The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1898-05-12
War Notes.

|
Emperor Francis Joseph in favor o.
European Intervention. Austro- Il ungary
foreign minister has addressed note tC
powers on the subject.
Fears were expressed in Madrid
Thursday, that Simpsons fleet had gone
to capture Porto Rico. Sagasta an
nounces to the queen, Thursday, the
safe arrival at Porto Rico of the steam
ship Alphonso XIII with troops and
munitions.
Special dispatch from Paris says the
seizure of Lafayette intensified the
bitter feeling against the United States
Angry expressions are heard, the United
States embassy is under special police
protection in view of a possible hostile
demonstration.
A Madrid report says that a fleet OF
iron clads and transports is to be sent to
drive Americans out of Manila and bonn
bard Californian coast. Talk is cheap
there. Cuban and Porto Rican authori-
ties have cabed that there is no fear OF
Americans landing troops.
The first move towards sending troops
to Commodore Dewey in the Philippines
was made when General Merriam, COM
handing the department of the Column
bia and the California, received instruc-
tions from the War Department to send
the Fourteenth Infantry to San Fran
cisco
The Paris correspondent of London
paper says: ~ hear on undisputable
authority that five of the Spanish war
ships, including the Pelayo and fine
cruiser Alphonso XIII, have not yet
been supplied with ammunition. This
was the cause of the delay in sailing of
the Cape Verde fleet and will probably
compel it to return to Cadiz."
Assistant Secretary of the navy Roose-
welt has been sworn in as Lieutenant
| Colonel of the United States volunteers
to serve with the regiment of mounted
rifemen, to be made up mainly of
painsmen, rough riders, etc. The cere-
mony occurred in the office of Adjt Gen.
Corbrin, a number of leading army
officers, Senators and Representatives
being present.
The utterance of Emperor William
before the reichstag, Friday, confirmed
what the German officials have main
tanned from the start, namely that Ger
many would observe strict neutrality
even though no decree of neutrality was
issued. Russian off cials take the same
view as to the purpose of Russia to keep
out of any Intervention which would be
inimcal to the United States.
Certain powers, it has been learned
y the Associate Press, have again made
overtures to Great Britain, looking to
Intervention in the war between Spain
and the United States but Great Britain
has again refused to take part in any
such movement, and it is significant
fact that the British naval authorities
have decided to Immediately commission
two new battleshps just completed.
Military supplies for the Cuban insur-
gents from the New Y ork arsenal, were
piled on the wharf at Governors island,
Friday, ready for immediate shipments.
The cases were marked ar. Rodriguez,
Mobile, Ala" The supplies consisted
of 5000 Springfield rifles, 100000 car
tridges and 100 dozen machetes. There
were besides several cases containing
saddles, brides and halters and other
cases labelled machinery.
Ex-Governor Cleaves, who has inter-
ested himself in the militia organized in
Portland, received telegram from
Senator Hale stating that he had visited
the navy department and that the
monitor Montauk would be turned over
to the Portland organization upon its
arrival here, and that naval officer
would be sent here for instruction.
The State authorities had announced
the determination to man the monitor
with members of the State Militia.
The latest is to the effect that it is
rumored that the Spanish fleet has ar
rived off Porto Rico and that Sampson
will probably engage it, Tuesday. The
willy Spaniards lured two U. 5. ships,
the Vicksburg and Morrill, into range of
their batteries at Havana, by sending
OFT schooner shortly before day light,
Saturday morning, and opened upon
them from masked shore batteries. But
for bad gunners they might have been
sunk. They, however escaped without
serious injury. Heavy firing was re-
ported off Puerto Plato, San Domingo,
May Sth. DOMINICAN officers also report
heavy firing off Monte Cristi, 80 miles
from Puerto Plata.
The big French liner Lafayette of St.
Santanazarl with a full complement of
passengers and general cargo bound
from Corunna, Spain, April %, was cap
tured off Havana shortly before sun
down Thursday night, by the Annapolis
The Lafayette was heading directly
into Havana, and was captured only
after an exciting chase. After being
boarded once by an officer of the
Annapolis she attempted to run the