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