The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1898-07-21
WAR NEWS IN CUBA.
When the Press Censor Gets Through
with 1t There Is Not
Much Left.

There is not little rare and curious
reading to be found in the occasional
copies of the Havana newspapers that
now and then dribble through the
blockade. Copies of La Lucha. recently
received but already many days old, are
particularly rich in oddities of Havana
journalism.
One is Immediately struck by the
marvellous meagerness of the news re-
lating to the war, but for this the CEN
sor is doubtless largely responsible.
The only reference to the blockade in
one number is a three line official" no.
tice that only two American ships are
in sight off the port of Havana.
To make up for this, however, a lead
ing article headed Piracy of the Worst
Kind" is devoted to the particulars of
the capture of the steamer Argonauta,
with Spanish officers and soldiers on
board, who, by the way, are simply de-
scribed as passengers
After roundiy denouncing the Amer
lean officers and sailors as no better
than pirates in their treatment of the
passengers and crews of all captured
vessels, of whom they are said to have
spared neither men nor women, the ar
ticle continues: Let us tell what hap
pened to the passengers on the Ar
gonauta. On Selling the ship the enemy
sWarmed over the side. ponards in
hand, like fierce buccaneers, and before
taking charge of their prize. or even
approaching the captain, FASTENED to
loot the baggage of the passengers,
plundering all alike of whatever money
they had, either in their valises or on
their persons. From Portuguese lady
they tore the rings from her fingers
and robbed her of $1,000 in gold and
Spanish bank notes which she had in
satchel which she attempted to con-
ceal under her skirt.
Having finished the work of pillage.
the pirates cast loose one of the shiD's
boats, into which they hustled all their
prisoners, all the while heaping on
them the grossest abuse and indigni-
ties. Before casting off the boat, not
content with the infamies already com
mitted, they turned the steam hose on
their victims. How worthy these
wretches of being officers in the navy
of the country of Lincoln."
The article closes with the comfort
ing reflection that the nations of Eu-
rope will know of these acts worthy of
pirates, but unworthy of sailors who
pretend to represent the honor of their
nation"
A dispatch dated Matanzas. and
adorned with a rude cut of rifle shell.
tells with whimsical particularly how
the projectile fired from the American
deet was unearthed by committee of
distinguished citizens officially appoint
ed for the purpose. The narrative.
which takes the form of regular pro-
ces verbal, describes infinitely how
the committee proceeded to the ex-
traction of the projectile," which fell,
lin connection with Others" in the
patio Of No. 30 Gale de San Fernando.
The extraction" which, it is declared,
was only accomplished with much la
Dor, took place in the presence of sun
dry military dignitaries whose names
are given.
Dewey's victory at Manila is disposed
of in four-line dispatch, dated Madrid
and headed: The First Battle-Amer-
lean Fleet Routed The Cavite fleet has
heroically fought the American fleet.
which retired badly damaged" BY way
of preparing the public for the truth
paragraph in another column states
that there is some anxiety" in Mad
rid over the result of the battle.
Prices of all sorts of provisions are.
of course, enormous, condensed milk
being quoted at one dollar in gold per
can. Curiously enough, however. we
find an advertisement, adorned with a
picturesque cut of mare donkey and
foal, which states that 'asses' milk, de-
livered at your residence, is now cheap
er than ever" Little herds of she asses
MIXED from door to door are one of
the most familiar sights in Havana.-N.
Y. Herald.