The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-06-24

iBooA
Washington. June 20.-Public at
tention here today was divided almost
evenly between three subjects:
The movements Of General Skaters
army, the probability of reinforce
ments having reached Dewey, and the
status of Hobson, the naval hero. Up
to a late hour in the afternoon neither
OF the a~nxiously awaited messages
which were to announce the arrival of
the transports at Santiago and Ma
Mia had reached either the war or
navy department. 1t was not doubted,
however, that our vessels are of San
tiago. Nor is it doubted that just
about the time Shafter appeared off
Santiago the Charleston appeared in
Manila bay, leading the three trans
ports which bring nearly 1000 soldiers
to Dewey's assistance. That fact will
not be known, however, officially for
two or three days, owing to the dis
tance from there to Hong Kong, the
nearest cable point.
1t is questioned here whether, with
his force to back him, Dewey will
feel justified in assaulting Manila or
even in accepting it's surrender. Either
course would involve heavy RESPONSE
bilities for the admiral, and it is ex-
tremely desirable that no preteXt be
afforded Jealous European powers for
intervention at Manila under the guise
Of protecting the interests of their
subjects. Therefore, it may be that
the admiral will wait for another ten
days until the second installment of
troops reaches Cavite. In this case he
probably will land the troops that ar
rive in the town of CaVite, which is
now completely under the control of
himself and the insurgents, n en-
plOy the time in accustOming them to
Manila methods and climate.
THE REFUSAL TO EXCHANGE
PRISONERS.
During the day dispatches announce
ing that General Blanco had refused
to exchange HObsOn and his fellow
prisoners created some Indignation,
which was modified later by Madrid
advices quoting Sagasta as saying no
decision had been reached. Should
Spain adopt the cruel and unusual
course of refusing an exchange, the
regulations of the war department are
sufficient to meet the case. The fol-
lowing principle is laid down in it's
regulations:
Retaliation will never be resorted
to as a measure of mere revenge but
only as a measure of protective retri-
button, and moreover, cautiously and
unavoidably; that is to say, retalia-
ton shall only be resOrted to after
careful inquiry into the real occurrence,
and the character of the deeds that
may demand ~retributiOn. Unjust or
incOnsiderate retaliation removes the
belligerents further and further from
the mitigating rules of regular var
and by rapid strides leads them to the
i~nternecine wars of savages."
IT was pointed out today by a lead
ing officer of the army that the Span
ish had most to lose by a course of
cruelty which would call for retalia-
ton. as the number of Spanish pris-
0ners is far greater than that Of Amer
lean prisoners.
NAMES FOR THIRTY-FIVE NEW
WARSHIPS.
tt q Wholesale christening at
the navy department today when Sec
rotary Long supplied names for no less
than thirty-five was craft. All of these
We're provided for in the last nava
appropriation bill, and while contracts
for their construction have not yet
been let the advertisements have beer
issued, except in the case of the mon
itOrS. and all the boats will be under
wa before cold weather. First in the
list of the big battleships is the Maine
for Congress- has provided that that
name shall be continued in the nava
list. The other two big batleships will
be called the Missouri and the Ohio
The first of the torpedo boats bears the
name of brave young Ensign Bagley
who was killed on the deck of the
Winslow under the guns Of Cardenas
the first American laval officer to lose
his life in the war. Four states have
the privilege of giving their names te
monltors-Arkansas, Connecticut, Flor.
ida and Wyoming. The names giver
to the sixteen torpedo boat destroyers
are those of Americas famous nava
herOes-Bainbridge, Barry, Chauncey
Dale, Decatur, Hopkins, Hill, Law.
renee, ~MacDonough, Pau Jones. Per.
ry, Pebble, Stewart, Truxton, Whippl.
and Worden. The names applied tt
the torpedo boats are those of lessee
Resides Bagfey'S, they are: Barney
Biddle Blakfey, belong, Nicholson
OBrien, ~Shubrick, Stockton, Thornton
Tingey and Wilkes. There is now only
one vessel, either building CIR autho.
Tf1ed, left without a name, a gunboa
officially known at No. 16.
THE CADIZ FLEET.
Word went around the war depart
Tnent this afternoon that the Cadi;
neet mad made another Spectacular
appearance, this time returning to the
home pert. The source of
is not disclosed, so that it is impossible
to tell how much credence to attach tc
the por The navy department was
promptly Informed OF the receipt OF
the message.
RUMOR OF TROOP MOVEMENTS.
~Rumors of troop movements con.
tinTe to emaftate from Camp Alger
This time 1T is stated on what appears
TO be better atFt,lority than usual that
one brigade, composed of the three
most perfectly equipped regiments
the First Rhode Island and Sixteenth
Massachusetts are to be sent from
this camp to SaStiago. The Sixth II.
linois, the Eighth Ohio, the Third and
Sixty-fifth New York and Thirty
third and Tbirty-fourth Michigan ard
said to be slated for Porto Rico, and
the quarterma6ter-in-chief of the
COINS iS Sn1nnnSed To be arranOinn for