Nebraska Newspapers

    THE OMAHA DAILY BEE.
ESTABLISHED JUNE 19. 1871. OMAHA , SATURDAY JIOKNIN& ; 30 , 1898-TWELVE PAGES , * COPY FIVE CENTS.
THEY MOVE AT LAST
Spain' * Plcet at St. Vincent Finally
Bhowa Activity !
ML OF THE SHIPS SAIL F.ROM PORT
Tour Battleships and Three Destroyers
Qo forth.
THEIR DESTINATION IS NOW UNKNOWN
Two TorpedD Boits Have Collision and
Return fcr Repairs ,
WILL BE REPAIRED AND SAX TODAY
'Authorities ' nt AVnulilnnton Itccclvc
Information of the Movement ,
but It Doe * Xot Caiinc Them
Any Uiicnxliieiid.
1838 , by Press Publishing Company. )
LONDON , April 29. ( New York World
Cablegram Special Telegram. ) A Dally
Mall special from Capo St. Vincent says :
The Spanish squadron here has simply been
waiting Inatructlono from Madrid , which ar
rived April 27 , left toJay dlviiad as follows :
Four cruisers , Infanta Maria Teresa , flag
ship , Admlrantc Oquendo , Vlzcaya and Cristo
bal Colon , with the dtstrojcrs Plutcn , Ter
ror and Furor sailed In a southerly direc
tion. The armed transports San Francisco
anJ Cludad de Cadiz with the torpedo boats
Azor , Arlete and Rayo parted company al
once and steamed north April 23.
Later the- torpedo boats Arlete anil
iRayo have been la collision and sustained
ellght damage. The flotilla leaved again
tomorrow. The cruiser squadron sailed under
scaled orders. Its destination la not known.
WASHINGTON , April 29. The Navy de
partment this morning received news of the
calling from St. Vincent , Cape Verde , of
tfao Spanish fleet , and when the additional
Information came that Portugal at last had
proclaimed neutrality there were many ex
pressions ot satisfaction among the officials.
K
The statement that thu vessels when leav
ing St. Vincent were headed In a southerly
direction IB valueless , as an Indication-
to the real course ot the fleet. The ma
jority ot the naval officers here feel con
fident tbat the Spanish fleet will next ap
pear about half way between Capo Verde
and Spain , and lying directly In the home
ward path of the ships. As the Canaries
arc Spanish Islands , and possess some forti
fications worthy of consideration , It may be
that Uic fleet will be allowed to remain
there for some time , as the Islands form a
good strategic base. What most concerns
the navy officers Just now Is how to learn
when the fleet does arrive there. The cable !
to the Canaries , being In Spanish hands ,
the arrival of the fleet would be kept tl
cret. The Intended visitation of tbo con i-
verted American' liners to the coast of Spain
may hasten homo the return of the Capo |
Verde squadron , for It Is believed that that
squadron comprises about all of the vessels
In the Spanish navy that are speedy and
powerful enough to warrant an attack upon
vessels of the St. Paul class.
BY WAY OF LONDON.
LONDON , April 29. A dispatch from St.
Vincent , published here , eaya four Spanish
cruisers and ttireo torpedo boat destroyers
src presumed to have gene toward Cuba.
The Evening News this evening publishes
a dispatch from St. Vincent , Cape de Verde
Islands , saying the Spanltb cruisers Maria
.
Teresa , Almlrante Oquendo , Vlzcaya and '
Cristobal Colon , accompanied by the Spanish
torpedo boat destroyers Pluton , Terror and
Furor , had , at the hour the dispatch was
filed (9 ( a. m. ) Just called In a westerly di
rection , presumably going toward Cuba. The
dispatch adds that ICio Spanish torpedo boats
Azore , Rajo and Arlete and the Spanish
transports San Francisco and Cludad de
Cadiz sailed at the same time Iti a northerly
dlrestlca , probably going to the Canary
Islands.
Tbo Evening News , commenting on Its
* dispatch from St. Vincent , says : "Tho im
port of 'the cablegram Is that the whole ef '
fective fighting force of the squadron has
been despatched west , while the non-ef-
ifo
feetlvea and the non-combatants are pro-
* cccdlng to another anchorage. Well In
formed naval authorities are aware that the
torpedo boats could not traverse the At
lantic at the present time , as tbey ve
not sufficient coal capacity for a voyage to
Cuba end tbe risk ot coaling _ ln mid-ocean
is too great. >
"This long delayed movement Is most
significant. Its significance Is In the fact
which can be hardly ovcr-cmphailzed , that It
Ii practically Spain's first move since the
utbresk of hostilities
Tfao Cadis correspondent of the Times
ays :
When the battleship Numancia arrives
front Carthagena the squadron will t > o prepared
ea
pared , consisting of the Pelayo , tbe Vltorla ,
the Alfonso XIII , three torpedo boat de
stroyers and three torpedo boats , to leave
Immediately.
- 'AXOTHKH , SPANISH MEA1I.KI1. .
Monttfumery ANhitre n Ileiiorteil
If from OInilrlil.
I ( CopyrlKht. 1SOS. by Preiw I'ub'lthlne Company. )
KEY WEST , Fla. , April 29. ( New York
World Cablegram Special Telegram. ) The
ticn.
Montgomery Is here In first-class condition.
It escorted the Panther and marines. The
i hip has never been near Plnar del 5llo. I
Nothing Is lvacr.\n of any casualty on the
western coast , as reported from Madrid.
Hanilngton , sci.lnr captain at the-Matanzas
station , denied at 1 o'clock today nH the
Cardcnso bombardment rumori Theto are
absolutely no defenses there but small gun
boats. The coly shooting at Cardenas waa
Kunboat fire at the Footo from three-pound-
era. Captain Ludlow of the Terror told
Boovel a 'tew ' days ago It was Impossible for
lila bo.it to apprcach Cardenas , at any boats
mre there the Terror's present position would
bate to ba at a seven miles range.
