The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-05-18
BRAINARD'S VISIT TO BLANco.
CAPTAIN GENERAL HAS NOT YET
AGREED TO EXCHANGE.

Considered That the Lieutenant Was
Not Empowered with Sufficient
His Documents Prior 40 Consulting
Spanish Government--An American
Newspaper Correspondent Sentenc-
ed to Nine Years imprisonment
for Taking Photographs of San
Juan's Fortihcations.
Copyright, 1898, by the Associated Press.
Havana, May 17.-Inquiries made at the
palace here show that Captain General
Blanco was unwilling to receive Lieut..
Brainard. United States navy. the special
agent of the government of the United
States in the matter of proposal to ex-
change Spanish prisoners for the two
newspaper men, Messrs. Thrall and Jones,
because the general considered the lieu
tenant was not empowered with sufficient
authority.
Therefore, he simply accepted the docu-
ments presented by the lieutenant and
consulted with the Spanish government on
the subject. The answer from Madrid has
not yet been received.
On Sunday morning, the day the repre-
sentative of the United States government
arrived off this harbor on a small steamer
bearing a flag of truce, there were five
American vessels in sight of Havana and
four of them were in sight the same after
noon. In addition a vessel, supposed to
be a Norwegian frigate, was in the ofiing.
Yesterday morning there were FIVE Amer
lean vessels in sight of this harbor.
News just received here from Porto
Rico confirms the report that Freeman
Halstead, the American newspaper corre-
spondent, has been sentenced by military
court martial at San Juan de Porto Rico
to nine years Imprisonment. after having
been convicted of taking pictures of the
forts.
All sorts of war rumors are in circula-
ton here from Spanish sources. One re-
port has it that documents taken from
the correspondents confined In the Caba-
mas fortress are in the possession of Gen.
Blanco. Their money is said to have been
deposited at the British consulate.
stin another report says the women
and child killed during the bombardment
of Cardenas by American vessels were the
wife and daughter of one of the pilots on
the American ships
The Spaniards say an American force
attempted to make landing on May
13 at Tabla Aqua beach, and after two
hours firing the Americans retired.
Three American warships were reported
off Mariel on Sunday, three were sighted
off Cardeuas, and there were some Amer
lean ships off Cienfuegos.
The Norwegian steamer Bratsberg ar
rived on Sunday at sagua. la Grande, and
will leave there on May IS with passengers
for New York.
Captain General Blanco yesterday def
! nitely appointed the secretaries of the col
onial council. who have been reelected.
They are.
Senior Galvez. president of the council
Senior Montero. secretary of finance.
Senior Dolz, secretary of public works
and communications.
Senior Rodriguez, secretary of commerce.
Senior Zayas, secretary of public instruc-
ton.
There are seven American warships In
sight off Havana this afternoon ana
rumor has it that the Spanish feet is maxi
ing for an important port of the United
States.
The captain general of Porto Rico has
cabled Captain General Blanco, saying
that although the bombardment of San
Juan de Porto Rico took place at rlfie-shot
distance, not a gun of the forts was
silenced, and he adds the Spanish losses
were only eighteen men wounded, among
the troops composing the garrison, and a
few persons wounded among the civil pop
ulation
The captain general of Porto Rico
further reports that the United States
warships Indiana, New York, Montgom-
cry and AIpphitrite were in sight of Porto
nj Cot, at