Nebraska Newspapers

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THE OMAHA I DAILY BEE
ESTABLISHED JUJNE 10 , 1871 , OMAHA , FKIDAY MORNINGy AWHIL 29 , 1898 TWELVE PAGES. SINGLE COPY FIVE CENTS.
TALK OF MATANZAS
Bombardment is an Interesting Topic at
Washington.
OFFICIAL ACCOUNT IS NOT RECEIVED
Secretary Long Thinks it Was Bimplyan
Exchange of Ehots.
DOES NOT BELIEVE IT A REGULAR BATTLE
Prei'dent Gives No Orders Directing the
Ileet's Movements.
WAR APPROPRIATION IS NOW EXHAUSTED
Navy Uepnrtment Stop * IluylnK War
Sulpn for Lnck nf I'll mix , but
Think * CanirrcNH Will Come
to It * Ilellcf.
WASHINGTON , April 28. The ihdllng
of the Matanzas batteries was tbe topic of
absorbing Interest throughout naval and offi
cial circles today. It was dlscuraed"on the
basis of the press reports , as the Navy de
partment received no Information whatever.
Secretary Long said at 4 o'clock , as he
closed up hie office work for the day , that
no report had been received from Admiral
Sampson , nor was the Navy department ad
vised In any way of the shelling ot Matanzis.
Mr. Long- added that he felt no disposition
to keep from the public any news concerning
A f such an Important event as a naval engage-
' / mcnt or a battle. While It was ejstnt'al
that future strategic moves should be
guarded with tbc greatest care , yet he made
It clear that this did not- apply to events
after they had actually occurred , for as to
battles and their attendant casualties , he
' recognized that the public was entitled tc
- * * know what l.ad oceurreJ.
The secretary said that In the absence ol
all Information he was Inclined to believe
the shelling was confined to the exchange ol
a few shots , and did not assume the pro
portions of a regular bombardment.
' When his attention was directed to report ;
that the shelling wa ? the result of direct
orders from the president , the secretary salt
this was not so , as the president wis giving
no direct orders MI any of these movements
QUITS BUYING SHIPS.
The Navy department his complete ! )
ceased lie purchase of ships for conversloi
Into war vessels , owing to the exhaustion o
the { 50,000,000 war fund. It Is confidenUj
expected that congress will come to the re
lief , as the government Is still In need o
auxiliary vessels.
The news of the eafe arrival at Llverpos
of the big Sheoandoah was gladly recalvet
at the department. Consul Boyle at Liver
pool forwarded the Information.
The Port Royal dry docks , according 1 <
official -information , will soon be avallabli
for our ehlps , even the biggest ot the fleet
t'hould they meet with disaster. Tbe repori
of the constructor shone the entrance li
widened end clear. The work ot dredging
the basin Is still In course of completion
and will coon be flnUhed. Tbe contractor/ /
cellmate that fifteen .days more wilt ouffici
to complete It.
The bureau chiefs met today to begin thi
consideration of plans for three new battle
hips authorized by the naval approprlatlcr
bill , and progressed so far that circulars wll
be sent out tomorrow Inviting bids from thi
chip builders. The vessels will be'In th
main similar to the battleship Illinois nov
building at Newport News. They will bi
about 15,200 tons displacement , seventy-flvi
feet beam , twrnty-three and one-halt fee
depth , sixteen knots speed , will be covere. .
with heavy armor and armed with thirteen
Inch and six-Inch guns In addition to nu
meroua cecondary batteries.
CROWNINSHIEJLD WILL REMAIN.
It can be said authoritatively that there I
no present prospect of a change In the heai
of the navigation bureau. The present cfll
clent chief , Captain Crownlnshleld , thougl
anxious to take his place In the flghttni
line , has yielded his personal ambitions t
the urgent demands ot Secretary Long an
the president and will remain at his post
He Is in good health , votwlthstandlng th
icvere strain to which ho bas been sub
Jected.
A ratber striking sign of the Immtncn
evasion of Cuba was contained today in th
. chartering by the War department of elgh
'large steamers ot an average capacity o
bout 2,000 tons and able to carry from 50
to 1,200 passengers each. These arc to b
. 'used as transports for the conveyance ot th
first military expedition to Cuba.
Tie namps of the boats are tbe Ollvctt
nd Florida cf the Plant line ; the South
crn Pacific company's steamer Arunsas ; th
New York & Texas company's vessel !
ComaU now at New York , and the Malamc
now cnroute to the gulf , and three fin
thls ot the Boston Merchant & Miners' lln
In Baltimore , the Allegheny , the Berkahlr
and the Decatur Miller.
Tbc price i > ild for these vessels Is froi
110,000 to 115,000 for the thirty da > s to
whlc- they are engaged. They will b
ta en charao of by the quartermaster's de
partment at the earliest possible momen
General Stafter , in ccmmand of the Unite
States troops now concentrated at New Oi
leans , has been In consultation with th
officials today as to the execution of plan
for the campaign , but the orders given hit
cannot be made public.
CONSIDER ARMY APPOINTMENTS.
The president and cabinet will constde
tomorrow the largo number of application
for appointments for the peats of maja
general and brig-idler general , ani there I
conic expectation that the president wll
be able to nominate some of these officer
tomorrow.
General Lee arrived here today , after
ten da56' visit to his .family In Virginia
With him ramc Miss Cteneras. the youn
Cuban elrl rescued from Cabanas , who ba
been tbo guest ot MUs Lee.
The general chared the keen public le
tercit In the ehelllng ot Matanzas. He ha
visited this cly ( frequently , and was famllh
with tbo lay of the land and'defenses. H
Mid the batterlea were antiquated and wer
not likely to offer any formidable rtwlttancx
General Lee cays he has not yet receive
challenge to fight a duel , sent by the lat
naval attache at Washington. It la elate
< that three or four people have offered t
\ \ Accommodate the lleutetaut It be deelrca
5 meeting.
ojfi The French embassy here received a dU
patch trom PerU etatlng that a decree i
neutrality between France and the Unite
State * te been framed and that a cop
wouli b forwarded here. The
wrote the State department saying that the
ecreo would bo forwarded.