Ahuictl by the SinnUh Promt.
( CopyTlht ( : , ISfS. by l're rub'Uhlng Company )
LONDON , April 29. ( New York World
Cablegram SpscUl Telegram. ) The Chron
icle special from ( Madrid says :
Why don't we start ? Why docs not tome-
thing happen ? What are wo waiting for > ?
"Whit la the good of having been at war four
day * without a itoglu victory ?
These are now the questions Madrid.
The newspapers are becoming restive. Tolay
El Pals , popular organ of the general opposl.
tlon , bai A cartoon called "Patriotic Silence. "
Baguta stands on a music hall stage ready
( or a sentimental turo , hut utten never a
note.
note.YMlerday
YMlerday a new ccmlc paper called
Porker appeared , devoted to ridicule of &
bloated enemy of higher civilization. "Ah , "
eight Jonathan , "war and sausages are not
tha same things. What a pity. "
England , ot course , Is abused In all the
papers aa much as ever.
1VOVIJ1 SKM THE FIGHT.
Wnnt to Go nn llnnnl American nnil
8innlnh ShlitH.
( Copj-rlftht. ISM. by Press I'ub'.UhlngCompany. . )
LONDON , April 29. ( New York World Ca
blegram Special Telegram. ) The Standard
Vienna dispatch says :
Rurela will send naval officers on board
American and Spanish war shli as eye wit-
ncrses In the coming Lati.lca , provided permli-
elon can be obtained , which ts regarded as
doubtful. The Interest of Rutsla In the prcs-
ent war Is evidenced by her leading states
man having Started the Idea , which was socn
taken up by the colleagues In Berlin , Paris
and Vienna , thit the first real battle mint bo
used for ending the war which practically
means European pressure on Spain to give
Cuba up , leal If the war lasts too long the
United States should create a powerful navy.
( The question of the Prlllpptnes Is alco
brought Into dlscu slon from the same olde
as the original source. Today's Frcmdenblatt
uay9 the final fate of the Philippines may de
pend on other things perhaps than the rwult
of a naval battle between the Spaniards and
Americans. The eastern Asiatic group ot
rich Islands , commands such an Important
position that it Is difficult to thfnk It will
be disposed Of in so 'off-hand a manner by
two belligerents.
Vatcrland , a clerical paper , states thut
however strictly neutrality Is observed at the
moment by all sides Incidents may arise
which would put an end to It and give the
war an unexpected extension.
The Standard's 'Berlin ' dispatch Bays : 1
have heard at the 'American ' embassy that
the recent rumors In the German papers of
a considerable decrease In German-American
passenger traffic are quite unfounded. The
contrary rather la the case. The counter-
raandlng of many American orders for Ger
man goods , however , Is unfortunately a fact.
In the Interest of smokers of Havana cigars
I hear bho celeDratcd firm of Bock & Henry
Clay forwarJed a whole store of cigars last
week on board a French mall steamer. Ger
main dealers have been buying all the
Havanas they could get the week past , but
their stores will only last three months at the
longest.
The Dally Telegraph special from Hong
Kong eas : The Philippine rebel leader ,
Agulnaldo , who was president of the council
of the late Insurgent government , Is ex
pected to arrive here Saturday. The report
that ho was on board the flagship of the
American squadron Is quite untrue. Agu'saldo
and colleagues are elaborating a plan for
making a descent near Manila and have se
cured a vessel for the purpose. They have
a plentiful supply of arms and ammunition
from the magazines of Commodore Dewey's
squadron.
The Dally Telegraph's Gibraltar dispatch
says : The Spanish battleship Pelayo , the
armored cruder Carlos V , the protected
cruiser Alfonso XH1with several torpedo
boats , are still In the straits.
GI7IC3IAX PI113SS TAKES A FLOP.
Given Little Credence to American
ItciiortN of lloiiibnriliueut.
( CopyrlKlit , 189S , by Press 1'ubH-hlns Company. )
BERLIN , April 29. ( New York Word } Ca
blegram Special Telegram. ) The German
press , as long as fighting was carried on In
Cuba between the Spaniards and the Insur
gents , habitually gave -no credence to oOclal
Spanish reports of Spanish victories. Now
In the choice between acceptance of Spanish
and American reports an ostentatious at
tempt ia made hero to cast doubt on Ameri
can uccouotu of events and accept as vera
cious reports from Madrid. The National
Zcltung today insolently says that neither
the opinion nor the belief ot American offl-
cora on the results of the bombardment of
the earthworks of iMataazas can be accepted.
It lu amusing toatch the absurd efforts of
the newspapers here to minimize the im-
portance of ( American operations.
Bismarck , In reply to an interview In a
Lclpric newspaper , maintained great reserve
regarding the Spanlsh-Amerlcaa quarrel and
refused to be drawn out. My opinion is
that ho Is decidedly opposed to the Monroe
doctrine and approves Germany's retinal to
Issue r. declaration of neutrality on the
ground that something might happen which
would call for the Interference of Germany.
The news about the raising of American ton
nage dues creates the greatest dissatisfac
tion In shipping circles In Hamburg and
Bremen. Pressure la being brought to bear
on the government to persist In energetic
protests ,
LOUD WOLSEI.EY IS tOMI\G AROUXD.
TliInU * the American Army anil Navy
.Much Superior to Spain
LONDON , April 29. A prominent English-
man who believes In the Justice of Amer
ica's cause and who Is also of the opinion
that the United States will certainly have
walkover , h Lord Wolte'ey. the commander.
