Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1898-06-23
NOTES ON THE WAR SITUATION

Secretary Alger says an ample sup
ply of good water has been secured at
Camp Alger by new wells.
Santiago is on the verge of starva-
ton. All the food has been seized for
the army and navy and the troops and
sailors are on half rations
During the recent bombardment of
Santiagos forts one of the l3-inch guns
on the battleship Massachusetts was
disabled by shell from the forts.
1t is reported from Cuban sources
that 1000 Spanish volunteers have de-
serted in the province of Puero Prin-
cipe and have joined the Cuban army.
Mai. Gen. Brooke, in command at
Chickamauga. has received orders from
the war department that IS of the best
equipped regiments be designated for
movement to Porto Rico
Senior Du Bose, the former Spanish
charge d'affaires at Washington, and
Lieut.. Carranza, the former Spanish
naval attache at Washington, have
been invited to leave Canada.
Certain Washington correspondents
continue to assert, on alleged high
authority, that President Mckinley in
tends soon To dispatch feet across
the Atlantic to attack coast cities of
Spain.
Mrs J. Addison Porter, wife of Pres
idcnt McKinley's private secretary, has
joined the Red Cross society and gone
to Key West as the assistant and adj
wiser of Miss Clara Barton, the presi-
dent of the society
a dispatch from Cadiz, via Gibraltar,
says: There is great excitement here
OWING to fears of the American fleet
coming to Spain. II has been decided
to send further achievements TO the
Balearic islands, the Canaries and
Ceuta.
Several Spaniards, among them a
lieutenant, have walked into Camp Me-
Gala ON Guantanamo bay and surren'
dered in order to get something TO eat
They say the Spanish soldiers about
there are half-staryed and would gladly
surrender if they thought their lives
would be spared.
After the defeat of the Spanish al
their base of operations near Camp Nc
Gala by the marines and Cubans, the
Oregon. Marblehead and Suwanee care
fully picked their way through the
channel several miles above Camp Ne
Gala and fired upon large Spanish
force at Iicacal point. ACuban scout
ing party soon after found As deat
I Span ards.
According to estimates made by
Adit. teen. Corhin the total number o
troops let at Tampa is about $4,000
At Jacksonville il is estimated tina
there are about $3.50 men. This would
make the entire strength of the force
most eligibly located FOR embarlSatiol
To Porto Rico 3I.010 men. Out of thi
II would be possible to organize by tn,
time the other preparations for the ex
pcdition are completed an army OF %,
600 men thoroughly equipped.
It is said TO be the plan of The Wash
inrton admin ,tration regarding Port,
Rico TO take complete control of tn
island and place it under American soy
ereipntv. A military form of govern
mont will BE- inauguratcd in all Of tn,
towns. This courseis expected to prov,
beneficial and make friends OF tn
most Influential residents OF the island
with a Just and reasonable system o
taxation and the enforcement of stric
Justice. the adherence of the resident
OF the island TO this government is con
fdcntly expected Maj Gen. COP
pinper will be the military governor.
A London cable says that the entir
German East Asia squadron seems t
be concentrating at Manila Their
are now there the Kaiser, Kaiserin
Augusta. Irene. Cormoran, with tota
OF COS men. II is said also that tn
steamer Petrarch is TO leave FOR Shang
hal for Manila with secret orders
Prince Henry of Prussia, who is wit
the SQUADRON at Haiu Chou, is KEEP
constantly informed about the proyes
OF the war. Conferences between TN
German eonsul and Capt.-Gen. Al
gust leads to the BELIEF that Ger
many has designs on the Salu arch
pelago.