The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-05-04
The War with Spain.
The Course of Events-The Wheat Sep
arated from the Chaff.

the navy, brought the big Spanish
steamship, Panama, into Key West, a
prize taken about eight o'clock Mon
day evening. She was caught about
twenty miles from Havana, bound for
that port from New York. Her cargo
consisted of supplies for the Spanish
army. The battleship Indiana was
about three miles away from the Man
grove, and hearing the shots of the lat
ter steamed to her assistance. The
capture of Spanish vessels sailing for
Cuban ports, or in Cuban waters, con-
tinues from day to day, and has ceased
to be interesting except when the cap
ture is an especially important one.
On Wednesday the interesting news
was that the Pennland, Belgian
steamer, met the Spanish cruiser Carlos
V, 500 miles from Queenstown, going
west, and the presumption was that the
SpaDiard was in pursuit of the Paris.
OF this report the American resident
manager of the line to which the Paris
belongs says he "doesn't care darn
what the captain of the Pennland saw
on Sunday. At that time the Paris
was 1000 miles from Queenstown, and
the Pennland was 500 miles from that
port. So the Spanish cruiser is at least
500 miles behind the Paris" The Lon
don correspondent of the New York
Sun had confidential information as to
the secret instructions given Captain
Watkins of the Paris which enables the
correspondent to say that the American
liner will reach her destination safely,
in due time, and that no anxiety need
be felt if the ship does not arrive on
schedule time.
The fast cruisers Columbia and Min
neapolis were detached from the flying
squadron in Hampton Roads and sent
north, and are believed to be on the
lookout for the Paris. Scouting YES
sells are far out at sea watching for the
approach of Spanish warships.
Plans for landing a force in Cuba,
and for occupying and fortifying some
port, have been considered by the gov
eminent. The plans contemplate CO.
operation with the insurgents and pro-
viding them with arms and ammuni-
ton. Orders have been issued for
transportation for 5000 troops and for
$4,000 rifles, with ammunition, for the
Cubans.
1t is reported from Madrid that the
Spanish ship Montserrat, laden with
troops and a quantity of silver coin,
had eluded the blockading feet on the
north coast of Cuba, and had been able
to make Cienfuegos on the south coast.
But this report is not credited at Wash
ington. The facts relating TO the
Montserrat are not definitely known at
this date.
AT this time-Wednesday, April 81
some 100000 men have volunteered, OF
five times the number the President
called for.
Admiral Sampson bombards the bat
teries defending Matanzas harbor
Their guns had been popping away al
the blockading ships without hitting
any of them. The feet is under orders
from Washington to incur no risk Of
being disabled by unnecessarily engag
ing the Spanish shore deienses. The
purpose is to preserve the strength Of
the ships intact for the encounter with
the Spanish fleet. For the purpose
however, of teaching the shore bat
teries wholesome lesson, and of cas-
ing the tension of the bluejackets in
their impotence for set-to with the
Spaniards, Admiral Sampson was giyer
discretionary powers to punish the en-
envy when he should become too an
noying. Accordingly on Wednesday
the New York, Puritan and Cincinnati
tried their guns on the defenses of Ma
tanzas. Their aim was deadly and thu
batteries were quickly demolished, will
what loss of life to the Spaniards il
not known. None of the bombardine
ships were struck. 1t is surmised tina
a further purpose of the bombardmen
was to reduce the defenses In Ordel
that Matanzas may be made the land
ing place of the military forces to b.
sent to Cuba.
Something out of the usual course il
the way of captures was the taking o
the Spanish steamer Guido by the mon
itor Terror. The steamer wouldn't stoI
when ordered, 30 the Terror fired fou
shots from her six-ponnders. She wa
two miles away, it was night and the SCI
was rough, but every shot hit the mark
The pilot house was carried away b,
the first shot and the quartermaste
wounded. The second carried away
life boat, the third hit the pedestal OIL
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