The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-05-18

Copyright by the Associated Press.
Havana, May 71.-Inquir les made at
the Palace here show that Captain Gener-
al Blanco was unwilling to receive Lieut..
Brainerd, U. S. N, the special agent OF
the government of the United States in
the matter of the proposal to exchange
Spanish prisoners for the two newspaper
men, Messrs. Thrall and Jones, because
the Captain General considered the
Lieutenant was not empowered with
sufficient authority.
Therefore he simply accepted the docu-
ments presented by the Lieutenant and
consulted with the Spanish government
on the subject, The answer from Madrid
has not yet been received.
On Sunday morning the day the repre-
sentetives Of the Unitod States govern
nlent arrived of this harbor on a small
steamer bearing a flag of truce there we're
five American vessels in sight of Havana,
and four of them were in sight the Sd me
afternoon. In addition, vessel. supposed
to be a Norwegian frigate was in The Off
ing Yesterday morning there were five
American vessels insight of this harbor.
The French cruiser Dubourdieu left
Havana yesterday afternoon for Hayti,
having on board number of French
refugees.
News just received here from Porto
Rico confirms the report that Mr.. Free
man Halstead, the American newspaper
correspondent, has been sentenced by a
military court at San Juan do Porto Rico
to nine years Imprisonment, after having
been convicted of taking pictures of the
forts with the use of camera.
All sort of war rumors are in circula-
tion here from Spanish sources. Among
them it is said that a number of Ameri-
cans in boat recently tried to remove
some torpedoes at the entrance Of Cardenas
bay, whereupon one of the torpedoes ex-
ploded and the boat with its crew, is
alleged to have been blown up. The re-
port, however is not officially confirmed.
The Spaniards say an American force
attempted to ke landing on May 13
at Tabla Aqua beach and that after two
hours firing the Americans retired.
Three Amer lean warships were reported
off Mariel on Sunday; three were sighted
off Cardenas and there were some Ameri-
can ships off Cienfuegos.
1t is announced at the palace that a
| Spanish force, on Saturday last was en-
gagged at Chimborazo, province of Ha-
vana, with combined force of insurgents
under the leadership of Maya. Acea,
Cola 20 and Jacinte Hernande. The whole
insurgent force is said to have numbered
eight hundred men. and 1t is alleged that
the enemy lost eleven killed. The Spanish
loss is officially represented as being two
lieutenants and three soldiers wounded.
The French third class cruiser DIES
taing is expected here shortly.
The Norwegian steamer Bratsberg ar
rived on Sunday at Sagua Ia Grande and
will leave there on May 18 with passen-
gers for New York.
Captain General Blanco yesterday ded-
nitely appointed the secretaries Of the
colonial council who have been reelected.
They are:
Senior Calves, president of the council.
Senior Montero, secretary OF finance.
Senior GOWN, secretary of justice.
Senior Dolz, secretary of public works
and communi cations.
| Senor Rodriguez, secretary Of com.
merce.
Senior Zayas, secretary of public intruc-
tion.
There are seven American warships in
sight of Havana this afternoon, and
rumor has it that the Spanish fleet il