In-chief of the British forces. During a din
ner party conversation Lord Wolseley drew
a parallel between Cuba and Crete , saying :
"V.'hllo England Interfered In Crete on
moral grounds , the United States has both
moral and material justification for Inter-
veniltn. I bellcvo the quality of the Amer
ican army and navy Is so much superior to
Spain's that the Americans will have no
difficulty In defeating Spain's ships and land
forccf. which are their equals or superiors
on paper only. "
Sl'IAMSH SHU'SAltE 'AT MA.MLU.
n.Admiral loT e > ' Fleet In SlKliteil OR
the CoaHt.
HONQ KONG. April 30. It Is denied 'that
the Spanish fleet hap left "ManlM to meet '
the American squadron. On the contrary It
Is assorted that the Spanish war ships will
remain In Manila bay to assist the forts.
It Is reported from Manila that the Amerl-
can war ships have been sighted oft BaoH-
nao , but the weather has been too stormy
for Hie fleet to communicate wl'b the rebels.
All Manila te'egrarus are ccisorlzcd and
communication with Ilo.ig Kong has been
suspended ,
Woodfortl SullH Today.
( Cop > rluhl , lk9S , by 1'ress I'ub'IfhlnR Company. )
PARIS. April 29. ( New York World Cablegram -
blegram SpeMal Telegram. ) General Woo.l. .
ford , accompanied by Mr. Sickle , hU secre
tary of legation , and the nival and military
attaches , will call by La ouralne tomorro\
from Havre for Nev York. They will go
thence to Wa.Ulngton. Mrs. und Mlfa Wood ,
ford will remain In Paris for the present.
The recall of General Woodford was highly
unexpected and orders were only cabled ti
him lest
Saco Arrive * .
( CopjrlKiit. UW. by l rr * ruWWiln ? Company. )
KEY WEST , Fla. . April 29.-New York
World Cablegram Special Telegram. ) The
Saco , wl'.ci Pamaster Simpson , b * arrived ,
three dajs overdue
HOW TO HELP THE CUBANS
Arms and Ammunition Needed Wono
Than Anything Else ,
OOD , CLOTHING AND MULES IN D1MAND
Gome * and Gnrcln.l'roiicrljEqnlppcd ,
Can Do a Oood Job In Clean
ing Oat the 1'raud
SpaulnrdH.
Copyright , ISM , by Pr s ruttlihlnff Company. )
KEY WEST , Fla. , April 29. ( New York
Vorld 'Cablegram Special Telcgrara.-tto )
oluntecr troops are needed in Cuba and very
< ew ' regulars will be sufficient. It would be
rlmlnal to send 60,000 American soldiers
ver the gulf stream , not because of epidemic
" Iscase ; there Is no such a thkig In the
'ountry ' In 'Cuba. ' Not because of loss of life
'n ' great engagements ; there Is no necessity
n having them. Uut to send many men to
Juba would bo criminal because useless.
T 'hey ' ) are aot needed. ( Rifles and cartridges ,
'ood , clothing and mules are needed. i
There are 30,000 there to use them. They
re native-born. They have learned Spanish
military mcthoda , until they seemingly only
have to hear of a column of troops six miles
away to know Just what It will do , Just when
nd Just how. They have learned It by thir-
een years of practical experience. They arc
rave.
"Thirty thousand against 250,000" proves
.hat , without going Into relative armament ,
oed supplies , transportation and communtca-
j on , all .Immensely In favor of the greater
number. | Enable Gomez and Garcia to equip
ho Cubans fcr war and they will make It
hard and strong. Give them rifles. They
mown how to use them. Men who for three
rears have each had an average of ten car-
rldgce la their boxes , and none to follow ,
lave learned not to waste them.
Our commission has not yet returned from
Gomez. It Is certain he will say : "Give me
al rtlllery , munitions aol mule trains and I
can do the rest. "
He can. Ho could not were Cuba's to
pography and climate. European or Ameri
can. He could not , had Blanco Intelligent
officers end good supply basce. But the ex
act military situation In Cuba today is Juat
the coodltlan for Gomez to utilize If armed
and supplied. Ho has at the lowest estimate
30,000 men who have handled arms and arc
accustomed to Spanish fire. The enthusi
astic Cuban Junta probably claims 100,000.
The truthful Gomez put It last January at
35,000. There are undoubtedly BO.OOO In
Cuba available for armament. But the esti
mate of 30,000 men now ready for business
only lacludcs Cuban eoldlcrs , neither em
ployes of tde civil government organizations
nor rancheros. The fatuers and the support
ers of families living in the woods having
failed to obey Weyler's reconcentratlon are
included. They , however , would be most
tueful , as they now are , as siouts , and many
would undoubtedly Join the regular forces.
NEED LITTLE ASSISTANCE.
Fully armed , equipped and supplied , Gomez
and Garcia can with a little physical assist
ance clear the Island of Spanish tascs for
Spanish food , and of themselves compel the
quick surrender of all the Spanish forces
outside of Havana , Matanzas and Clenfuc-
gos. These ports and their corralled forces
can too starved or taken at Sampson's will
Thla statement that 30,000 Cubans can
easily destroy all but three Spanish bases
and capture three-fourths of the Spanish
troops may appear atxuird to our mili
tary authorities. It would be absurd If not
based upon what may be called absurd mili
tary conditions , and that le the term fnr
Spanish strength outside of the cities men
tioned.
Take a map.of Cuba and note the fact that
all Spanish supplies come first to Havana.
That is Cuba's military heart. The further
away from that the weaker each Spanish
post In food and munitions. lAnd they are
absurdly weak at their best. Ex-SpanUh
( M'ulster Canalejas admitted last November
that the Spanish troops were starving. There
never was a surplus In any fcase except the
three mentloncJ. There Is less now. There
will bo nothing soon. This means death to
Oubin ecrKombatants our proteges as
18d
well aa to Spanish military movements , and
the Island should be taken quickly.
