The news & observer., 1898-06-24


Castle is taken by the combined attack
OF the soldiers and fleet, those Cbstruc-
tions can be easily removed with the
experience gained in Guantanamo bay.
The only positive news coming go the
War Department up to the close of Of
flee hours was Il dispatch to General
Miles from one of his staff officers with
General Shafter. and also a brief dis
patch to General Greeley from LieuteI-
ant Colonel Allen. General Miles Ills
patch stated in substance that the land
ing of troops had been completed with
ont any casualty, save to one Cuban
who had his arm injured by the bursting
of Il shell. The troops of Garcia ana
Rabbi, about 500 in number, had met the
American forces with enthusiastic
greetings. Stress was laid upon the
point that the Cubans were well armed
and well disciplined. General Garcia
was confident that his forces would he
SWellcd to 10000 men as soon as SANTA
20 fell. About the only need among
the CubanS was shoes and qHinine.
The dispatch to General Greeley. merely
stated that progress was being mace ia
connecting the military forces directly
with the War Department.
During the day orders were issued to
the entire division, comprising the newly
created command of Brigadier General
Guy V Henry for their speedy depar-
ture to reinforce General Shafter mt
Santiago. Already the Thirty-third
Michigan and one battalion of the
Thirty-fourth Michigan have started on
this mission. TO-day's orders cover the
balance Of General Henry's command
1t includes the remaining battaiOns Of
| the Thirty-fourth Michigan and the
| Ninth Massachusetts regiment. These
will complete General Duffield's COM
mand. The Third Virginia, which be-
| longs to this brigade, will not go, as its
equipment is incomplete. The orders
also cover the entire brigade of Briga-
dier General Garretson. which includes
| the Sixth Illinois. Sixth Massachusetts,
and the Eighth and Ninth Ohio regi-
ments. The plan is to move all of Cen
| era Henry's division on the Harvard
| and Yale, these ships To make two round
trips. The first trip will carry most, if
not all OF General Duifield's brigade.
The War Department allowed three
days for the trip. two days n unload
the troops and three days To return To
Newport News, making eight days. BY
that time General Garretsons brigade
board the ships, and then will come the
second trip taking three days, with two
days allowed for Garretson's troops u
unload in Cuba.
Reports were current in the War De-
partment again today that General
Miles. commanding the army. would
leave the city within the next two days.
1t was asserted also that he had asked
to get into the actual fighting by going
to Cuba and there assuming command
of the troops. This was contradictory
20 the reports circulated few DAYS
ago that General Miles would take COM
mand of the Porto Rico expedition.
When General Miles attention was
drawn to the several conflicting reports
tonight he good-naturedly declined 10
q scuss them. The details Of the acci-
dent on the Yankee on Decoration Day
have just reached the Navy Department..
While the ship was at sen n trial was
made of the guns. One. a SiX pOundcr
using English SmOkeleSS powder hung
fire after the trigger was pulled. The
gunner without waiting threw npen the
breech just as the charge exploded. Tho
rear blast killed Corporal ]. ! Murray
and severely injured Private Jesse Full
ler both of the United States Marine
corps. The powder is believed to be de-
fective as other hang fires have been had
with 1t. and if used at all i'm the future
1t will be with great caution. None of
the naval militiamen. who i'm large part.
n the Yankee, were hurt.
THE HOBSoN PUZZLE.
The British consul at Havana. Mr..
Gotlan. who has SO well protected such
American interests in Havana, as were
necessarily left in his care, has unit
Havana for home on leave. He has
been long time in Havana continu-
ously and has been under much strain
lately. During his absence, Mr.. Je-
rome, Nice-COnsul. will assume charge
OF the consulate along with the care Of
American interests. Representative
Pearson, uncle of Naval Constructor
H0bs0n, had another interview to-day
with Secretary Long respecting the re-
ward of that hero. The Secretary is
puzzled by the conflicting interests i'm
this case. He intends to reward Hobson
in accordance with his merits, but he
would do this without injustice to other
officers. A study of the naval
register shows that if HObson is ad-
vanced to the grade of lieutenant com
mander he will have been given greater
reward than was ever known in our
naval history. Gushing got 56 numbers
and gained one year and nine months
time in his record yet HObson, it is cal
culated, will be given, il made a naval
344 numbers. and will gain
twenty years in time. He will become
senior officer of the navy in the course
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