Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-06-23
TROOPS
ON LAND
High Officials Believe
Shafter Is Now Near
Santiago.
Dewey Will Act Cautious
ly to Avoid Possible
Entanglements.
Cadiz Fleet Reported
to Be Back at
Home Port.

ton here Monday was divided almost
evenly between three subsects-the
movements of Gen. Skaters army,
the probability of reirforcements hav-
ing reached Dewey, and the status of
Hobson, the naval hero. Up to a late
hour neither of the anxiously awaited
messages which we're to announce the
arrival of transports at Santiago and
Manila had reached either the war or
the navy departments. 1t was not
doubted, however, that our vessels
are off Santiago, for although pro-
ceeding at less speed than the English
steamer which at Kingston Monday
reported having passed them in the
Windward passage to Santiago is less
than that traversed by the British
ship which came into Jamaica in the
early afternoon. 1t is not doubted
that just about the time Shafter
appeared off Santiago the
Charleston appeared in Manila bay
leading the three transports bringing
nearly 5000 soldiers to Dewey's as
sistance. That fact may not be
known, however, officially for two or
TIN ee days, owing to the distance from
there to Hong Kong, the nearest cable
point. 1t is questioned here whether
with this force to back him Dewey
will feel justified in assaulti1g Man
liza or even accepting its surrender.
Either course would involve heavy
responsibilities for the admiral and
it is extremely desirable that no pre-
text be afforded jealous European pow
ers for intervention at Manila under
the guise of protecting the interests
Of their subjects. Therefore it may be
that the admiral will wait another ten
days until a second installment If
troops reaches Cayite. In this case, he
will probably land troops that arrive
in the town of Cavite, which is now
completely under the control of him
self and the insurgents.
! During the day dispatches an
nouncing that Captain General Blanco
has refused to exchange HObson and
his fellow prisoners created some in
dignation which was modified later
by Madrid advices quoting Sagasta as
saying that no decision had been
reached. Should Spain adopt the
cruel and unusual course Of refusing
an exchange the regulations of the war
department are sufficient to meet the
case. The following principle is laid
down in its regulations: Retaliation
will never be resorted to as a measure
OF mere revenge, but only rs a measure
Of protective retribution, moreover
cautiously when unavoidable; that is
to say, retaliation will only be resort
ed to after careful inquiry into the
real occurrence and character of deeds
that may demand retribution. Un-
just or inconsiderate retaliation re-
moves belligerents further from the
mitigating rules of regular war, anu
by rapid strides leads them to the
internecine wars of savages - 1t was
pointed out by leading officer of
the army that the Spanish have most
to lose by a course of cruelty which
would call for retaliation, as the num-
Der of Spanish prisoners is far greater
than that of American prisoners.
There was a wholesale christening
at the navy department Monday when
Secretary Long supplied names for no
less than thirty-five war craft All
Of these were provided for in the last
naval appropriation bill while the con-
tract for their construction have
not yet been let. Advertisements have
been issued, except in the case of
monitors, and all the boats will be un-
der way before the cold weather.
The first on the list of big battleships
is the Maine, for congress has provid-
ed that the name shall be continued
in the naval list. The other two big
battleships will be called the Missouri
and Ohio. The first of the torpedo
boats is to bear the name of the brave
young ensign, Bagley, who was killed
on the deck of the Winslow under the |
guns of Cardenas. The four states |
having the privilege of giving their !
names to monitors are Arkansas. |
Connecticut, Florida and Wyoming. /
The names to be given to the sixteen |
torpedo boat destroyers are those of |
Americas famous naval heroes, Balm
bridge, Barry, Chauncey, Dale, Deca-
tur, Hopkins, Hull, Lawrence. Mac
Donough, Paul Jones, Perry, Preble.
Stewart, Truxton, Whipple, Worden.
The names applied to torpedo boats
are those of lesser fame but still of
glorious memory. Besides Bagley's
they are Barney, Biddle, Blakely. De-
long, Nicholson, O'Brien, Shubrick.
Stockton, Thornton. Tingey, Wilkes.
There is now only one vessel, either
building or authorized, left without
name, the gunboat officially known as
No. 16.
Word went around the war depart
ment Monday that the Cadiz feet
had made another spectacular ap-
pearance, this time returning to the
home port. The source of information
is not disclosed, so that it is imposs.-
bic to tell how much credence to at
tach to the report. The navy depart
ment was promptly informed On re-
ceipt Of the message. i
Rumors Of troop movements continue
to emanate from Camp Alger. This
time it is stated on what appears to be
better authority than usual that one