This Is what Gomez can do. Ask him
what he wants , then send Gomez what he
wants and where ho wants It , and at ouce.
The coast Is ours. The Island Is like a rib
bon and with easy , deep approaches to all
necessary parts of its coast line. Our trans
ports coulJ start simultaneously for all In
surgent bodies. 'Before ' the ships canbcv
started each leader to be supplied caa t > c
gfvcn by Gomez official Instructions and
brought to the point of disembarkation and
unloading.
Knowing that cartridges in plenty are soon
aod surely to come , Gomez can use what
ammunition he has In the total disablement
of every railroad In Cuba. They have onlr
beoa allowed to rua heretofore because they
have paid heavy Insurgent taxes. There IB
now no Spaniard water transportation , and
with the railroads gene the poorly supplied
Spanish bases would bo absolutely Isolated.
This can bo accomplished by the time breech-
loading Springfield rifles , cartridges , supplier
and mules can bo gotten onto the 'Cuban
coast.
SPAIN WEAK TIN IISIEI B.V3T.
*
Eastern Cuba nced not be considered.
Spain Is weckest there. Garcia baa perhaps
.
12,000 men. Spain's best fighting general ,
Scgura , told me last December tbat Garcia
had 16,000 armed soldiers. As Boon as sup
plied Garcia could desert eastern Cuba and
march , as only Cubans can march , due west.
He has the best disciplined considerable
force In Cuba. Garcia would need four com
panies of United States cava'.ry. Our In
fantry could not wisely attempt to keep up
with hardened Cuban foot soldiers. I have
seen these men march forty miles a Cay
for seven days , and on almost nothing but
sugar cano for food.
No artillery would eeera necessary to this
eastern chief. There la no Important town
In that department but Santiago and that
is Isolated and can least be considered. Our
transport landing at a point on the south
cast near Garcia would equip him. Our
government tug or torpedo bat could keep
abreast of his position and maintain com-
munlcatlon between Garcia and Gomez and
the United States government , The Island
is a ribbon , and the quickest way , older than
by rail , to communicate between the east
ern and western or central portions , U by
eei.
Gomez could march at once. He might
bave twenty-live field pieca , one troop of
cavalry and one regiment of regular Infan
try from the states. What are called forti
in Cuba are square hole * In the ground with
wooden covers. None bave artillery. A few
are small < maionry guard houses. The aver
age garrison la about thirty men. There sr rr r
none of theee which , cannot , bc quickly re-
duccd by a thirty-two Jnth flBM piece , and no
town has over A doittf ot , ' hern. Our cav
alry and Infantry would ser ! as stiffening
examples to ( be njttlre ' ( ftopa. The only
rcasca these two ro .nectWiry' Is Just t' at
they arc needed In Quba for nothing else ,
and tdelr moral effect la all Gomez requires
to make good soldiers of bli men If once
anned.
NEEDS LITTJJS FORAGE.
If munitions are early landed within forty
miles of Gomcz'e prefect position ho will
need little while In Santa Clara. There ! a
excellent grazing ( bore.
Matanzaij has much. ur,4r cane also. Go
mez could take Sanctl Splrltus , Santa Claia
and the smaller towns on his line of march
without Interfering with his progress and
Garcia marching llghf could catch him In
two weeks near Matanzai. If quicker Junc
tion were desired , Garcla's men could be
put aboard Irani-ports and landed near Go
mez In a few tlajs. Gomez can pick up all
local Cuban forces on hla march and with
Garcia from the cast , meeting Mayla Rod
riguez from Plnar del Ro , arrive behind
Havana In three weeks with 20,000 men.
From the moment the railroads are broken
| the smaller cities of Cuba will hold , prac
. tically useless , fully two-thlrdo ot the Spaa-
'Ish army of about 60,000 able bodied men.
There Is nothing toeat In the country that
the Spanish troops could flnJ or tbat would
support their number ten doija It they did
not discover hidden plantations. Three yeara'
observation of Spanish , "military character
istics ehoua that coco 'cut ' off from com
munication with the Interior the Spanish
forces ' will simply etay In the towns or If
they march at all It wll ) have to bo toward
Hcnana , and tbey could easily and scpap
rately be Intercepted anq detained. Once at
Havana If 20,000 Cubans and United States
cavalry Is not enough coupled with the mat
rlno forces then more can be sent. They
need not go before.
There was never a struggle PO little understood -
stood as the Cuban-Spanish one. Spain's
troors are not generally known to be now
practically useless tram a military point 'of
view , through the grosd stupidity of Spanish
offlters. They are brave , but they do no *
know how to conduct troops. The men
themselves are magnificently steady and
calm , but tbey bave never been drilled.
They don't know how to shoot. Add to
these radical acid blighting defects the
starved condition of the troops anJ clearly
the United Statd * overestimating the
Spanish army in Cuba and greatly under
estimating the Cubans It ) It does not Im
mediately enable them ' to fight vigorously.
"
' "
SCOVBL.
HAVANA IS FEXCIJD , I.IIY STEHI
Itellef SiipiilleN for SifTcrlnK CubniiH
Arc Shut Oni-
( CopJTlRht. 1S98 , by I'lfbS I'ubHthlnff Company. )
ON BOARD THE TRITON. April 27 ( via
Key West. April 29)-f ) New York World
'Cablegram ' Specjal Ttlegr m. ) The block
ade ts a fact. [ Havana Is fenced In by atcel.