Mexico , Argentine , Coroa and Belgium
lave alio proclaimed neutrality. Corea's heu-
tallty Is considered Important owing to lie
> roxlmlty to the Philippines.
GERMANY STILL WAITS.
The State department has beard nothing
rom Germany , but this causes no apprehen-
Ion , owing to the strong assurances that It
will observe neutrality between the two bcl-
Igerenta. This assurance was conveyed to
Vmbasaador White , odd Is looked upon as
practically equivalent to a formal declara-
lon of neutrality. Germany , Austria and Por-
ugal are the last of the Important' European
nations to decluro 'their attitude.
The apprehension an to Portugal's course
was considerably relieved today by the call
f Vlacount Do Santo Thyrto , who gave strong
wjurances to the State department that Por-
ugal would remain strictly neutral. The
'ortugueso minister expects the official dec
oration almost hourly.
Although Portugal explains Its delay on
the ground that the declaration of war was
not made until the 24th Instant , yet Great
Britain declared neutrality with unusual
promptness.
The effect of Great Britain's speedy action
was to force the United States fleet to leave
long Kong , while the effect of Portugal's
delay has been to permit the Spanish fleet
to remain at the Cape Verde Islands. The
speedy action was harmful to American In-
ercsts , while the delayed action was equally
larmful.
Attention Is now being centered on the
action of Austria. Its delay In declaring nou-
rallty causes no material Inconvenience , be
cause Austria has no ports at which Spanish
ships can take refuge , but It discloses that
Austria's strong Interests are with Spain.
FOREIGN SHIPS PAY THE TAX.
Foreign governments , through their repre
sentatives at Washington , are beginning to
show much concern over that feature of the
war tariff bill before congress which In
creases the tonnage tax on transatlantic
shipments 20 cents a ton. It IB said this la
about &OQ per cent , the present rate being
'about ' 3 cents a ton , and that nearly the
entire burden of the 800 per cent Increase
falls on the transatlantic shipping of Great
Britain , Germany , France and one or two
other commerlal nations.
A leading diplomatic official today eald
that roughly speaking the Atlantic trade
waa carried on by about 100 American steamships -
ships , and about 4,000 British , French , Ger
man , and other foreign steamships , so that
the heavy tonnage tax would ba practically
Insignificant oo against American steam
ship : , while1 It would be 'very onerous agalnsl
foreign shipping. A traceatlantlc liner ol
10,000 tons , he said , would pay at 2 (
cents per ten , $2,000 , every time It entered
an American port.
Thuo far , however , no official action haf
been taken on the subject by foreign nations
and It docs not seem likely that such acttor
Is possible , as the heavy tonnage tax Is con-
sldered a war expedient.
There are Intimations , however , that l !
may have Uie effect of diverting shlpptat
away from American ports to Halifax , Montreal -
treal and other Canadian ports.
In other respects the war tariff bill attract ;
little atttcntlon from foreigners , as the male
Increase of taxation Is on Articles of do
mestic consumption , while duties on forelgr
Imports remain practically unchanged.
JUST LOOAT1X1S Til 13 1IATTEIUES
IlenNonM for Firing ; nt tin
SpnnlMli Fort * .
WASHINGTON , April 28. A membei
of the strategy .board , who Is , o
course. thoroughly conversant with the plam
of Admiral Sampson so far as they havi
been generalized , Is authority for the state
mcnt that the admiral had no Intention what
ever at this time to bombard the Matanzai
battery. To do eo now would be bad stra
tegy and of little avail , for In the absenci
of any landing force the admiral would bi
unprepared to take advantage of the victor ]
he might gain through a reduction of thi
forte and the Spaniards might have ampli
opportunity over night to repair In a largi
measure the damage inflicted on their fortl
flcatlons. It Is stated positively that Ad
in Ira 1 Sampson's purpose was simply to ascer
tain If any shore batteries existed at Mataa
zau and If so to draw their fire and ascer
tain their character and then to retire be
yond range. In other words. It was simply c
naval reconnolssance.
In the event that during hie observation !
the admiral discovers the new defense ;
were under construction on shore , be would
It Is said , of course not lose the opportunlt ]
to cripple them by throwing a few shell'
Into the earthworks and endeavoring ti
knock over a gun or two. It le the genera
belief at ttie department , however , tha
Matanzas Is to be soon reduced and- made i
base of operations In the campaign agalnis
Havana. It Is also the president's purpoci
to keep In njlnd throughout the war UN
awful condition of tbc reoncentrados , wb <
are most numerous In and around Matanza3
Unless relief Is extended to them they un
doubtcdly will perish during the progres :
of a Icng drawn out war.
The reported seizure by the Spanls !
military authorities at Matanzas oL store
contributed by Americans and held In trus
there for the relief of these poor sufferers I
regarded as a clear Indication that even 1
the Red Cross steamer Texas U perm'.tte
to land Its cargo of supplies at Matanza
u-jJcr existing conditions , the food will no
reach the reconcentrados , but will only go I
support the Spanish garrison in their re
sistanco. Therefore , It is believed that th
president contemplates the early seizure o
Matanzai , not only because of Us Importance
but -fa order that he may from there hoi
out a helping hand to the starving peasantry
It Is likely , therefore , that while there wa
nothing of the nature of a general engage
ment ti Admiral Sampson's recoanalssanc
of yesterday , ho will soon -take steps to be
gin a heavier and lively bombardment c
Matanzas.
