North Carolina Newspapers

o WILMINGTON, N. C, Fill DAY, MAY 27, 1898. S1.00 PER YEAR, VOL. XXXI. NO. 43. in CERVERA TRAPPED. , The Spanish. Fleet Hemmed In Santiago By the American Squadron. FOODANDCOALGROWINGSCARCE Cut Off From Supplies From the Interior by Strong Bands of Insur gents The American Fleet in Front of the Harbor Sudden De parture of the Big Ships From Off Havana General Lee at Tampa To Encamp Troops at Pensacola The Oregon Leaves Jupiter.Strict Censorship Over Press News at Tampa. Madrid, May 25.-7 p. m. A dispatch fcai just been published giving details of the arrival of Admiral Cervera's fuadron at Santiago de Cuba. It says: At 8 o'clock on the morning of May 1Mh the Infanta Maria Teresa enter ed the port of Santiago dc Cuba, fly intr the ilac: of Admiral Ccrvera. She was followed almost immediately by the Vizcaya, the Alicante Oqv-endo, the Christobal Colon and the torpedo boat destroyer Pluton. Soon afterward the torpedo boat destroyer Furor, which had been reconnoitering, arriv ed. The inhabitants swarmed to the shores of the bay, displaying the ut most joy and enthusiasm. All the ves sels in the port were dressed in gala array. The dispatch is not deted. Pensacola, Fki., May 25. Major Gen eral Coppingcr remained here until noon todav. lie spent the morning with his staff locating the ground at Magnolia filuff for tne location of camps for about 10,000 troops. "Weils will be sunk at once to give an abun dant supply of pure drinking wa ter. Magnolia Bluff is about one mile east of the city, is nearly 100 feet above the bay and is one of the finest locations for an encampment to be found in the country. GENERAL LEE AT TAMPA. Tampa, Fla., May 23. Major General Fitzhugh Lee, accompanied by Colonel Curtis Guild and his staff, arrived in Tampa tonight and established tempo rorary headquarters at the Tampa Bay hotel. General Lee had nothing to say on the general situation. "The fact is," said he, "I have not seen a paper for two days, and don't know what has happened. All I know is that I was sent here from Washington to taKe command ot the beventh army j corps." venerui jjet: umi uenerai jsnaner had quite an extended conference during the evening, in which the situ ation here was fully explained to Gen eral Lte. Tomorrow will be spent by the latter in inspecting the different camps of the volunteer troops in and around Tampa, all of which regiments will be embraced in the Seventh army corps. General Lee was given an en thusiastic reception when he appeared in the general reception room of the Tampa Bay hotel. He was instantly surrounded by a crowd of army offi cers and friends. but he smilinerlv turned first to the pretty Cuban wo- 1 men, the wives and daughters of prominent refugees who were anxious to greet him. CEilVETtA HEMMED IN. London, 'May 26. The Madrid corre spondent of The Daily Mail says: Of ficial telegrams ' from Cuba confirm the report that Rear Admiral Sampson and Commodore Schley, with their combined squadrons are now in front of Santiago de Cuba, blockading Ad miral Cervera. Ministers consider that Santiago de Cuba possesses sttf flfint" (IpfeniifMJ t r t- rr I r null o fir1 t any aggresmve action-the enemy m&y . Ta,m"P M -Vn iJf,3 take issued today 3y order of General Shaft- The position of the American squad- Tq"un.g e.very -newspaper corres rons will cam? the government to take " Pnnt at Tampa to furnish head immediate action. though it is un- quarters with .a copy of the paper known as yet what form this action i which, the1 correspondent represents, will assume. A. strict watch will be kept on ail mat- Rumors that a battle has already oc- I ter printer under a Tampa date and curred are officially denied. any prohibiten mater Will result in the A special dispatch from 'Madrid says: t refusal by the censor tx pass upon mat There has teen -an active exchange of ? ter written' for the offending mewspa dispatches between the government hper. and the authorities at Havana and 1 Atlanta, "Ga., May 25. -The departure San Juan de Porw Rico on -the subject , of sending coal and provisions to . Santiago de Cuba. It is alleged that Admiral Cervera hns wired confirming the report that Sairiiago deCuba. is cut off from communication