Out the misery ot it All Is that the Cubans
will starve before. , the Spaniards feel or.e
hungry pang. Big transatlantic liners have
for two weeka been cjinjd.'tis Into Havana-
harbor , laden andcUecli-lo-iCed with food. It
has beeu .only for Sjxinlarfs , who are those'
who have the , money , and for Spanish
soldiers , who at , least must bo fed by their
government. The Cubans must starve.
They cannot buy ; they 'have , oo money and
their only .means of obtaining food for their
wives cod llttlorbnes < wlll now be to shoulder
Spanish rifles. ' "
<
The latest Havana dispatches now show
( be earnestness o ! ther Spaniards. Natu
rally and doggedly tenacious , they trill re
sist a mere blockade Indklattely. The Amer
ican ehipti will be starvjag the people whom
America sent them there to save. To live ,
Havana Cubans must turn ttaltors to their
own country and be armed , enemies to their
benefactors. > _
'Admiral ' Sampson pbeyg lils'blockadlng or
ders with energy and with sorrow. He fces :
however , that 4the administration will soon
see the futility of a plan which starves cur
allies before It touches , our enemies and will
allow him to act. The admiral's real wish
and the plan mos $ vigorously held by his
chief of atatt , Captain Chadwlck , was to
make quick , -hot work at abort range SOO
yardo and thjrteen-lnch , guns. These , the
officers hold , would , moke short work of Ha
'
vana's only defenses agg'tast approach from
the northwest , the Santa * Clara and Vedado
batteries. It must bo all over In two hours.
Strategic objectors In Washington In-
flucnced Secretory Lang .and President Mc-
Klnley and a week ago ( hey absolutely for
bade any direct attack. Their idea , was that
should we lose one or two battleships and
were Spain's Combined navy to cross the
seas and attack , wo would be putwelghted.
Secretary Long also stated the Impossibil
ity of buying battleships Already made.
"Tin fhlps" are all tbat can bo bought , he
thinks.
Admiral Sampson readily gave up carefully
studied , minutely-detailed end cherished
, plans for attacking Ha\ana's new batteries
acid formulated the Mariano bay scheme of
a demonstration and an Ultimatum and the
consequent speedy Spanish evacuation of
, IIavana or Its safe bombardment. This plan
iseerns ported. It may now be fully de-
scrlbed.
(
Captain General Dlanco has neither the
gun ? , the torpedoes or- the time to prepare
further against It. Mariano Day's position
would enable Admiral Sfinpson to capture
Havana Infinitely sooner iban by 'blockade
and with a thousand tlraeaimore humanity.
The Vedado battery jpoastsscs only tour
guns which would beat * upon any baltlwh'lp
or monitor Inside Mariano bay or at its
nxmth. They are not oversight Inch. Holmes
puts them at sx , and'ao < lo I. Government
drawings show that nothing else In Havana
bears far enough westward , except the tec-
end Vedado battery of r fl d mortare. Even
these would have to be remounted to Imperil
property , and all the complicated calcuU-
tlons for -their fire would iequlro careful re
vision. Before this cou.14 fee done General
Blanco would have bad to .surrender or cui-
taln nopelew , useless bombardment from
fleet at short range for th'e'ehlps , but at an
Impossible angle for .the good guiu ot Ha
vana's only formidable ( Santa Clara ) bat
tery.
No gun , morUr or other * lie ea t of Morro
could be used , at all. Even with' bli Vedado
mortar battery Grnsral Dlanco would bo pit-
l.'ully powerless. "He would have six eight-
Inch mortars bunglingly handled , a U
proved by the rscsnt prpjeotllepractlce _ , and
four modern Runi7Dot eve eight-Inch. The
main batteries of the Iowa and Indiana and
three monitors alone count twenty guns , all
ten-Inch or over ( h caliber.
*
WHh hli five big-gunned ships In Mariano
bay Admiral Sarnpron would tadeed have
Havana , at his me cy. Lrlng to In smooth
water , well sheltered fVom , pr v lllng east
erly wlnis and yndUturbed by any but com
parative pdlet * torn the enemy , well trained
American Kunnrr * could demojlrb Havana's
( Oootinaed on Second P n. )
RECRUITING THE COMPANIES
Nebraska Guard to Be Baited to Its Foil
War Strength.
LETTER FRCM WAR DEPARTMENT ARRIVES
Order * Mohlllmatlon nt Omaha Mnc-
tcrn More Men Wanted In
2 nrh Company to Kill
the Hill.
LINCOLN , April 29. ( Special Telegram. )
The governor rms Just received the long-
expected letter of instructions from tbe War
department. It directs that the two regi
ments bo made up ot twelve companies each
of a. maximum strength of eighty-four and
a minimum of eighty , each regiment to have
eighteen reglmontal officers , the total num
ber of men and officers to be 2,054. The
letter also directs that the troops be mobil
ized at' Omaha. The governor will Ifcsue an
order Immediately looking to the recruiting
of the companies to the full strength re
quired by the War department. It Is prob
able that he will also communicate with the
War department and recommend that the
mobilization occur at Lincoln Instead ot
Omaha.
The letter received by the governor was as
follows :
WASHINGTON , April 23. To the Gov
ernor of Nebraska ! Sir Under the net of
congress to "provide for temporarily In
creasing the military establishment of the
United States In time of war , nnd for other
purposes , " approved April 22 , 1SS , nnd call
for 123,000 volunteers , by direction of Me
president , I have the honor to request you
to provide from your state the quota of
volunteers as follows :
Two regiments of Infantry , to serve In
the arms of service designated , for the
period of two years , unless sooner dis
charged. Attached will be found a state
ment showing the organization for artillery ,
cavalry nnd Infantry.