Senator Money of Mississippi was on
of the early vlsftors at the Nav
department today. Ho took speclo
Interest In the report of a naval en
gagement at Matanzas , aa he was there on ]
a montii ago , and took occasion at tha
time to make close observation of such de
tensive works as the Spanish had established
Worn his personal Inspection , Senator Mone
says the defenses were exceedingly meagr
aod antlquateJ , not being entitled to ran
as modern fortifications.
"Matanzjs harbor Is tunnel shaped , " sal
the senator , "with the city of .Matanzas a
the extreme end of the funnel. Back of tb
city Is a range of high hills almret rMchln
the dignity of mouotalrs , which make
complete circuit of the funnel , except wher
the Maru river passe * througb. I went t
the top of these high bills which 'comminde
a fine view of the harbor and such defense
as existed and later went by train and b
. foot around the harbor to get a. general vlci
. of the sltuatl n. But one fort was lu ei
Utcnro at that time. It wai Sail Saverlno , a
( Continued on Seventh P gt- ) ,
GUARD RETURNS TO OMAHA
State -Troops to Bo Into Oarrp at Old Fort
Omaha.
MAY REMAIN A COUPLE OF WEEKS
Intention to Allan- the Volunteer * to
Get I'nril to Cnntp Lire lle-
fore Srnillnic Tliera
Sutitb.
"The War department has Just set
tled on Omaha as point of mobilization of
Nebraska troops. This order Is final. "
John E. Utt , commissioner of the Omaha
Commercial club , at II o'clock yesterday
morning receive ! this telegram from Con-
weman David H. Mercer \VJshlng4oM. .
Tie news of the telegram spread rapidly
In business circles , and was well received
on all sides. It was taken to Indicate that
the state troops now assembled at Camp
Alvln Saunders at Lincoln would be
brought to Omaha at an early date. Just
when the transfer to this city would be
effected was variously guessed at ,
but the general opinion was that
the troops would be held at Lin.
coin by Governor Silas A. Holcomb until all
the state companies had assembled there.
This should be accomplished today , accordIng -
Ing to reports from railroad officials.
"It Is probable , " said an army officer ol
high rank at the headquarters of the Depart ,
ment of Ibc Missouri , "that after the troops
have been mobilized here they will be kepi
here for a week or ten days before being senl
south. This will be done for the purpose ol
letting the men get somewhat used to carat
life and military routine before' throwing
them In among the regular troops , now
mobilized In the south. It takes some daje
of camp life to get the roughness worn ofl
any troops , no matter how well drilled the )
may be. and after some camp life the twt
regiments of the state troops will get tc
swinging together In better style than thej
could at once being taken tram their clallj
wort to the field. "
WAITING FOR THE ORDERS.
At army headquarters no orders from tin
War department at Washington 'concernlns
the mustertag in of the Nebraska troopi
has been received Lieutenant Stotscnberg o
the Sixth cavalry , who has been dcslgnatec
as the officer to muster in the troops , li
stationed at Lincoln , and Ms still there. Thi
orJer for him to come to Omaha to muate :
In the troops will tie received and servec
through the headquarters of the Oepartmco
of the Missouri In this city. Such an crde :
has not been received here , but It 'Is ccn
fldently expected.
It Is the opinion of the army officers tha
as soon as all the companies of the sfati
militia arc mobilized 'at Lincoln they wll
come to Omaha for the purpose of belni
musterei into the service of the Unltci
States. After being mustered in thi
state troops will be fitted out and full ;
equipped by the Department of the Mlssour
here. An the supply depot of the depart
ment is located here , and as there Is a com
modlous post for the camp here , the officer
of the department feel that the work o
equipping the militia can be done better li
Omaha than anywhere else In the state. Hov
long the troopo will be here after they ar
rive Is purely a matter of conjecture , b'U
the army officers of the highest rank thinl
that the time of the camp here will be a
least o week , and posalbly a fortnight.
FUUXCi OX THE iM < ATAXZAS FORTS
*
SylvcHler Scovrl Given n Graphic Ac
count o ! It.
( CopyrlKht. 189S , by Prens I'ub'.lshlne Company.
KEY WEST , Fla. . April 28. ( New Yorl
World Cablegram Special Telegram. ) Ma
tanzas' sand banks weren't much to lose , bu
yesterday's routing In half an hour la reall ;
great. It proves that the American flagship
monitor and cruiser guns and gunners can hi
a little thing a lone way off and a grca
many times lo a very few minutes. Am
that's the whole etory.
Yesterday's twenty-three minutes ahowei
that the fury of accurate Iron hall wouli
sweep the open embrasured Havana big gum
clean of their men. Could Sampson have hi
wish and were the Iowa , Indiana , Terror
Puritan , Amphitrite , followed by the les
protected but plentifully armored flagship
cruiser and gunboats , to steam along Jus
ashore 500 yards from the Havana coast bat
terles it would be a procession of humai
mowing machines.
Only during their rapid approach would th
leading ohlps be exposed , and then to ;
bungling fire from guns trained at extrcm
and unaccustomed angles. , , They could holi
their own advantage , and once In the third
mile range and with every gun from thlrteei
to one-Inch , and even every cifle , pourlni
steel , human life ashore would be Impossible
Havana would be taken with little loss. Th
wortliwould have learned the rial desTructlv
power of modern ships. International nava
disarmament would advance a big ftep an
Cuba would bo physically free and inde
pendent.
Yesterday the Spanish gun practice wa
poor. It was Just enough worse than th
Havana target firing ; to wit : the fact tha
on this occasion the Spanish gunners wer
belrs shot at. They are of the same corp
and trainlnz and practice In both ports an
If the Matanzas gunners lost precision an
If not valor , at the partial fire of thre
shirs at 700 yards , what fear need be ha
of the Havana guns before fourteen ship
with their full broadsides at COO yards ?
