The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-04-30
RUSH 0F WILD RDAORS.
Department Busy Making
DeniaIS.
SPANISH FLEET SAILS.
Story Says Vessels Put Back A.
ter a Collision.
POWERS MAY MAKE PROTEST
Don't Like Blockade and Proposed
Tonnage Tax.

Washington, April 29.-This was a day
of alarming rumors, running all the way
from the blowing up of big monitor to
the detection and punishment Of traitors,
but fortunately all of them turned out, on
inquiry, to be without Foundation.
Actual events of importance were few.
The news of the day Of most interest was
the departure from Cape Verde of the
Spanish fleet, the stay of which at st.
Vincent has been a source of anxiety on
the part of officials here, because it seemed
to indicate the sympathy of Portugal for
Spain, and might lead her to wink at a
violation Of neutrality laws in favor of
Spain.
Late ip The afternoon cabegram came
10 the state department from Cape Verde
bearing no signature, announcing that four
battleships and three torpedo boats had
started north, and some of the transports
for Cuba, and that the Northern fleet re-
turned shortly, having been in collision.
Because there was no Signature attached
the officials did not lxffow-wffat Importance
TO attach to this message.
To-day Admiral Sampson sent a tele-
gram relative to the firing at the Matanzas
forts, but it was disappointingly lacking
in detail. The few words contained in
this dispatch went to confirm the official
view that the affair was nothing more
than naval reconnaissance.
No news came to-day from Admiral
Dewey's squadron, now on its way to the
Philippines to do battle with the Spanish
fleet. One officer pointed out that if Ad-
miral Dewey succeeded in defeating the
Spanish fleet the Spanish officials, who
control the cable connecting the island
with the rest of the world, in all probablf-
lily may suppress the news or distort the
facts into Spanish victory.
Presuming that the admiral is bound
directly for Manila, the calculation made
at the navy department. shows he will ar
rive about 2 O'Clock Saturday morning,
Manila time. which is about twelve hours
earlier than our own.
The pressure continues unabated on the
war department for changes in the places
already announced for the mobilization OF
the volunteer troops, and very much
against its will and judgment, the depart
ment is making some concessions in this
matter
large number Of callers are bringing
forward candidates for the many plums
within the gift Of the President and Secre-
tary Alger in the shape of appointments
TO grades above regimental in the army.
Gen. Lee and Gen. Dodge spent a good
part IN
Gals, giving color to the reports that they
are among those selected for appointment
as major generals.
The announcement that the State of
Iexas, laden with supplies for the recon
eentrados is destined for Sagua has led
10 the surmise that it is probably this port
instead of Matanzas which has been Sc
iocted for the landing place of the first
attack of the United States troops
Regarding the harmless growls that ap-
pear in the European papers and threats
10 interfere to prevent the United States
lorees from biockading the Philippines, It
may be stated that this was fully ex-
pected. During the civil war there were a
great many attempts on the part of the
AoNlOHo w d1bESSdIQ our DOCK
'ae' and threats of interference, all Of
which came to naught from the firm at
u'ude assumed by the Secretary of state.
LII the present case the conditions of the
cuban blockade are much more liberal to-
"ard the European powers than ever i'm.
posed before.
Nlscount de Santo-Thyrso, the Portu-
5uese minister, looked over the Associated
ress cable dispatch from Lisbon giving
lHe substance of the neutrality decree
tazetted there to-day and said ii was
'Vldently accurate and covered the en-
ure subject He had not, however up
10 a late hour to-day. received an official
'lpUheation of the neutrality decree. The
seount says that article 3, which permits
ueHigerents to make a short stop at Port
VSuese ports, probably will be better un-
'Istood by saying that belligerents will
rol De permitted to make long stays at
Iortueuese ports
me British and French ambassadors
'Ie nave received instructions relative TO
"9 tonnage tax provision In the war tanff
W.. Which passed the House OF Represen-
lives to-day. Il Is understood that the
ttnan ambassador Will also receive In
ue"ons ON the same subject The ma