Please cause the adjutant general ot t'.io
army to be Informed of the time your quota
will be nt the rendezvous , 113 it will be met
ns soon as practicable thereafter by un
officer to muster Into the service and pay
ot the United States. The mustering officer
will be Instructed to receive no man under
the rank of commissioned ofllccrs who Is
In years over 43 or under 18 , or who Is not In
physical strcngt'a and vigor. As soon as
mustered into the United States service , It
is the Intention that troops from your
state shall be assembled with others for
Instruction and service under the direc
tion ot the major general commanding the
army , at some point or points to be desig
nated hereafter. It Is desired for reasons
stated In telegram ot t'nls date that , as
far as practicable , the National Guard be
given the preference.
OMAHA THE POINT.
The rendezvous of your state will be
Omaha. If , from any cause , It Is found
necessary to change point of concentration ,
your recommendation Is requested.
Bands may be organized from the
trength of the regiments as In the regular
army , viz. : See paragraph 213 , Army Ketsu-
latlons , 1893. Very
Secretary of War.
The section of the Jaw defining the
strength of the regiment which Is referred to
In the secretary's letter provides that the
regimental officers shall be one colonel , one
lieutenant cotonel , two majors , one adjutant ,
quartermaster , surgeon , two assistant sur-
1 geons , one chaplain , one sergeant major , one
quartermaster sergeant , one chief musician ,
two principal musicians , three hop'.tal stew
ards , making a totalof' eighteen reglmqntal
officers. The company officers are to be :
One captain , one first and one second lieutenant -
tenant , one first sergeant , one secwd ser
geant , four sergeants , twelve corporals , two
musicians and one artificer , one wagoner for
the company of a minimum of fifty-five and
a maximum , of fifty-nine privates , making a
total maximum for the 'company of eighty-
four.
ORDER TO MUSTER IN.
Lieutenant Stotscnberg of the United
States oivalry received a telegraphic notice
today that he had been designated as the
officer to muster the Nebraska National
Guard Into Jhe service , and that Instructions
had been mil'ed. Ths lieutenant left on the
first train to Omaha to prepare for tbo mus-
terlne In. It Is now conceded by the offi
cials that the Guard Is to be taken to Omaha
to bo mustered , and U Is believed that the
move will be made Monday , If not sooner.
The rumor has been prevalent throughout
the camp that the "boys were to be marched
to Omaha , taking four days for the trip , and
that they wore to start tomorrow afternoon.
This Is not borne out by official Information ,
and the move tbat was made this afternoon
discredits such an Idea. Telegrams wore
sent since noon to the various railroads con
necting Omaha and Lincoln asking that bids
be rent before 6 o'clock tomorrow morning
for the tiansDortatlon of the troops to
Omaha. The estimate Is for 2,000 men , eich
to carry not to exceed 200 pounds baggage ,
also for the transportation of eight horses.
The early hour for tbo receipt of the bids
would Indicate that a move for tomorrow Is
contemplated.
.VTTEMl'T TO IIMUV UP l UIUT.t.\ .
Spaniard on Hoard IN CniiKht In the
Act.
( CopyrlKht , ISM , by Tree1 * I'ub'.lthlng Compiny. )
KEY WEST , Fla. , April 29. ( New York
World Cablegram Special Telegram. ) Ttio
mcoltor Puritan was saved from the Maine's
fate by a * turret boy Tuesday evening as it
lay oft Matanzas.
The Spaniard who tried to blow up the
double turrcted monitor and hundreds of
men Is Carlos IngMslas , a Spanish second
clats fireman. He nao found borlog boles
In the door of the twelve-Inch magazine.
In his hand was a quantity of waste cotton
soaked In turpentine. In his clothes were a
number of cartridges. Had he got the cottcu
ablaze into the magazine and bad be suc
ceeded In firing off tbe cartridges a hundred
nun would have been ecnt Into eternity
without warning. A thin wall of steel wau
all that stood between them and death and
tills Inglaslas was quickly wearing down ,
when a turret boy crept upon him unawares.
Ho was in his bare feet. He crept stealth
ily to the deck and whispered what bo saw
to Master-at-Arms Flnnbolt , who hurried
down etalrs and caught the Spaniard. He was
seized and made no resistance.
First he said : "I meant no barm. " Then
he tried to explain. He was hurried to deck.
A search revealed feventy-flve keje , many
ekeletcn and a number of rifle cartridges.
Hla comrades crowded around him and
looked ugly. He turned to one and said
doggedly : "It I had reached tbem I would
have blown you and the rest to hell. I am
not afraid to die for my country. "
Pome of the men tried to get at him.
Great excitement prevailed. He wat hurrleJ
below decks and put In double cbaJni , Four
icotries were placed over him night snd day.
A court ot Icxjulry ot three of bli superiors
THE BEE BULL ;
Weather Portent for Ntbratka
Threatening ; Variable Wind * .
I'nce.
1 Spnln'n Fleet I nvcn St. Vincent.
Kent Wny to Help the Cnlimm.
IteemltlnK the Atllltln Companion.
Spain KlKhtlnir AKHlnnt Fate.
- Holme I'nuxe * the Itevenne Hill.
Mure Men Onlereil tii Tampa.
Knterlnir the Heiri'lnr Army.
! t \obritnkn New * .
limit Storm il'reventn Drill.
\Vlrc I'ullliiK for CummliiNlanM.
4 Eilltorlal anil Cninnieiit.
B SnmpNon'ii vMutniiBnH Itnmhnrdnicnt
Altai nt Smith Oninlin.
O Council II In fix Local Mnttera.
IOMIIeiN and Comment.
7 Sportlnur Kteiit * of n Hnj >
Dtlll'N llltNlnCHH IttMleTT.
ItnteH for the Contentions.
8 CountHelpH KxpoNltlon Aualn.
O AVomcii'iiVork In the War.
1(1 ( llltN of Feminine Gonnlp.