Here Is the affair much In matter as I
will be officially reported to Wasblngto
and the secretary of the navy.
"Upon learning from Its blockading statlo
that Matanzas harbor was being fortlfle
Admiral Sam ssn yesterday mornlns deiei
mined to stop the work. Arriving off th
mouth of the harbor the Puritan and th
Cincinnati Joined the flagship New York an
all slowly entered. When at a point 3,00
yards west by north from the Maya light
hcuso on the eastern bank of the harba
the Mew York slowly swung to starboar
with bow pointed about northwest and th
port eight-Inch guns looked at Punta Gordi
Two etreaks of new yellow sand were vialbl
4,000 yards distant. No earthworks wer
visible at Morro castle , 7,000 yards , or nearl
four miles away across Matanzaa to the gei
The port had DO other fortifications.
"Quarters were sounded and the llth
Jackles sprang .with a will end a cheer t
their posts. The neat grey ammunltlo
boxes of tbo rapid firing guns and long du
dynamite looking 'common shell' of tb
eight-loch guns were there. The run. < revv
looked at these irid then at tbo yellow , Vhll
sand , shifted ther ! quids and waited. It wt
the high tension of the other day * . Af
preaching toward the Italian man-of-wi
Giovanni Dausan , when Sampson yet tbougt
It the Oquendo , tbe mec knew om <
thing bad to happen thU time. BartbworV
In Cub * don't nolit Italian colon. It hi ]
pened at 12:69. : Tha port eight-Inch gun tei
Its whirring projectile fandVter tbe first time
In years United StalesMrips ! had begun
shooting to bit men codjcuns Instead of
targets. The sullen Pnrlti .and smart Cin
cinnati to northeast aad n jcthwcnt and close
to th 'New York lgnale4ri nthuslastlcally.
The Cincinnati's crew sometimes bail kicked
at Captain OhcsUr'i 'devotion to dally gun
practice , but now MW * the point and wanted
to Impress It upon-the Spaniards.
"Harrington , too. Jhought the Puritan 13-
tachcrs were Just ns the naval tactics de-
rrand , the proper machines to smash hbs-
tllp batte.les. and Simpson signaled 'Yes. '
Then things got Interesting. The New York's
eight Inch shells had already begun to shoot
whitish spumes of yellow sand and the
Spanish had anewercd. Their shots flew
- high and appeared to Captain Chadwlck as
If the field pieces w e at extreme elevation.
The swarming Laborers who vacate. ! after
the second shot .were protobly prepirlng to
I Install these and the , big brass Napoleon
I gun ? which it U said fvcro lately sent from
j Havana to constitute , together the defenses
j of tbe port of Matantas.
| "Four minutes after , the Now York's big
gun , its four-Inch , and the Cincinnati's flve-
: Inch guns > .u.l the Puritan's thlrtecn-lnch
. boiutifs li" " . loore and here was music.
"After five ralnutrt' firing upon Punta
j Gorda battery shots came from Morclllo , on
j the other side , supposedly from old-faah-
i Icned S-lnch breectiloadtng cannon. All fell
short an average of 103 yard. ' * . Thereupon
the New York and Cincinnati turned their
attention and bulls toward the western side
of the hsvbor and ngw opouted flame and
iron from both broadsides. Seventeen min
utes bad parsed erathe Punta GDi'da
stopped. The Spanish : hail been plucky , but
outclassed. The Cincinnati ceased firing at
1:21 : and the New York"fired the last shot
of all at 1:22 : , and yet ( tic. guns of the Span-
lards in Morrlllo kept iSlunklnk away , doing
the beet tbey could and no damage. They
were still pDpplng whoa , the ttilpo steamed
out.
"Two hundred and twenty-four shots had
been fired In twcnty thrce minutes from
nothlns under four-Inch guns. Almcet all
hai struck fair. The position of the shlpo
was carefully selected. The usual ship
channel and probable mines were avoided.
Hanrson did not want , even to emulate the
Maine enlsode. The Spanish fired twelve
h-s and their guns were very olcwly
eerved. The Cincinnati did the best work.
! ! causht the range at the first shot and
- ? i it. On the New York Gunners' Mate
liycrs. Js said to have ilsne excellent work
with the crew of the after turret and It :
piece. Some eeaway was on , but
! good work naa idonc. The Purl-
tan was left very near the scene of action ,
Instructed 'to reopen fire tat the first ap
pearance ol pcrnlcloun activity In the dam
aged earthworks and battered castle's flanks.
Nothing has been there'today , but someone
Is setting fire to everything burnable on
the const from Matanzas' ' > to Havana. The
SsanNh troops have often "vowed that thej
would leave Cuba , It ever forced to , a mass
of ashes. They may be reorunenclng. "
SVLVESTBR SCOVEL.
*
t
FOIIT CHOOK llor9TTO-iau TO OMMIM
Receive Order * t IJmrrKWoMIe TO-
diiy "tot Xnon.
'MOBILE. Ala. , .April'28. A train moy
out from 'the government military cami
near "Mobile " this forcnrco for Tampa , carrj1-
Ing supplies/ escort wagons , ambulances
mule a'iSi hostlers and teamsters. It Is re-
pgrted hcro'that this Is the first step of t
movement that -will 'finally concentrate al
, the troops oo-v hero"at < Tampa , and als (
thoseat New Orleans , so as to form will
the troops at Tampa'a force of 8,000 , to bi
the odvadce guari of ttie array of occupation
of CuTia.
The Tenilh and Twenty-secor.d lnfar.tr
, reglmena ! received ordersrtoday to leave foi
Tampa tomorrow at , nom , and began at cmc <
preparing for the Joum&y.
