The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-06-21

tion here to-day was divided almost
evenly between the movements of Gen.
eral Skaters army. the probability of
reinforcements having reached Dewey
and the status of Hobson. the naval
hero. Up to a late hour in the after
noon neither of the anxiously awaited
messages which were to announce the
arrival of the transports at Santiago
and Manila had reached either the war
or navy departments. 1t was not
doubted, however. that our vessels are
off Santiago, for although proceeding
at less speed than the English steam
ship which reached Kingston and re-
ported having passed them in the
Windward Passage last night. the dis
tance which they would be obliged to
travel from the Windward Passage to
Santiago is less than that traversed by
the British ship, which came into ia
maica in the early afternoon. If they
arrived only this morning off Santiago
they could report that fact only by
means of a dispatch boat running over
to Kingston. 12-hour journey, so that
direct report from the fleet cannot be
expected until late hour tonight.
II is not doubted that Just about the
time Shafter appears off Santiago the
Charleston will appear in Manila bay.
leading the three transports which
bring nearly 5000 soldiers to Dewey's
assistance. That fact Will not be
known. however. officially for two or
three days. owing to the distance from
there to Hong Kong, the nearest cable
point. 1t is questioned here whether
with this force to back him Dewey will
feel justified in assaulting Manila or
in even accomplishing it's surrender
bility for the admiral, and IL is ex-
tremely desirable that no pretext be
afforded jealous European powers for
Intervention at Manila under guise of
protecting the interests of their sub
jects.. Therefore it may be that the
admiral will wait for another 10 days
until the second installment of troops
reach Cavite. In this case he will prob
ably land the troops that arrive in the
town of Cavite, which is now complete
ly under the control of himself and the
insurgents, and employ the time in ac-
customing them to Manila methods and
climate.
During the day dispatches announc-
ing that Captain General Blanco had
refused to exchange Hobson and his
fellow prisoners created some indigna-
ton, which was modified later by Ma
drid 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 follow
ing principle is laid down in it's regu-
lations: Retaliation will never be re-
sorted to as measure Of mere re-
venge, but only as a measure of pro-
tective retribution, and, moreover,
and unavoidably; that is to
say. retaliation shall only be resorted to
after careful inquiry into the real oc-
currence 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 war. and by
rapid strides leads them to the inter-
necine wars of savages."
1t was pointed out to-day by a lead
ing officer Of the army that the Spanish
had most to lose by course Of cruelty
which would call for retaliation, as the
number of Spanish prisoners is far
greater than the Americans.
There was a wholesale christening at
the navy department to-day. when
Secretary Long supplied names for no
less than 35 war craft. All OF these
were provided for in the last naval ap-
preparation bill, and while contracts for
their construction have not been let.
the advertisements have been issued
except in the case OF monitors, and all
the boats will be under way before cold
weather. First in the list of the big
battleshfps is the Maine. for congress
has provided that that name shall be
continued in the naval list. The other
big battleships will be called the Mis- |
souri, and Ohio. The first OF the tor |
pedo boats bears the name Of the brave |
young ensign. Bagley. who was killed |
on the deck of the Winslow under the |
guns of Cardenas. the first American |
naval officer to lose his life in the war. |
Four states have the privilege of Civ |
ing their names to monitors, Arkansas, |
Florida and Wyoming. |
The names given to the Is torpedo boat |
nous naval heroes, Bainbridge. Barry. |
Chauncey. Dale. Decatur, Hopkins. |
Hull, Lawrence. Marlborough. Paul |
Jones' Perry, Preble. Stewart, Truxton, /
and Worden. The names ap-
piled to the torpedo boats are Of lesser |
fame. but Of glorious memory. Besides |
they are Barney. Biddle. Blake |
ly. De Long. Nicholson. O'Brien. Shu- |
brick. Stockton. Thornton. Tingley and |
Wilkes. There Is now only one vessel. |
either building or authorized. left with /
out a name. a gunboat. officially known /
as Is.
Word went around the war Depart
ment this afternoon that the Cadiz feet /
had made another spectacular appear
ance. TINS time returning 10 the home
port. The source Of information Is