Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-07-08
ON LAND AND SEA.
Bits OF News from Our Gallant Soldiers and
Sailors.

AT 6 p. NJ. Wednesday. u. S. S.
Frolic. which was converted at the
kittery navy yard, was placed in COM
mission, with Commander Edward II.
Green in charge. She will sail for Gu
ban waters.
Advces received at Washington.
Thursday, from Gen. Shafter, announce
that a number of high Spanish officers
are deserting across the lines at San
tiago into the American camp. This
act is regarded here as highly signi-
iicant Of an early surrender.
Admiral F. " McNair. who has Just
been promoted to the highest grade in
the navy, has been ordered to duty as
superintendent of the naval academy
relieving Capt. =. II. Cooper, who has
been ordered to hold himself in readi-
ness to take command of the cruiser
Chicago
Capt. Azel Anes, Jr., of Boston. who
is at Bangor for the purpose of enlist
ing expert aXemen for the new regi-
ment of engineers forming at Boston.
is enthusiastic over the prowess of the
Maine guides. He says he wishes he
could have whole regiment of Range
ley and 'Moosehead suides-tough. wiry
men, all dead shots. for with them, he
Claims, he could whip a fair-szed
Spanish army.
Gen. Greeley has received a dispatch
from Col. Allen at Playa del Este,
Cuba, regarding the signal corps bal
loon used for observation purposes
with Gen. Skaters army. He says
that the balloon which was hit by the
enemy and split, had been repaired,
but the supply Of stored gas and tubes
for it is exhausted. Attempts are now
making to get tubes from the front
where the gas generator is kept. A
second balloon iseXpected from Tampa,
Col Allen reports.
With view Of giving Gen. Shafter
the benefit Of more heavy artillery, or
ders were issued, Thursday, for the
Immediate departure of four heavy
batteries to Tampa. for the transporta-
bon Ia Santiago. at once. These bat
teries are X of the It'll Artillery at Will
lett's Point: D. of the 4th Artillery at
Fort McHenry, Md; and Fl and X, of
the I'd Artillery at Fort Adams and
elsewhere in Rhode Island. Rush or
ders We're given to each of these bat
teries and it is expected that they will
start for Tampa. today.
Corp. Kcene and Priv. Barr of Bat
terry a, I'd Light Artillery, have been
highly commended for gallant conduct
during the terrific fighting of Saturday
before Santiago. When the battery
tried to advance beyond FL Pogo, Privs.
Helen, Smith and Underwood We're
blown to pieces by shells, and Sergts.
Icivy and Privs. Vete and Cornfeld
were badly hurt, and other men were
wounded. including Barr and Keene.
One of them was shot three times. and
another was shot twice, but in spite
of their injuries they stuck to the
crippled guns until the enemy was
forced to give up the assault.
Admiral Sampson has telegraphcd
the navy department as follows from
his flagship New York off Santiago. |
dated Wednesday: About midnight |
last night the Rcina Mercedes was seen |
by the Massachusetts which vessel has |
a search light on the channel, >coming |
out of the harbor Of Santiago The
Massachusetts and Texas opened fire |
and the Spanish vessel was sunk OPP |
positc iIStrella cove. ! am inclined to
think it was the intention to sink her
in the channel and thus block the har
Dor entrance. If so. this plan was de-
feated by the fire of the ships, and she
lies on the edge of the shore
The departure of the fourth Manila
expedition from San Francisco, before
the middle of next week is now as
sured. There are only two transports
now ready to sail and these cannot
carry more than 1900 men. The expedi-
ton may be placed in charge of Major
Sanford Kellogg, of the 4th United
States Cavalry. The fifth fleet Will con-
sist of at least four vessels and Will
probably will be under the command
Of Cen Miller. 1t will sail before July
20 and will convey to Manila four vol
unteer regiments and several battalions
of regulars. Major Gen. Otis, it is said,
will accompany the fifth expedition.