The routine in camp icW-varled this morn.
ing by practice In charging. The brlgadci
Joined In a granl charge , beginning at th <
east ecd of the parade grounds and golnf
Into the woods with a ruah , crossiog. the
railroad -track and finishing at the oK
breastworks erected here1 towari the close oi
the last war. Upon cfoalng 'the charge th <
soldiers gave a tremendous yell of triumph
General Oopplnger received today a lettci
of thanks from the confederate veterans foi
bis courtesy In attendVig. tbe memorial serv <
Ices Thursday at the 7 confederate , burla
grounds , an ! replied in'fitting and patriotic
tvo'ds , much dellghtlng'the Ttterans.
NEW ORLEANS , "ApVll 28. The thre
regiments of Infantry jiere will probabl ;
leave for Tampa under rush orders. Th
First regiment will Wve In the morning
Paymaster lE. W. Haltord arrived here to
day. v
Private telegrams received In Omaha las
nteht confirmed the news that tbe Twenty ;
second in''antry ' , until Uskweek stationed a (
Fort Crook , Neb. , was 'to .move from Moblh
to Tampa , Fla. , this .morning. . The newi
waa somewhat of a surprise to those who hac
recently beard from officers of the regimes
from Mobile. Letters received this week ln <
dloatel that the officers' , ttought .they wouli
be kept at Mobile for a few weeks. Thi
Twenty-second regl-.ne.it Is under commani
of Colonel Wlckoff , and left iFbrt Crook 01
( Monday evening. lAprJl .18 , going directly ti
( Mobile , where it has gin : * been st&tlcue-J.
SELECTS OFjniCEIttf FOIl THE AHMV
TreNlilent McKlntor plveu a Tip oi
Some of tbe Appointment * .
WASHINGTON. April ? 8. The prcslden
bus Intimated to callers ttat he will tende :
a commission as major general in the vol
unteer army to Genet * ! fctowart L. Wood
ford. Fltzbugh Lee and"CosBreasman Wheele
of Alabama , and oa W adler general ti
Colonel Fred D. Grant , j
Vortmrar * Wealtlon.
( Copyright , 1698 , by 1'rcM I > ibiihlnff : Company ]
LISBON , April 28. ( Nep York World Ca
blegram Special Telegram. ) The secretar ;
general of foreign affairs { on being asked ti
define Portugal's poaltloajregardlng neutral
Jty eald : "My official , petition , eecrctar :
general , prevents me sending tbe inforcnatlui
requested. I m surd tbp Portuguese lega
tlon at Washington will t ll all tbat the eov
ernment will have of Intareet to make puh
lie ( trough tbe preea of ntho United Slntei
Nev theees ! , I am authorized to Bay to yo <
tbat a declaration of neutrality like tba
ot 1STO in tbe coee of tfie Franco-Prura ii
Vor will be published 'tomorrow. "
Shlpi Crowded vrtth Refaareei.
LPNPON , April -Accordlng to a dbi
patcb from Singapore to ( be JJally Mall , tb
French steamer Saigon and' tbe Spools !
Jtcimer Eepaoa have Arrived there froi
Manlla"both crowded with refugees from tb
Philippines.
lied CroM fltcuner Arrive * .
( Copyright , ICU , by I'IVM PubUthlnr Company
KEY WEST , Fla. . April 28. ( New Yor !
World Cablegram Special Telegram. ) TO
Red Cross ateamsblp State of Texas arrive
tonight awaiting order * from tb society.
CAPTURES A RICH PRIZE
Monitor Terror Oathen in a Spanish
Cruiser.
SHIP HAS A VERY VALUABLE CARGO
Contain Show * Connlilernlilc Xrrve
nnil Cniiltnlnten Only After the
Wnr Ven el Fire * Sevcrnl
Sollil Shut.
( CopyrlKht , HSS , by Prem PubtlMilnR Company. )
KEY WEST. Fla. April 28. ( New York
Well : Cail egram Spsclat Telegram. ) The
Spanish steamer Uutdo , with It ? pilot house
shot away , or.o of Its crew dangerously
wounded r.nd the stars and stripes floating
obove the -nanlsh flag , was brought Into
harbor this morning , the prize of the moni
tor Terror. It Is the first Spanish vessel which
has showti any resistance when ordered to
eurrcnJer. and the damage It sustained was
Inflicted because of the effort of Its captain ,
'Jruz Alcgln , to escape after he had been
ordered to heive to.
The ensure was rcadc yesterday lo full
sight of two Spanish gunbcits , which made
ao attempt to aid 1he fugitive , and evidently
thojght they had all they could do to save
themselves. The Quldo was first sighted by
the Terror when It was about ten miles off
Cardeou- v.as ln _ the half light1 of early
evening and the Spinlsh ship could not be
plain ) : ' seen. Uut the officers of the Terror
were not taking any chances on letting any
thing escape them and at once started In
pursuit. Th.-y hid gained a ll''lle ' on the
steamer , but MW the chase would be a
long ccio unles ? It was stopped , so a blank
shot was fired as a hint for It to heave to.
Captain Alegln , however , had been Im-
rrtesedlth the necessity for getting his
cargo cf provisions to Havana. He had been
Ua'.d to reach the port at any hazard , as
the forf ho war carrying was sorely needed
by the besieged troops. So he determined
to defy the Terror and trust to the speed
ot his vessel.
SHOOTS SOLID SHOT.
The big monitor , ploughing after It , at last
decided to resort to desperate measures , end
a shotted gun wcs brought to bear on the
Guldo. A moment later one cf the alx-
pcunderp belched forth and a ( solid shot
plarced the hull of the fugitive. Still Captain
Alcgln would not surrender. Again and
again were the slx-poundcrs of the Ter
ror fired. A't ' last one ot the solid shot otruck
the pilot hcuse. The frail wood work was
( splintered and carried away , while the sea
man who wes on duty in It waa hurled to the
deck , badly wounded and seemingly dying ,
The same shot disabled the machinery by
which the vessel Is steered from the pilot
house and for a moment the steamer stag
gered.
