Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-05-19

Washington, May 1.-THE order
posted Sunday morning by Secretary
Long relative to the publication Of
news eminating from the navy de-
partment had the effect Monday Of
considerably curtailing the supply of
information that has heretofore been
rather freely given out. The secre-
tary's order directed that no person
connected with the navigation bureau
in any capacity should have any con-
versation Whatever upon subjects iii
any way pertaining to the navy with
representatives of the press. AS an
offset, it was ordered that bulletins of
such facts as have actually occurred
and proper for publication and not
connected with existing or projected
movements shall be prepared and
posted on the bulletin board. The
sum total Of the information published
by the bulletin board Monday under
this rule was a notice Of the inten-
ton to start the Philippine relief eX-
petition, and of permission given to
some foreign neutral vessels to pass
the blockade at Havana. In explana-
ton of this order, the naval authori-
ties say that some leading American
newspapers have teen so far lacking
in patriotism as to print plans OF the
campaign and projected movements OF
the naval ships with the result that
the war board has been obliged TO
completely revise its plans in the
knowledge that the Spaniards had
promptly taken notice of the publica-
tons and were prepared to profit by
item. Complaint has been made to
Secretary Long that the newspapers
we're working injury to the govern
ment in such cases.
The opening of the blockade at Ha-
vana to certain vessels is rather a
curious proceeding that may lead to q
very considerable widening of the
blockade itself, so that in the end
neutral vessels not loaded with contra
band or supplies may pass unmolested.
A statement that the navy department
still hopes to make an exchange of
prisoners at an early day shows that
the mission of the Uncas was by no
means a complete failure. The troops
going to Manila are to be prepared
for a six months stay, according to
the amount of rations furnished.
Preparations for their departure are
being pressed with the greatest energy.
The Charleston sailed Monday from
San Francisco.
limitations have been received here
that Captain General Blanco at Ha-
vana is very short of ammunition.
This may lead to some desperate at
tempts at blockade running on the
part Of the Spaniards in the hope Of
getting more ammunition into Havana.
1t is believed the supplies so frequent
ly referred to as being On the Spanish
flying squadron, were Of this character
rather than food supplies, which makes
it all the more important that Samp-
son and Sch ey sh-u-d succeed in
keeping Admiral Cervera from reach
ing any port in Cuba connected with
Havana by rail. Commodore Schley
probably is we'll down on the Florida
coast now and should be able to guard
the florida straits by today or to-
morrow. His appearance on that side
of Cuba sh-u enable Sampson to
bring his ironclads with perfect safe
ty into Cienfuegos on the south side,
and with this disposition Of our naval
force md the frIe use Of consider
able number Of vessels, it is hard to
see how the Stanish feet can escape
from the Gulf OF Mexico or Caribbean
sea.