boys between sixteen and
eighteen may be enlisted as musicians.
Mr.. Russell Harrison, son OF ex.
President Harrison, MAS made personal
application to Secretary Alger Tor az
pointment in one OF the staff depart
ments of the armv and it is probable
that his wishes will be complied with,
Some people mere are greatly sur
prised that Consul General Lee was not
made major general along with the
four Northern army officers appointed
yesterday. 1t is said at the Capitol to-
dav that he was not sent for by the
President or the Secretary of War, but
by the Secretary of State, and that if q
Cuban seaport be- captured, Gen. Lee
will be sent there to attend to the gov,
ernment's commercial affairs, or, that il
appointed brigadier general, be will
be put in command of q brigade in this
country. Some of the Virginians re.
sent the treatment he has received and
say he will not accept brigadiership
U Senator Martin and Congressman
Hay, of Virginia, are daily, actively en-
gagged in trying to have Adjutant Gen
eral Male, OF Culpeper county, in their
State, appointed Brigadier General Of
the Virginia soldiers for the Spanish
war. Gen, Male has been telegraphed
for by them and is expected here to-
morrow.
Mr.. Thorp, republican from Vir'
ginia, voted yesterday in favor OF 81
income ia x4nd also against the bond
bill.
The Brown-Swauson contested cleo
ton cass from Virginia will not come
upiu the House before the 18th proxlmo
At the meeting OF the Virginia demo
cratic association of this city last night
addresses were delivered by Congress
men Rhea of Kentucky and Rixey Of
Virginia, and by Gen. Hunton, and Mr.
John Goode Of Virginia, and Mr.. Wal
ton Moore, OF Fairfax county, in that
State. 1t is said that the latter made
he speech of the evening.
There are no less than five different
mineral waters in Mecklenburg county,
Virginia. now on the market. The tax
bill that passed the House yesterday
will sadly reduce the profit on the sale
thereof.
As there was no meeting of the .. s.
Senate to-day, the White House was
full OF Senators, democrats as we'll al
republicans, who were there to recon-
mend their friends for commissions in
the army; but while the President
listened TO what they had to say, to
none of them did he make any definite
promiae.
The announcement Of the arrival OF
the steamer Paris, that was reported to
have been captured by the Gpaniards,
gave the President and the entire Cab
met great delight.
The officers of the Alexandria cleo
trio railroad here say new schedule
will go into operation on their road to.
morrow, but that it will not be printed
until Monday.
In the House to-day Mr.. Boutelle
said that though he had less to do with
bringing on the war than any other
member of that body, he was in favor
of voting all the money that was re-
quired for it, and that though the ap-
preparation in the naval bill was large,
he expected to ask for great deal
more before the war ended.
A young gentleman, escorting two
young ladies, all from Virginia, visit
ing the Capitol this morning, was COM
PEELED to leave the small satchel con.
tanning the toilet articles of the ladies
he was carrying, outside that building,
under the new orders in operation
there, Issued to prevent the admission
Of Internal machines.