Captiln Alegln was ri'lll unconquered and
hurried his men aft to the wheel. But ic
the momentary delay the Terror had gained
upon him , while ahead , ready to intercepl
Tflm 'satuld ' he continue his flight ; he oat
the , , gun.boat ; MachI s. Then "only Hid th <
Spaniard give up. But even at the lacit b <
would not lo-wcr the red and yellow flat
which floated from the sern. He slmplj
ordered his 'engines stopped and lay to untl
the Terror sent a prize crew on board.
The first solid six-pounder from the Terroi
carried away the pilot house , the second i
beat and 'the third the cbmpara. The Machlai
fired its four-Inch rifle.
The Guldo was taken to Key West by Lieu
tenint Edward F. Qualtrough and Enslgi
WllUrd. Eight Spaniards were wounded bj
splinters. This Is the first bloodshed or
board ship.
The Guldo Is the richest prize GO far. I
is roughly valued at $400,000 , aside from tlu
specie it has on board. The amount of uhli
is not known , as It Is In a big Iron safe
which has been sealed and will not to openc ;
until tbe prlz > court has formally condcmnec
the vessel.
The Guldo Is , a single screw steamship
commanded by Cruz Alegln. H halls froii
Bllba. It Is 3GO feet long and wa-s built It
Belfast.Ireland , In 1883 , by Hartland &
Wolff. It has a displacement of 2,064 tons ant
Its depth Is 26.5 feet and beam 41.2 feet , II
bas a horse power of 2,400. The Guldo'i
American agents are Fletcher & Co. ot Phil
adelphla. Tbe Guldo left Liverpool on Aprl
2 and Corruna on April 9 for Havana.
The capUIn of the Guldo waa wounded litho
the wlst by a splinter while holding a olg
j nil rope In the pilot house. Tbe wouudex
. man. Manuel It i vas , was-removed to the Ic.s
! pltal.
"THE IUXJCKADE VOID
i Opinion on Ailniltmlon of Itttl
Inn Wnr Ship.
( Copyright. ISM. by I'rcss Pub'.lBhlne Company.
LONDON. April 28. ( New York Worli
Cablegram Special Telegram. ) Naval Cap
tain Eardley Wilmot and other naval law
yen declare the action of the blockadlnf
fleet In permitting tbc Italian cruUer Gio
vannl Bausan to enter Havana could be heli
to legally constitute a violation ot tbi
blockade , Justifying tbe prize court In de
cldlnc. tbat no blockade exists. No dlstinc
tlon is made In international law betweei
merchant and war vessels of neutrals. Wll
mot says : * "Though a neutral war ship wll
not augment the resistance of the blockadi
It may impart them Just the Intelligent
needed , such as the exact strength ot thi
opposing squadron , Its disposition , which o
the ehlps hive torpedo nets , which havi
not. Probably the Giovanni Bausan wa
not aware that a state ot blockade existed
It became then .the duty of the Amerlcai
admiral to notify It and -request It not ti
enter the sort. A refusal to comply wouli
Justify forcible measures to prevent such ai
Infringement of tbe rules of naval warfare. '
Intense irritation Is suddenly manlfest'ei
In political circles here over the projectei
Increase In the tonnage tax by congress
the action ot congress being made uubjec
to extraordinary misrepresentations. It I
aIe ! ? d that tbe Increased tonnage tax I
a part of tbe war budget and constitutes a
attempt to make the English shipping trad
pay America's Cuban war bill. The ta
belns leviable only on ships from countrie
where light duca arc charged is declare
to be evidence of the desire to make an un
( air discrimination against English shir
pins. i
1'leat.eil ivltli Our Mnrkmnnnlilp
( Copyright. ISM , by Preas PubMihlng Company.
LONDON'v April 28. ( New York Worl
Cablegram Special Telegram. ) Gun prac
tlco on tbo American ships during th
Matanzai bombardment excited tbe warm
eat admlrVUon ot naval experts here. Til
superior markmaniblp claimed ( or In
American fleet baa novr been effectual !
demonstrated , tbe result of the operation
against Matanzas being beld to point clearl
to a shortening of the war If Spain rliV
a decisive engagement. Tbe performanc
of tbe New York ! regarded t proof <
tie loundocM ot tbe policy ot tbe Amer
THE BEE BULLETIN.
Weather Forccait for Ntbr k
Fair ; Variable \VlnJ > .
1 Oomilii Alton ! MntnniBH Firing.
Mllltla to Kneitmp nt Otnnhn.
Another SpnnUh Ship Cnngtit.
Wherenlionta nf SpnnlHh Fleet.
2 Ilnnxe tlrniien Herenne Hill.
HcKnlnm Jfnre Townrd Tnnipn.
lionto Control Sex.
n Xehrnnkn Menu.
Mllltln Drilling nt Lincoln.
'Mlnm-niiol'-'jllcnln Omnlin Aitnln.
4 K.lKorinl' ir ? Immrtit.
' ' '
B Inillnn ll' , ? , - Over Annln.
More YeJj'y. ? ; , - , ietorn Grnilnnted.
A fin I mC J O in nil it ,
O Counell ' 'I ? . /Ioenl Mutter * .
" "
lorrn V , _ , d Comment.
7 AVnr ! f i. wj * /enrly / Collide.
Ilxplof.s"- j " > ,5 Powder Vnrtorr.
( JHiircrjj/Cyj / olnii Into Cnmp.
H AVomt'P' y-j * Hellc AVork.
0 In tfftS'frl of K lectrlelt- .
l > our J nnty Art Exhlhlt.
* ' '
DeetJ . , ' - In City Ilnll.
CnrE'to tiniil the Troop * .
11 Commercial nnd Financial XCTT .
IS .llllltnry Toim on AVnr Ship * .
