Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1898-05-12
WAR NEWS OF THE WEEK.
Congress Passes Bill Which Makes
nexyev n Rear Admiral.

Congress Passes Bill Which Makes
Dewey n Rear Admiral.
Washington, May 12.-On the north
ern coast Of Cuba. Thursday Of last week,
there was a slight slxirmish between
a spanish cavalry company and a party
of insurgents who had been landed with
munitions of war by the tug Leyden.
The gunboat Wilmington finally steam
ed UP, opened fire and put the Span
iards to fight. 1t was announced that
the Spaniards are busy throwing UP
Notifications along the Cuban coast.
Formal notice came to Washington of
Brazil's declaration of neutrality. At
New York a large quantity of ammuni-
ton and war material is ready for
shipment to Cuban insurgents. AS
sistant Secretary of the Navy Roose-
welt will leave Washington for war duty
as lieutenant colonel of cavalry
regiment. In Vienna it is believed that
Queen Regent Christina may soon leave
Spain, and ex-Queen Isabella is in
mourning at Paris for the Spanish sail
ors killed at Manila.
The same day the French mail steamer
Lafayette was captured by the gunboat
Annapolis while endeavoring to run
the Havana blockade, and for time
serious international complications
were feared. On Friday however, the
government promptly ordered her
release, the vessel having secured al
permit to pass the blockade, the order
for which had not been delivered to the
officers of the fleet. Madrid dispatches
show that the Spanish government is
having a hard time in devising plans
for securing war funds and talk of a
cabinet upheaval is growing. Mean
time the disorders in the provinces con-
tinue.
The president on Thursday sent a.
long list of army nominations to the
senate, among them the following to be
major generals: Brigadier General Jo-
seph c.. Breckenridge inspector general,
U.S.A.; Brigadier General Elwell S.Otis,
Brigadier General John w. Coppinger,
Brigadier General w. r. Shafter, Brig
adler General William M. Graham,
Brigadier General James It. Wade,
Brigadier General Henry c. Merriam,
James H. Wilson of Delaware. Fitz-
hugh Lee of Virginia, William j. Sc
well of New Jersey and Joseph Wheeler
of Alabama Eighteen colonies and
seven lieutenant colonies were named
for brigadier generals. The nominal
lions were confirmed
Friday and Saturday passed without
particularly exciting news, but on Sun
day word came of an encounter had on
Saturday by which two of our vessels
narrowly escaped destruction. In order
to lure our ships under fire the Span
iards sent out a schooner which was
apparently trying to run the Havana
blockade. The Vicksburg and the cut
ter Morrill, started after her, and the
schooner started for the shore before
the wind. Before our vessels officers
realized their position they were with
in reach of the guns of the Santa Clara
water battery. Many shots were fred,
but the Spaniards' poor craftsmanship
did little damage, and our vessels es-
capped from what would have been GER
tain destruction had competent men
manned the Spanish guns.
Minister Woodford and party return
ed from Europe on Sunday. The min
lister refused to be interviewed, but
others of the party told of the bitter
hostility to Americans in Paris, where
every indignity short of actual violence
is thrust upon our citizens. George
Downing, a naturalized Englishman
and formerly chief yeoman on the
cruiser Brooklyn, was arrested in
Washington charged with being a
Spanish spy. He was caught in the
act of mailing letter to Senior Ber-
nabe, in Montreal, containing informa-
ton about the Holland submarine boat
and promising further information.
Death may be the penalty.
On Monday the senate and house
passed resolutions warmly thanking
Commodore Dewey and his officers and
men for the victory of Manila, unani
mously passed a bill which elevates
the victorious Dewey to the rank of
rear admiral, and appropriated $4,000
to be used in the purchase of sword
of honor for Admiral Dewey and a
bronze medal for each of his officers
and sailors Preparations were being
pushed for the sending of 10000 volun-
teers to Cuba, in addition to the regular
forces. The steamer Gussie, in charge
of CAPTAIN w. H Dorst, General Miles
aide, left Tampa with cargo of arms
and ammunition for the Cuban in
surgents. Charles N. Allen, of Lowell,
Mass, was named to succeed Theodore
Roosevelt as assistant secretary of the
navy, while Roosevelt goes to the front
as lieutenant colonel of a cowboy cav
airy regiment. In list of army nomi-
nations sent to the senate men well
known in civil life were named for staff
positions. They include John Jacob
Astor, the New York millionaire; Fred
M. Alger, son of the war secretary;
James G. Blaine. only surviving son of
the great statesman; w. 3. Allison, q
nephew of the senator; A. G. Gray, son
of the Delaware senator, and Curtis
Gould, editor of the Boston Commercial.
On Tuesday orders were sent to Gem
eral Brooke, the commander at Chick
amauga National Park, to send all the
regular troops to Tampa, New Orleans
and Mobile, and to prepare the camp
for the reception of 10000 to $4,000 vol
unteers. The movement of troops was
at once begun. Diplomats in Washing
ton talk of urging upon Spain the fu-
tility of further efforts against the
United States forces,