with the -Inte rior by strong 'bunds of hsurgents .and that in consequence oal and provisions are getting scarce atid dear. (Copyright by Associated Press.) On Board the AssoCKited "Press Dis patch Boat Wanda, off Havana. May r?3. Fked at Key West. Fla., May 25, :15 p. m. At daybreak on Monady .morning the entire squadron -under ,Rear Admiral Sampson was lying di rtectly opposite the emtrance to 'Ha tvana haruor, about ten miles off shcte, R. -formidaVle mouse-colored flotilla of , Wttleships, monitors, cruisers, yachta, l.'fcthouse 'tenders and torpedo boats, T peaceful activity noticed the day beVr on -board the vessels of the fleet had given wty to great scenes of life and lm?tle. A-round the flagship, from whoee iouiinmat fluttered the crimson rennant at precedence, rocked n the choppy w.ves, a score of launches aria . gigs from urroimding warships, each i fc - . . manned uy manors m spouess wmve. They had brought aboard the flagship the commanding: omcers or their re spective vessels, where they had ap parently been summoned for orders. A half hour later, the gigs and laun- left the flagship and returned with their officers aboard their own vessels, almost immediately thick col umns af black smoke began to pour from the smokestacks of the as.mbled fleet, and slowly, almost imperceptibly -the flaeahio began to move to the east ward. A number of vessels were leiut uehlnd on blockading duty, the acting1 agship flying a fc.tue penant. About j twro hours later a large double masted and double funnelled cruiser came steaming under full headway from the westward. "When within hailing dis tance and without slackening her speed she exchanged signals with the acting flagship off Havana A string of colored bunting was hoisted aloft on j the flagship's halliards and the cruis- j er push-ad on to the east at full speed. Afterward the squadron was in the i iMcnojas cnannei, on tjaraenas, neaa ing for the old Bahama channel. The saua-Jron was proceeding: with care. for -Admiral Cervera had not actually addressed a few manly words to his been bottled up and care must be command, while to the citizens of Fay taken lest the fox turn and dash out ! etteville he pledged his consecration to of Santiago around the east end of the best interests of the husbands, Cuba, un through the Windward nass- ! "brothers and sons entrusted to his apre and north to attack the cities of theAtlantic Coast of the United States Jn all liklihood Commodore Schley will be able to spring the trap and the; Rear Admiral Sampson may hasten to Santiago. A great game is being play ed and the situation is one of extreme suspense. After Admiral Cervera is sealed up in Santiago harbor the prob lem will be as in the case of a "var met" caught in a trap, whether to shoot to starve him. In every event. Admiral Cervera cannot reach Ha- vana. Two powerful fleets, each hav- i fast vessels, as well as heavy guns ! and each able to destroy him, are ' closing in upon him. Naval officers here believe that the battleship Ore gon will be ordered to join Rear Ad miral Sampson's fleet. (Copyright by Associated Press.) St. Pierre, Martinique, May 25. The Spanish torpedo iboat destroyer Terror finished coaling1 from the Alicante, Whose .disguise as an am'bulanoe ship was virtually thrown: off yesterday, audi icariy this morning sleft Fort de Franci, taking a, north westerly course. It ds reported t'hat she-goes to join the Spanish fleet. Three men of war, according to t'he account of fishermen who arrived here this afternoon, were seem this morning at daybreak off the northwest point of the island. The fishermen assert hey were Spanish warships. that THE OREGON LEAVES JUPITER. Jacksonville, iFla., May 23 A special to the Tim-es 'Union and Citizen from West Jupiter, Fla., says: Tne Oregon left her at 4 O'clock this nwrntng. it is impossible to! -get' any information whatever. Ensign Johnson came ashore -for ordexs. He declinel to be interviewed, reporting all in good health. . SlPANT'SH FLEET AST CIENFUEGOS. Cape Hay.tien, JHaytl, May 25. A rumor which cainnot ibe confirmed is circulating her to the effect that the Spanish Ca.pe xle Verde squadron lin der Admiral Cervera, generally under stood to, ibe in