It Commerelal and Financial XeTV .
J2 "The ScrKcntit of the Guard. "
Temperature at Oinahai
Hour. DOR. Hoar. Dew.
f a. m 47 1 p. in TO
< > n. n > 17 2 p. n IIS
7 n. m nt : p. m UN
N iv. m f.-l 4 ii. in OH
" a. m ( It R p. m 117
1 < > a. in (14 ( I p. m ( | ( |
11 a. in (1.1 7 p. m ( ! %
IS m (17 H p. m (14
O p. m ( lU
examined the circumstances. The Spaniard
made all sorts of explanations , but a court-
martial was orderoJ convened Immediately.
Jglastas has been In the navy five and one-
half years. Ho would have left the navy la
less than half a year. He was formerly on
the crulspr Minneapolis and has been acting
storekeeper on board the Puritan. Iglaslas
has been under surveillance for several
weeks , but no one expected he was reckless
enough to blow himself up with the ship.
Another Spaniard and close friend of the
prisoner Is also watched ami the Puritan's
experience has awakened special vigilance In
the fleets. There are a number of Spaniards
on the various fleets and the Puritan's ex
perience may lead to the dismissal ot them
all.
all.Tho
The various ships know ot the dastardly
attempt and the cry tonight Is stronger than
ever : "Remember the Maine ! "
It Is thought Iglaslas had a double pur
pose In his ir.uiJ. IHc would have made It
plausible before- the world Spain's claim , that
the iMatao destruction was Internal and
would have decreased our , naval superiority.
Captain Harrington of the Puritan aald :
"I can't tell anything about the ship , hut I
am witling to tell what I did at Matanzas.
Iglaslas was tin Irons Wednesday lUtenlog
to the guns that allencci ! the batteries. Ho
now acts like a crazy man. Ho Is about 34
years old , iwas born In Spain and Is Intel
ligent. ( Ho may be shot If fou > Jd guilty. "
The facts in this dispatch were obtained
from men aboard the Puritan.
I1AD CO.MUTIO.VS IN PORTO IlICO.
, " ' "
Starvation nnil Dlnciiitej Are Dcvantnt-
( CopyrlKht. 1S9S. by Tress I'uVfililnp Company. )
ST. THOMAS , West Indies , April 29.
( Now York World Cablegram Special Tele-
gram. ) Famine and smallpox are killing
men , women and children In Porto nico. The
conditions In the Interior are horrible. Chil
dren are perishing of starvation and the vil
lages ' are petl.iontng the government for suc
cor. ' Smallpox Is epidemic. Draught ani
mals ' are dying and the desperate , starving
peasants ' are killing beeves In the highways ,
cutting them up and distributing the portions
tions among tbo hungry.
The mayors of municipalities Insist upon
an extensive cultivation of vegetables In
anticipation ( of a elege. The prohibition of
the exportation of cattle Is agitating the
people. Their Indignation has been excited
by the rapacity of the merchants , who have
decreased the pound weight by one-third
and increased prices 50 pr cent. Railroad
ratesupon provisional freight Into tbo In
terior have aggravated the situation. The
mad rush of frightened Porto RIcans from
the coast to the Interior upon learning of
the declaration of _ war has raised to exor
bitance the rents' of houses. Temporary
palm huts have been thrown up and freight
cars have been converted Into human hab
itations. The asylum near the castle was
vacated by Ita Inmates , who fled into the
Interior. Laborers throughout the Island
bave struck for higher wages because of the
advance ot the prices of food. Disorder and
discontent are great.
An attempt has been made to burn the
small town of Yauco near the coast. Street
fights are common. Thrco persons have al
ready been killed at the capital and several
wounded. The government has made prom
ises ot relief. The election rioters of Cayes
have been liberated and have received an
enthusiastic reception. The Spanish au
thorltles are making flattering promises to
the people to hold them to their allegiance.
The financial situation Is critical. Banks
are suspending. Bankers refuse to eel
drafts. Paper Is discounted 90 per cent.
The Colonial bank refuses Spanish paper.
Spanish exporters In New York exact pre
payment on the shipment of provisions. It
Is reported that Canadian merchants offer
supplies at current rates.
The opening of the Insular parliament has
been postponed Indefinitely by order ot Cap
tain General Macias. The old ministry has
been overthrown and a new ministry sworn.
Mew tariff rates have been Initiated.
Twenty-tlvo thousand troops are expected
from Spain. iBakers are hurrying orders for
1CO.OOO pounds of biscuits for them. The
militia la organizing In all the towns. Cap
tain General Maclas has accepted the offer
ct an escort composed of natives. A sub
scrlptlon to help defray the cost of the war
and the augmenting of the navy la being
ralBcd. The tug iBorquIn has been detailed
to lay new mines. Tha Manuella towed two
schooners laden with coal to Mayglcs.
American and British Interests In Porto
nice are In grave danger. The consul In
charge of them Is said to be incompetent.
He Is now away on an extended honeymoon.
The vice consul Is said to be a Spanish sym
pathizer. Affairs are conducted by a clerk
formerly a valet named Crawford. Help has
been refused to citizens In distress. It Is
reported tbat Consul Hanna here has cabled
to Crawford , asking him to give his atten
tion to Americans and to the State depart
ment , asking that the Texas Grays and Ion a
niues bo sent at once to end the frlglitfu
situation. The Paulina tonight will try to
run the blockade to San Juan.
OEORGE BRONSON REA.
STEAMER I'AIUS SAFBLV A1IIUVES
Ii ! Sighted On Fire iHlnnil Knrl >
ThU Mornlnip.
NEW YORK , April 30. 2:47 : . m. The
American liner Paris has just been sighted
east ot Fire Island.
Temariirlo SHU nt Anchor.
