The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-06-10

Ody al midnight
MAKING THINGS LIVELY FOR
SPANIARDS.
Key West. Fal., June s.-An auxil-
iary gunboat ghich arrived here this
morning from Cardenas reports all
quiet there, except that the auxiliary
gunboat Leyden is making things very
lively for the Spaniards by blazing
away at them whenever she sees
movement on the Spanish guaboats or
on the defensive works at Cardenas.
The British collier Roath, a sister ship
of the Restormel, was held UP on June
4th by an American gunboat- Not re-
spending promptly to a blank shot,
solid shot was sent across her. Next
day she was held up by a second gun
boat and obeyed Immediately. The
Roath was in ballast. bound for Mobile
from San Juan de Porto Rico, where
she had discharged a cargo of coal.
On June 4th the steamer Roath in
formed an auxiliary gunboat off Car
denas that an American warship had
captured two Spanish gunboats 200
miles east of Cardenas and was towing
them. Afterward the auxiliary gun
boat sighted al night an unidentified
American warship. The officer on the
bridge said he was alone, but other
persons on board thought they saw one
small boat in tow. There is great
skepticism here as to the reported cap
ture. Officers say the prizes would
have arrived, if sent here, before this.
The so-called Spanish gunboat, or
''cannOneras,' are old, slow tugs, carry
ing one or two guns. There are many
Of them along the Cuban coast, but
they generally stay close in shore.
SPANISH GOVERNMENT URGED
TO GIVE THE NEWS.
London, June 9-The Madrid CORE
spondent of The Standard says: It is
reported that during the engagement
al Santiago two shells struck the Viz
caya and one the destroyer Furor.
Admiral Cervera praises the splendid
behavior of the marine brigade that
served the guns of the castillo de la
SOcapa battery under a terrible fire
for several hours.
The papers are doing their utmost
to dispel the unfavorable impression
made by the news from Santiago, and
they recommend the authorities to give
more details and not to keep silent on
the facts, which afterward would leak
out through foreign or private adVlces.
Nevertheless, late last night and again
this morning the ministers and leading
officials were very reticent, although
they admitted having received fresh
dispatches from Havana and Santiago
which General COrrea and Captain
Aunon had communicated to Senor Sa
gasta before replies were cabled to
Blanco and Cevera.
Press dispatches say that the Reina
Mercedas suffered most from the shell
fire which mortally wounded her COM
mander, Captain AcOSta. The total
number of casualties on the ship was
thirty nine, tine captain, five seamen
and twenty-one marines killed, and a
lieutenant and eleven men wounded.
Most of the HontOria and krupp guns
had before the action been placed in
the Socapa battery.
Admiral Cervera's squadron, with
steam UP, was lying behind the first
line of defences in the channel leading
from the bay ready to Cooperate, but
the land defences sufficed to keep the
American fleet from attempting to force
the entrance.
The loyalist volunteers, according to
the press dispatches, took part in the
gallant defence of Morro fort, losing
two officers and several men. They
also assisted the troops ito oppose an
American landing attempted at two
places.
Madrid, June S.-The minister for
war, General Correa, received news
from the Philippine islands today and
communicated it to the premier, Senior
Sagasta, saying the governor general
of that colony, General August, asked
for full liberty of action. He added
that Aguinaldo, the insurge1t leader,
continues to excite a general insurrec-
tin in the archipelago.
A dispatch from the commander Of
the island of ViZayaS says that Of
fetal sent two gunboats to the island
of Luzon with instructions to try to
communicate with Manila; but, he
adds, they were compelled to return
unsuccessful. The government. it is
added, replied, instructing the COM
mander of the island of Vizayas to re-
store communication with Manila at
all costs.
General Correa declined to furnish
the text of the dispatches for publica-
ticn, on the ground that it would be
prejudicial to the cOuntry's interest,
but a member of the government.
whose name cannot be used, admitted
that the dispatch of Spanish troops to
the Philippine islands could not change
the situation. He added: we could
send 5000 troops; but, if the natives
are against US, such force would be
Inadequate. If they were with US, It
would not be necessary to send troops
to the Philippine islands"
i p. m.-The following communica-
ton from Captain General August,
dated Manila, June 3, has been pub
lished:
The situation is very grave. Agui-
naldo has succeeded in stirring up the
country, and the telegraph lines and
railways are being cut. l am without
communication with the provinces. The
province of Cavite las completely re-
telred and the towns and villages are
occupied by numerous bands.
"A Sapnish column defends the Ia
rote line to prevent the enemy from
invading the province OF Manila, huc
the foe has entered through Rulacan.
Lagina and Moron. so that Manila will
thus be attacked by land and sea.
Il am striving to raise the inhabi-
tants and will exhaust every means
of resistance, but / dis.Tlist the ma
tives and the volunteers because there
have already been many deserticns.
Bacoor and linus have already been
seized by the enemy. The ilsurrection
has reached great proportions and II
cannot count upon the support Of the
country, the forces at my disposal viii