Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1899-08-31
WAR NOT ES,

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 de
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 so per cent completed on
July l, 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.
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
civil government under military SUI
pervision, as has been directed. There
is little change in PaDay 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. 1t shows that under the
management of the United States gov
eminent the receipts Of the island from
Jan. l, 1899, to June 30, of the current
year, exceed the expenditures by the
very handsome sum of 81, 4s0. 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 6;
Publication, Feb. 2; Washington's
birthday, Feb. %; Holy week two
days., Thursday and Friday; Ascension
day, May IL; Decoration day, May 80;
Corpus Christi day, June L; Independ-
ence day, July A. Assumption day,
Aug. Is; Labor day, Sept. A; All Saints
day, Nov. 1; Thanksgiving day, last
Thursday in November; st. Andrews
day, Nov. 30; La Purissima Conception,
Dec. s; Christmas day, Dec. %.
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
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
1t is not likely that any more cavalry
regiments will be organized, save the
one which Gen. Otis formed in the
Gen. Otis has cabled that
cavalry cannot be used to the best adj
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 the
regular army 9O,671 men. This in
,ludes those who were discharged |
after the close of the war and the in |
:rease of the regular army for service
n the Philippines. Three hundred |
md ten thousand and sixty-fve APP
olied and were rejected.
Admiral Watson is seriously sick at
Manila. He was the victim of an acct
lent on July IL, while making a trip
rom Manila to the river to avoid the
ull force of the typhoons. After the
lccident serious heart trouble devel-
ped, from which the admiral is still
The controller of the treasury has
lecided that a volunteer who enlisted
n the navy for the war with Spain
nd who was discharged at his own re-
Iuest before the expiration of his term
5 entitled to the extra pay provided in
he act of March 8, 1899.
Modern inventions will be brought
nto play to secure communication be-
ween American troops operating in
.uzon and to prevent night attacks on
american intrenchments Wireless
Biography and n powerful moving
will be used.
The secretary of war has appointed
alexander b. Speel, of st. Paul, Mimi,
hief of the division of customs and in
ular affairs of the war department, in
lace of Maj. John j. Pershing, who
as been ordered to Manila for duty on
he staff of Gen. Otis.
The Red Cross society has news from
ianila that Aguinaldo has promised
, release all sick Spanish prisoners.
Wonder how many more times he in
ends making that promise before he
Mills il?