Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1898-05-21
WAR NEWS OF The WEEK.

Washington, May lS--On WeoIesu@S
OF last week the war department issued
orders which indicated a speedy inva-
sion Of Cuba by a mighty army of reg
ulars and volunteers. but later events
have halted the preparations somewhat.
General Wesley Merritt was named TO
command the infantry which viii go to
the relief of Admiral Dewey, and Mer-
rift will be military governor OF the
philippines. A private letter received
IN Mobile from Havana told OF cele-
bDation In that CITY in honor OF the
capture of four American ports"-Mo-
bile. Charleston. Pensacola and Boston.
The steamer Charleston was ordered TO 4
leave San Francisco at once for Manila
On Thursday George Downing, alias
Rawlings, committed suicide by hang
ing at the washington barracks, where
he was awaiting trial on a charge OF
being a Spanish spy. The evidence
against Downing, who was natural
lied Engiishman and ex-chief yeoman
on the cruiser Brooklyn, was or such
q nature that he would have been
| shot He had been furnishing informa-
ton to Ex-NIinister Polo de Bernabe.
Secretary Long received cable mes
sage from Admiral Dewey, showing
| that communication with the RhlAp-
| mines has been re-established-
/ On Friday last came details OF bat
tie at Cardenas, Cuba, resulting In the
partial destruction Of the torpedo boat
Winslow and the killing OF five OF her
crew. The gunboat Wilmington ana
. the auxiliary tug Hudson were also en-
gagged. The boats went within reach /
of the Cardenas batteries, when fire /
= was opened on them from the shore. |
The vessels responded, and for 80 min |
utes there was the liveliest kind OF can
nonading. During the engagement the
winslow's forward boiler and star
board engine were knocked out and
the vessel left helpless While the
Hudson was preparing to tow the dis
abled vessel out OF range Of the guns
shell exploded on the Winslow's deck.
instantly killing two men and in1uring
:, three others so severely that they died
within a few minutes. Our sailors be-
neve that great damage was done IN
A Cardenas by the fire Of our guns. The
dead sailors of the Winslow, the first
killed on our side in the war. are Worth
Bagley, ensign; John Varveres. oiler;
John Daniels and J. V. Meek. both first
" GLASS firemen, and Josiah Tunnel Cool
ii ored). cabin cook Five others were
VI wounded, including Lieutenant Ber-
nardou. commander OF the Winslow-
Another important event OF Friday
"A was the sailing OF Commodore Schley's
nying squadron from Fort Monroe on
De sealed orders, presumably TO cooperate
with Admiral Sampson in an expected
hattie with Spanish warships. The
state department issued an official
abatement denying that no contrabano
OF war or Spanish gunners were landed
II at Havana by the French steamer La
n fayette, as had been charged. Lieu
tenant Rowan, u. S. A.. arrived at he,
"a West with important dispatches IRON
.y | General Gomez, commander OF the In
m aurgent forces in Cuba, TO Genera
a Miles. The regular troops have LEI
Chickamauga National Park. Ca, 10
points further south. and the park
18th being occupied by regiments OF the vol
cen unteer army.
- sunday brought another report froI
'-0 Admiral Dewey. the hero OF Manili
zen aaving that he was in absolute contr'
md and could take Manila at any momen
On May IL he captured the SPANS
wunboat Callao. which entered the po
IS in Ignorance Of the fact that war hs
mn been declared. There is gre'
III scarcity Of provisions in Manila al
Il the admiral thought the Spanish go
anu ernor would soon surrender. Admir-
il Davvev was notified that troops al
/. ammunition would be sent to him 500
Governor General Blanco, at Havan
C h sent out two Spanish war vessels WI
re intent to lure our blockadins Meet o
re- meath the guns OF MORO Castle, but I
Ored Mot failed though a number or shc
nder were fred. Crews OF fishing smac
UNI cantured by the Cuban blochading n'
y af report that reconcentrados have be
yes driven from Havana, and are dyi
9. OF starvation by hundreds. They
ldow clare that fiocks OF vultures are feedi
r. ;. an the dead bodies. The steamer CT
and ale returned to Key West, having ms
Imed two unsuccessful attempts to Ia
liver, munitions of war for the Cuban
* on aurrentn. Each attempt was p
Is at vented by Spanish soldiers. Two re
and ments Of Pennsylvania volunteers
ming Mount Gretna for Chickamauga-
near A Madrid dispatch announced {
] Col all tha members OF the Spanish cabi
tne have resigned. and the queen reg
leigh fntrusted Sagasta with the formal
reets' of a new cabinet.
icken On Monday an order was issued
d olz, the navy department prohibiting
Iell taches from discussing naval mat
7heei. with representatives Of the press.
moved order was made necessary by the {
I resi-" eraI publication OF the movements
lomas our fleets, which knowledge was m
led In use of by the Spaniards. Informa
-. from Havana is that Captain Gen
AFTER Blanco is very short OF ammuni'
FSorge and Il Is believed the Spanish n
II. n: squadron is endeavoring to reach
nao with a fresh supply Dispatches I
ioneo, Hawaii declare that the republic
sloe' not remain neutral during the war
re too ~, ,s-ohablv allow our governmer
. uee the island as a coaling sta
hOti- The movement of Pennsylvania TT
on eS to c.hickarauga and other points
ne begun. and 1t is believed Mount CT
oeaCn will bs deserted by the end OF the '
y con- IT IL estimated by Senator Allison
Oh She the war revenue bill introduced Il
{ ue senate viii raise $151, O66. The
'taineu neral OF Ensign Bagley, the frs
HoLii 6csr killed in the war, at Raleigl
Ia Che C.. was q noble tribute to the
dead. Rev. Thomas Ewing Sher
n son Of General w. T. Sherman,
chASes been appointed chaplain of the b
eU Missouri regiment.
&c :, No Spanish Gunboat at Guayaqu
Leigh San Diego, Cal, May 1s--Ca
lere it Leutz. commanding the United
red for steamship Alert, now in this hi
ne fun reports that there are two 81
.ements Runboats of about $50 tons at G
ct been ouil. Ecuador, and that they have
there much longer than the neut
ian left laws allow. This Is the first new
g, and ceived of any Spanish warships
is Rev on the west coast OF America
of the news was given to Captain Leu
Church the captain OF Panama steamer
ster and called at GuayaQusl.