The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-05-07
BUILDING FORT
IFICATI0NS
Under the Guns of the
American Men of War.

delpha Press says: The scenes OF naval
activity and possible stirring events have
apparently shifted from Cuban waters fol
the time being until the army shall have
embarked from Gulf ports and operations
against Spain shall he waged afield a:
well as aaoat
left the flagship New York on Tues
day and for two days have been cruising
along the Northern coast Of Cuba from
Havana to Cardenas communicating with
the ships or the blockade. All Is a quiet
as II the feet were Oh Summer practice
duly
Spanish vessels have ceased almost on
tirely to risk sailing these waters where
United States battleships, cruisers and
search which has swept Spanish COM
merce into Key West with the effect oil
the Traditional new broom. Now and
then timld little gunboat sticks her no Q
out Of one of the Cuban harbors, and
hurries back affrighted at the sight OF an
American ship in the otfing as q ,nongrel
pup turns tail when mastih bares its
teeth.
Our gun crews smell powder only when
some other foreign merchantmen Is made
to heave to by shell which hurtles madly
over the seas ahead Of the newspaper
boats, which dodge around the blockade
lines by night and day and have already
cost the government considerable
amount Of ammunition. There Is more
genuine action and headlong enthusiasm
In the spectacle Of the captain of one Of
these journalistic rovers running up his
private signal whom be sees dozen blue
jackets rush to the 4.inch gun or hears a
buglo call to quarters than in any very re-
cent episodes Of this vicinity.
This morning the Three Friends, In
aRirtinp tho ool until,
range of the big guns or ths Santa Clara
batteries. No shots, however, were fired
on the chance of hitting few Americanos
for Of late the ammunition has not been 50
recklessly wasted by the Spaniards as in
the first nights OF blockade, when Moro
Castle was wont TO blaze away at the wide
wide world.
lPrhaps If the identity Of the Three
Friends could have been made out on
shore there might have been an enthu.
siastic attempt to settle both old scores and
the famous flibuster with twelve inch
projectiles.
The most notable discovery in this sur.
vey OF Havana was the great increase in
height and extent of the sand mounds
thrown up for protection Of city batteries.
Since l left Havana great amount OF
work has been done in strengthening
these derenses.
Icould make this out very plainly from
seward yesterday afternoon. The Three
Friends passed MatanzaI two miles off
shore, slowing down at the position of The
New York when the forts Of this place
were bombarded nine days ago.
learned that very lii tie work has been
attempted in the way of repairing the
damages Inflicted upon Punta. Gordu and
Castle Murillo. The twelve.inc guns of
the monitor Terror have maintained
wicked surveillance over Matanzas fortifi-
cations and the building industry is very
stagnant there at present.
They are only playing around little,
and we run i'll and look them over" said
an officer on one Of the blockading ships.
mo more mines have been planted.
Everything Is quiet; the coast between
Matanzas and Cardenas is low and mo-
notonous, and after the ever-chan ging pro
file of the mighty hills westward the scene
was in places quiet and cheerful.
We met and hailed tho gunboat Machias
yesterday. The first reply from the fiji.
Ger on the bridge was: Have you any
nows, and have you any potatoes to spare?
We have been out of them Two weeks, and
are desperately in need Of fresh informa-
tion and fresh grub"
TidiDgs Of Commodore Dewey's victory
at Manila and sack of potatoes were
hailed with two-fold and tumultuous re.
joicing.
CAN USE THE CANAL.
New York, May 6-The Heraltl's Wash.
ingtpn correspondent says: 1T Spain de-
sircs to send n fleet to the Philippines to
attack Commodore Dewey's forces she Is
az perfect liberty to send 1t through the
Suez canal"
This statement was made to-day by q
high official of the State Department.. ''Of
course he continued, 1.-THE serious uues.
ton OF coal supply would grently hurass
her, but Spain can probably find dealers
willing to take the risk Of violating neu.
tralily laws. '''n
u doubtif this government would direct
Commodore Dewey force to leave Manila
and proceed to the Mediterranean for the
purpose Of harassing Spanish commerce in
that sen and Of attacking Spanish ports.
But 1t would be possible for American
mel of war to reach tho Mediterranean
through tho Sucz canal if they were or.
lered TO do SO.
AS Il matter of fact, the Sucz canal Is
open to belligerents. The principle of the
canals GENERALIZATION was applied by the
convention OF October 49, 1883 which de.
:lhte that the canal Is to be open in time
,f wara' well rs in time of peace to all
SHIPS. whether merchant men or yes >els |
# war, whether boiligerent or neutral.
But no acts OF hostility arc to be com.
litted either in the canal itself or in the |
ga to IL distance of three miles from either
md Of it.
None of the members of the war board
,ellev,s for an instant that Spain will at.
enlpt to rrtake the Philippines not with
funding the Sucz canal is open to her |.
leets. Withdrawal of u sufficient force
rom tho Atlantic for this purpose woull
tut Spain itself at the mercy Of American
var4hips"