BUENOS AYRES , April 29. The Spanls1
torpedo cruiser Tcmararlo Is still at onch :
FIGHT AGAINST FATE
Spain Endeavoring to Stave Off Evil Day
Long * as Possible.
KNOW3 THAT DEFfAF IS INEVITABLE
Books to Prolong- the Agony in Hope of
Intervention ,
LOOKS [ FOR POWERS TO STEP IN AGMN
Thinks , Heroic Resistance Will Exciie Much
European Sympathy ,
WILL TRY TO HOLD CUF SOM TIME YET
IlftlrvcN that Illimoo lit Cuba
Maeln * In I'orln II lee Can llun/j
on Through the Hnlny
( Copyrlsht , 1508 , by Press PuWIMilntf Company. )
MADRID , April 29. ( Message forwarded
from Madrid privately across the Spanish
rontlcr to the most accessible telegraph
tatlon In neutral territory ) New Yorlt
\Vorld Cablegram Special Telegram. )
pain will bend Its every energy to postpone
as long as possible the defeat It knows la
novltable. Its only hope now Is to prolong
.ho struggle for tiio sake ot Inducing Eu
rope's Interference. She thinks that by *
icrolc resistance In the face ot grrat odds
she may excite such admiration and syra-
lathy as will Impel the monarchies to save
icr from extinction by the great American
republic , whose efforts already have affected
Surorean trade and money markets very
seriously. She will provoke the continental
governments to Interpose on account of
heir own Jeopardized Interests.
The Spanish military men and other per
sons who arc thoroughly acquainted with
both the West Indies and the Pblltpptna
slaiulH arc of the opinion that from the mo
ment that a lack ot proper military organ
ization renders It Impossible for the United
States to throw immediately Into Cuba ,
[ 'otto Rico and the Philippines an over
whelming invading army , Spain will bo In
a position to make the struggle last
onger than America thought probable.
They base their arguments upon all their
past wars , especially those \\lth England.
_
They expect to bo able In the Philippines
to keep the Insurrection at hay and to repot
naval attacks \\hUJi are without means ti >
land 1 strong military'forces. They believe
that General Blanco In Cuba and General
Maclas In Potto Rico will hold out through ,
the rainy season , which will begin In May.
If their fleets , blockade runners and new
auxiliary cruisers succeed In landing am
munition , and war stores , tbey can hold out
some time longer. * *
I _
OF XAVAI , IIATTLE.
Commodore Oemey May AllfailHave
Met .SiinnlNli Fleet.
( Copyright , ISfiS. by 1'rasi l-ub l lilrtff Company. )
SINGAPOREStraits' Settlement , April 29.
( New York World Cablegram Special Tel
egram. ) The naval battle between the
United States and Spanish fleets la the Pa
cific may have been fought today oft the
Philippine Islands , U Is thought here.
The deepest Interest In the result Is felt
In this colony. Admiral Montljo , the Span
ish commander , has only three effective
flghtkig ships among the largo number un
der hla command. These are the single
swew second class Iron cruiser Relna
Christina of 3,000 tews an * the single screw
third claea unprotected crulseis Don An
tonio Deuelloa and Don Juan de Austria ot
1,150 tons each. Tbe rent of the fleet will
bo of little fighting value In combat with
the modern vessels of the United State *
squadron.
The truth regarding the battle Is not likely
to bo known until Commodore Dewey , the
American commander , gets control of the
cables at the Philippines. All telegraph mes-
sagca from there now are vigilantly watch * < l
and censored by the Spanish officials.
Commodore Dewey has with him on tno
flagship Olympla , for consultation , a former
Philippine rebel general , Joeo Alexandius ( or
Olcjandrint ) . Thte officer Is the son ot a
wealthy and Influential sugar planter of
< Aayat , Pampanga province. The father wcs
taken from his estate by the Spanish anil
deported because ho had been denounced by
the priests as a rebel. Ho died from the
exposure and privations to which ho was
subjected on the rood
, having been com
pelled to travel when ho was critically 111.
Hla efforts will tell in aiding the American
commander's operations at sea and liberat
ing the Philippines from Spanish misrule.
It would bo premature for mo to tell t
this time what his plans are for future
movements and actions In the war. Ulut I
may cable that Gcoeral Agulldado bad a
private , confidential Interview a short tlm
ago with the editor of the Singapore Free
Press In the office of
that Journal. I can
not give dates yet , as his movements might
be traced. \lisappearanco from Hong-
Kong having been reported to the Spaclsh
cor.sul hero efforts amounting to political
espionage were made to discover the pres
ence and the plans of the Philippine refugees
If In Singapore. The local Malay police were
employed secretly for this purpose , but the
exposure ot the consul's actlcu In the Free
Prco called the attention of Governor Sir
Charles Mitchell to the Improper Influence
brought to bear on the police. This will not
occur again.
LO.VDON , April 29. ( New York World
Cablegram Special Telegram. ) Tha Dally
Mail 'Hong Kong special says : Scarce noth
ing has been heard of tbo American fleet or
from 'Manila. Two days bave elapsed ani
Admiral Dewey's fleet should be sighted at
Manila tonight. Admiral Dewey considers
tbat his duty Is done when the Spanish fleet
Is captured and tbe safety ot American trad
ing vessels secured. Eleven of these vessels
are overdue end Americana feel exceedingly
anxious. The formation of a provisional
government -Manila will be announced at
the discretion of the American consul front
'Mtn'la ' , Mr. Williams. It la believed tbat not
many Sptn'ah ' troops at ( Manila have gone
Into tto Interior.
"iirltlilN I'iir of Cipher ll | iacbei.
MANILX , Pbltlppliw Island , April 29.
Tinro t nwient ' ! ni forbidden the use ot