The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1899-09-01
WAR NOT ES,


mitted to the navy department a sup
Elemental report to that recently made
on the condition of the Spanish ships
raised from Manila bay and now being
rebuilt under his supervision at Hong
Kong. These ships are the Isla do
Cuba, Isla de Luzon and Don Austrias.
He sets forth in detail the condition of
work. He says that they were more
damaged by fire than by shot, and that
most of the rebuilding has been made
necessary by the burned woodwork.
They were 80 per cent completed on
July 1, and Mr.. Hobson says they will
be ready to turn over to the navy for
service within six weeks after the ar
rival of the batteries and the electrical
plants. These were shipped some
weeks ago, so that there is every pros
pect the vessels will be in commission
before long.
| Gen. Hughes, of Iloilo, reports four
soldiers ambushed, killed and mutt
lated, few miles south of the city OF
| Cebu. No names are given. Robber
bands, in Negroes, have been scattered,
and most of the members are returning
to work on sugar plantations Armed
Tagalos who had entered that island
were severely punished, and conditions
are favorable for the formation OF a
civil government under military SUI
pervision, as has been directed. There
is little change in Panay and Cebu is
lands. The withdrawal of volunteers
and regulars, discharged under order
40 last year, has prevented active cam
paigns in those islands, which medi-
tated reinforcements will cure.
The war department gave out for
publication an interesting statement
of the financial condition Of the island
of Cuba. It shows that under the
management of the United States gov
eminent the receipts of the island from
Jan. 1, 1899, to June 80, of the current
year, exceed the expenditures by the
very handsome sum Of 81, 4SO,O21. This
statement probably will be surprise
to many persons who had thought that
Cuba under the military occupation OF
the United States was not self-sus-
tanning.
The Philippine holidays are rather
unique in the mixture of native and
American days. They are: Circumcis-
ion, Jan. |; Three Kings day, Jan. 9,
Publication, Feb. Q; Washington's
birthday, Feb. %; Holy week two
days., Thursday and Friday; Ascension
day, May II; Decoration day, May 80;
Corpus Christi day, June 1; Independ-
ence day, July A; Assumption day,
Aug. Is; Labor day, Sept. 4; All Saints
day, Nov. 1; Thanksgiving day, last
Thursday in November; St. Andrews
day, Nov. 80; La Purissima Conception,
Dec. 8; Christmas day, Dec. 25.
A report received at Manila from
Cebu says Datto Mundi, with his
tribesmen, has taken the warpath
against the insurgents who are hold
ing Zamboanga, and has given them a
warm battle. Mundi welcomed Gen.
Bates, saying he was anxious to be-
come an American citizen and asked
permission to fight the insurgents.
He was given an American flag. Gen.
Bates has returned to the Sulu archi.
pelago to arrange for establishing
American garrisons there.
A dispatch from Rome says that his
holiness, the Pope, is concerned about
the war in the Philippines. He has
communicated his anxiety to Rev. FIR.
Reaney, chaplain of the Olympia.
Leo expressed strong desire to see
peace between the United States and
the natives and said that he contem-
plated the opening Of negotiations
with the United States government
with view to regulating the position
of Catholics in the Philippines
1t is not likely that any more cavalry
regiments will be organized, save the
one which Gen. Otis formed in tho
Philippines. Gen. Otis has cabled that
cavalry cannot be used to the best ad-
vantage in the islands, and, in his
judgment, the two regiments of regular
cavalry and the volunteer regiment
will be sufficient to meet all needs of
the campaign.
Since the beginning of the Spanish
war there have been enlisted in tho
regular army 90,671 men. This In
cludes those who were discharged
after the close of the war and the In
crease of the regular army for service
in the Philippines. Three hundred
and ten thousand and sixty-fve APP
piled and were rejected.
The controller of the treasury has
decided that volunteer who enlisted
in the navy for the war with Spain
and who was discharged at his own re-
quest before the expiration of his term
is entitled to the extra pay provided in
the act of March 3, 1899.
Modern inventions will be brought
into play to secure communication be-
tween American troops operating In
Luzon and to prevent night attacks on
American intrenchments. Wireless
telegraphy and powerful moving
searchlight will be used.
The secretary of war has appointed
Alexander b. Speel, of st. Paul, Mimi,
chief of the division of customs and in
sular affairs of the war department, in
place of Maj. John j. Pershing, who
has been ordered to Manila for duty on
the staff of Gen. Otis.
Tho Rad Cross soc,atv hoe ,a,.,.