\aval FlKlitx AKnlnnt Uililn.
Temperntnre nt Ontnlint
Hour. Hew. Hour. UCR.
A n. m 411 1 p. in < ! . - .
t n. in 17 - | i. in ( IT
7 n. m 411 : t p. nt (17
n. m r.i : -i m ns
n n. m no n n 70
10 a. nt Ml ( I m ( in
11 n. m ll 7
12 m ( M H m ( IT.
U p. in (14
can naval authorities In providing their
ships with exceptional battery power and
the influential section ot naval experts here
who always supported the American system
are especially elated , believing that Eng
land must now follow suit.
TI-JimOH HKIC.VS I.V I'OllTO It I CO.
lithnlittnittn Are KleeliiK Hnnlilly to
the Interior.
( Copyright , ISM. by 1'ress I'liblUlilnp Company )
ST. THOMAS , Danish West Indies , April
28. ( New Ycrk World Cablegram Special
Telegram. ) Advlcets from Porto Itlco show
that great alarm prcval's there , and active
preparations are being made to rcalst an
cxpctcd attack by the American fleet. All
able-bodied men have been called to arms
and martial law prevails. The Ciulk Cristo
bal Colon has ben raised and towed to the
mouth of the harbDr and sunk In the middle
of the cfcanael , leaving only 140 feet of clear
water. iTho masts are still to be Been.
Thirty-four tofyedoeti , connected electrically
with Morro , have been laid In the main chan
nel. The wires arc exposed after leaving
the water , as they lead up the cliff. The
buoyn have been altered and color and po
sition changed so that a false channel Is
marked. A pilot la necessary to enter. The
lighthouses bave been extinguished along
the coast and new tclegrapli posts est-ib-
IKied. Old walls have been demolished to
facilitate firing of modern batteries , and
soldiers are mounting old rlflca received
-ttirso-yeju - ago.
.At midnight , Monday general excitement
* as caused by ( farce American war ships be
ing reported to the eastward. Frarlng an
Immediate bombardment the mayor ordered
the gas extinguished. People crying and be
wailing their fate ran about the streets ,
while the Spaniards were drinking lo the
streets filled wild the terror-crazed inhabi
tants. Guards were busy all night clearing
the streets. The flight Into the Interior con
tinues from tbe city. Tha trains are packed
and the poads littered with the wrecks of
wagons , hand barrows and furniture. The
people arc prohibited exit from the country
Orders to foreigners have beeu bsucd re
questing them to register at the consulates ,
and the military authorities bave armed the
volunteers with Mauaer rifles.
Three small gunbcats and the cruiser Con
cha remain In the barbor. Including some
merchantmen , rthe war ships are painted a
dark gray. Tbo French cruiser lUgautt de
Gcnoullly hcs arrived for a refuge ship for
French citizens. Work on the aqueduct Is
stopped. The steamer Manilla la afraid to
proceed to Havana. The local steamer ,
which left on April 26 , returned shortly after
a cargo ot arms and explosives for tbe ar
senal In Havana and was evidently trans
shipped outside.
On April 27 a eteamer unloaded a full
cargo of provisions , arms and ammunition
at Mayagucz. The steamers Pluncllo , on
April 22 , and Granatllla , on April 24 , brought
5,000 tons , generally provisions , to San Juan ,
tbe original destination being Havana. They
were tearful of capture and unloaded at
Porto Rico. Their passengers without money
were refused passage to Havana.
Arccibo bay Is defended by a line of tor
pedoes from the signal stations , one mile
west ot the town. A large force la encamped
la the vicinity , and provisions have been
received sufficient for a two months' siege.
GEORGE BRONSON REA.
AWAKKXS SYMPATHY FOIl US ,
Action of Governor of Philippine *
Help * United Staten.
( CopyrlKht. 1S98 , by Press I'ub'.lxhlnff Company. )
t/XVDON. April 28. ( New York World Ca.
bleeram Special Telegram. ) A Dally Mall
Hen : Kong dispatch says that tbo strictly
neutral attitude which had been observed
bc-ore this week by tbe press and public
toward the Hlspano-Amerlcan dispute has
been changed by the absurd proclamation of
the governor ot the Philippines. Public
opinion Is now favorable to the United
States. The Dally Press says : " The action
taken by the United StatesJs Justifiable and
Ens'.lsh sympathy will naturally be with
our American cousins In stepping In to re
store order. The United States has a double
Justification self-Interest and sympatb ]
with tbc wrongs of the Cubans. Spanish
colonial rule bas proved a lamentable fail
ure and no regret can be felt at Its down
fall. "
The China Mall says : "The proclamation
ot the governor of tbe Philippines will gc
far to alienate tbe last vestiges of sympathj
which were entertained for Spanish rule. '
A Dally Mall Madrid dispatch says : "At
official dispatch has been received from Ha
vana stating that an American cruiser rur
aground the coast of Dlmas , province o
Plnar del Rio. Three vessels arc workini
herd to get It off. Tbe senate today ap
proved without discussion proposals for per
manent arm ) ) of occupation In the West In
dies and tbe Philippines. Svnor Cadornlgi
will tomorrow ask In tbe Cortes tbe expul
slon of certain foreign corre&poudents. Thi
la with reference to representatives of Amer
lean papers.
Helen Gould TcMdcm Cnnh.
NEW YORK. April J8. MUa Helen Gouli
confirmed today tbe report tbat she bad ten
dered the United States government JIOO.OO
to aid In prosecuting tbe war against Spiln
Mi Gould added tbat though President Me
Kloley bad acknowledged tbo offer It ho
not yet been accepted.
WHERE IS THE FLEET
Advices from Madrid Sajt it Has Laft Oap
Verde Islands.
DESTINATION SAID TO BE UNKNOWN
Oahle Message from St. Vincent Boys it in
Still Ihero.
