The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-04-30

Washington, -. c., April 29.-This
was day of alarming rumors, running
all the way from the blowing up of
big monitor to the detection and punish
ment Of traitors, but fortunately all of
them turned out on inquiry to be with
portance were few. The news of the
day of most interest was the departure
from Cape Verde of the Spanish feet
the stay of which, at st. Vincent, has
been a source Of anxiety on the part of
officials here. because it seemed to indi-
cate the sympathy of Portugal for Spain,
might lead her to wink ut a violation of
neutrality laws in favor of Spain. Late
in the afternoon n cablegram came TO
the State Department from Cape Verde.
bearing no signature, announcing that
four battleships and three torpedo boats
had started north, and some of the trans
ports for Cuba, and that the northern
feet returned shortly, having been in
collision. Because there was no sigma
trre attached the officials did not know
what Importance to attach to this mes
sage.
ldDidiH fSuHipSOU sent ttIGSldli
latiye to the firing at the Matanzas forts,
but it was disappointing, lacking in de-
tail. The few words contained in the
dispatch went to confirm the official view
that the affair was nothing more than
a naval reconnaissance.
No news came to-day from Admiral
Dewey's squadron now on its way to the
Philippines to do battle with the Spanish
fleet. One officer pointed out that if
Admiral Dewey succeeded in defeating
The Spanish feet the Spanish officials,
who control the cable connecting the is
land with the rest of the world. in all
probability may suppress the news or dis
tort the facts into Spanish victory.
presuming that the Admiral is bound
directly for Manila, the calculation made
at the Navy Department. shows that he
will arrive about 2 o'clock Saturday
morning, Manila time, which is about
twelve hours earlier than our own.
The pressure continues unabated on
the War Department, for changes in the
plans already announced as to mobiliza-
tion of the volunteer troops, and very
much against its will and Judgment the
department. is making some concessions
in this matter.
A large number of callers are bring
ing forward candidates for the many
plnms within the gift of the President
and Secretary Alger in the shape Of APP
pointments TO grades above regimental
in the army. General Lee and General
Dodge spent good part of the day in
conference with officials, giving color to
the reports that they are among those
selected for appointment as major gen
erals. The announcement that the
State of Texas. laden with supplies for
the reconcentrados. is destined for Sagua
has led to the surmise that it is proba-
bly, this port, instead Of Matanzas, which
has been selected for the landing place
and the first attack Of the United States
troops Regarding the harmless growls
that appear in the European papers, and
threats to interfere to prevent the United
States forces from bIockading the Philip
pines, ii may be stated that this was
fully expected. During the civil war
there were great many attempts on the
part of European nations TO disregard
our blockade and threats of Interfcr-
ence, all of which came to naught, from
the firm attitude assumed by the Secrc-
tary of State. In the present ease the
conditions of the Cuban blockade are
much more liberal toward the Euro
pean powers than ever imposed before.