PANIARDS CHAFE UNDER THE DELAY
Anxious to Have the Ships Go Fcrlh for
the Battle ,
ALL EYES TURNED TOWARD PHILIPPINES
SpniiUh Ailmlrnl There Clnlin * to Ha
Able lo Annihilate tbc United
SlntCN Fleet In the 1'lrnt
Copyright , 1S9S. by rrs Publishing Company. )
MADRID , April 28. ( New York World Ca
blegram Special Telegram. ) Much dlsap-
olntmcnt and bitter criticisms were ex
pressed at Madrid when It was officially an
nounced that the squadron had never left
Capo Verde , although everybody thought It
vns nearly across the Atlantic to attack
Jnlted State , ) parts. The squadron left to
ny for an unknown destination. It is com-
> wed of the cruisers Columbus , Maria The
resa , Oquundo , Vlzcaya , three destroyer * ,
learner Cadiz. The three torpedo vessels
vlll return to Cadiz. Kqual dusuppolntmont
vas felt when the people .heard that the bat-
leshlp Pelayo had only left Carthagcna
Monday and reached Cadiz today.
The same Mowness Is ncticed In the prep
arations of other veceels and arsenals gen
erally. This causes a very angry feeling.
The Impression Is that if the navy really falls
o answer expectations and meets serious rc-
enses an Irresistible popular outbreak will
ako place , which will sweep before It a
cabinet already mnch weakened by the col-
apse of Its long negotiations with America
and the failure of its colonial homo rule pol-
cy.
cy.The
The fear of such a popular outburst keeps
he people uneasy and Increases the depres
sion In financial circle , ? . Financiers are much
disgusted with the minister of finance's pro-
ecta as published Jn the Gazette , which they
say create taxes Impossible to levy and
which will damage the credit of Spain abroad
jy his singular plans for Increasing the
banknote Issue and tampering with the pay
ment of the coupons of the exterior debt.
Great curiosity is manifested for newa from
the Philippines , where a collision Is dally
expected between the American fleet and the
Spanish squadron under Admiral 'Montljo ,
who Is reputed to be one , of the moat daring
officers of the Spanish navy. He jse.einsu.per-
su-ided thatTio can eatlly repef the American
squadron.
Again rumors arc rlfo of RureMn and
German assistance In political and diplomatic-
circles.
ST. VINCENT , April 28. ( New York Worla
Cablegram Special Telegram. ) The Spanish
fleet Is still In the harbor. Steam launches
and boats bearing tbe Spanlth flag arc still
busily going backward to and from shore.
The admiral was on ehore yesterday and
visited his fleet thU morning. The consul
visited the admiral this morning to say
soodbye. The general opinion hero Is that
the Spanish will win at the commencement.
but eventually America with Ita rich gov--
eminent and millionaires will win the day.
The provisions of the Island arc very scarce ;
even eggs arc not to be had for lees than
two pence. Natives are hurrying Into town
from the country every day with sweet po
tatoes and other vegetables which they sell
In the market for large price ? .
AS TO COAL SHORTAGE.
April 28. ( New York World
Cablegram Special Telegram. ) With regard
: o the statement that the Spanish fleet Is de
layed at Capo Verde Islands on account of
scarcity of coal a representative of the Dally
News called at the l-pan.lsli embassy ( or In-
'ormatloo. Secretaries at the Spanish em
bassy stated It was Inaccurate for two very
good reasons. Ono of these was that the
Spanish fleet Is aid has for a long tlmo been
particularly well flttod out , carryinglarga
stores , not only of coal , but food and am
munition and all kinds of warlike materials.
The second reason is that St. Vincent , which
Is a Portuguese coallog station , Is In a posi
tion to bo able to supply any demand for
coal that might be made upon it aad that
there would consequently be no reason for
the fleet not having all the coal It couU
stand In need of.
The Standard's Berlin dispatch says : "t
hear from a good source that the German
emperor , who Is deeply Interested la ths
Cuban question , baa repeatedly taken oc
casion of laXe to explain his views on Ger
many's neutrality. Ills majesty Is all tha
more entitled to pursue his present policy , as
no pcasefscs absolute proofs that the Unite )
States do not Intend ever -to annex ttiba.
They are prepared > to suffer defeat from tha
Spaniards at firs' , but they will not end the
war until Spain rirx > unces Its sovereignty
over Cuba , which can then be gradually re
stored to order. "
The Chronicle's special correspond tot at
Singapore telegraphs : "It Is not bellevol
here that the American squadron from Hong-
Kong 'Will go to Manila at present , but tbo
situation In the Philippines Is considered )
critical. Ao Ir.ourrectlon appears Imminent. "
( JKIItlAXY I'OSHS AS A CIIITIC *
nt tb - Co ml iu > t of ( he Ainrrlo
oil ii Cn nip a lu li.
( Copyright , USS , by 1'rrss Pulj.lMilns Company. )
BERLIN. April 28. ( New York World Ca
blegram Special Teegram. : ) The bo'.lcf hert
In military circles Is that the president. Is
not well served by hU military specialists
and experts. Indecision as to tbc number
of men to be sent to the coast and tbo num
ber to take part In the expedition to Cuba
Is proof of this. However unpalatable Mo
Klnley's policy of delay may be It IB con
sidered abiolutely neccseary to Iniuro newt
levies before a critical landing lu Cuba !
attempted.
The newspapers this evening make merifi
as to the character of several of itbe lata
American ) war appointments , among them
that of Aitor to the general staff of Dr.
Wood to command a regiment and Roosevelt
velt to bo lieutenant colonel. Among tb *
absurd appointments recommended to tb
president's consideration li that of rector.
of Harvard university to bo either an ad
miral of a fleet or a field marshal. Any
thing of course in the nature of civilian : ap
pointments to the army la considered
j ke in Germany.