Santiago, is now at Cienfuegos. Atlanta, Ga., -May 25. A heavy bat tery of artillery which reported ready today from Columbia, S. C, lias been ordered to Sullivan's island, Charleston. They wifll report to Ldeutemant Colonel Roop, of the First artillery and wilt proibaibly he asdgned to duty in cper at'ing the big coast defense etuis there. STRUCT CENSORSHIP. if recruits to the front will (begin to- rtjorrow when' w jmen Will leave nrt JMcPhersoni, the general recruiting ren dezvous, for Tampa. These men will report to General fhaf ter and be assign ed. to the different regiments now in camp here. They are fully clothed but lack equipment, which -they will rec,re on re hhg' Florida. On yrida-y 1,000 of t!be newly initiated men v"srill Kave Atlanta for tan Fran cisoo. They have volunteered -for ser vice in the Philippdn'es. The-thepartment of rhe gulf has heen endeavoring: to et thsse juen starjbed for seveil days, but a lack of clohdrti? has del&jred their deJ3artue, Their uniforms aure expected tomorrow and the men will start for the coast the day following. The recruits are a fine look ing -body ef men and set aJboutt thekr duties 'Wir& a cheerfuiness wi&ch is surprising to old army officers. Spanish Pnoner Well Treated. C: Atlanta, Ga., May 25. Lieutenant Cold--ml William P. Hall, adjutant general arvd executive hsd of the department of I ik, tru i f k r-i o . j i i "" ; report from Madrid that Spanish prison ers oi war m the United States have complained that they are treated as con victs: "Th prisoners it tts Dost are wU treated. The ten officers now there are confined in two large rooms and have every convenience. They have separate beds, but are given regular rations. The ordinary prisoners are well cared for and get their rAtte.ns three times a day. All letters they witte are read by the offi cials before heing' mailed "and if any one had compiaintDd it .would hardly tret to Spain." Ail prisoners of var are at Fort Jlc- Person SOLDI EKS OFF TO THE FBONTt The Fayetteville Independent Iltit Infantry on it Way to Ralelsh-Clo-lns Graded Seliool Exercite. (Correspondence of The Messenger.) Fayetteville, X. C, May 25. Not since May, 1&61, have scenes so stirring been enacted in Fayetteville ' as have been witnessed, since 8 o'clock yesterday evening. Immediately af ter early supper crowds of people be gan to throng into the great armory of the Fayetteville Independent Light Infantry, where the organization of the corps was perfecting for active service, the recruits sworn In after examination, the men apportioned in to squads, etc. During the evening the good women of Fayetteville, as noble of heart as they are fair of person, served supper to the volunteers from abroad, as well as cake and cream to the whole com panyand so profuse was their hospi tality that even all the visitors were likewise refreshed. Cots were put up in the armory at 10:30 o'clock for the new men, a guard was set for the ! night, and the next morning willing hearts and hands prepared and sent breakfast to the soldiers. At 11:30 o'clock this morning the command was given to fall in, and more than eighty stalwart men rang ed themselves in line. Rev. I. W. Hughes, rector of St. John's church, offered a most touching, fervent and eloquent prayer in behalf of the men standing before him with bowed head; and then Major B. R. Huske (of course I his army rank will now be captain) care. There need be no fear that he will prove "recreant to that pledge. North Carolina will send no finer offi cer to the field of strife than Benja min R. Huske, at the head of the Fal yetteville Independent Light Infantry. Here follows a complete roll of the officers and enlisted men of the com pany: Captain B. R. Huske. First Lieutenant J. G. Hollingswrorth i Second Lieutenant J. B. Tillinghast. Privates C. H. Hall, Noah Sjtubbs, Jno. C. Gorham, W. M. McKethah, W. W. McKay, C. A. Robinson, Dan'l Williford, Vance Taylor, W. E. Jordan, R. K. Guy. Jno. Anderson, W. L. Bui lard, Sylvester Holland, Jno. Kinlaw, A. F. Hollaman, Clarence Holmes, R. H. Newnan, Ed. Utley, H. P. Elliott, Wm. Haigh, N. C. Blue, J. W. Wade, A. R. Williams, W. D. McDonald, Sandy Brown, J. B. Johnson, C. W. Kelly, Auby Kinlaw, Walter Williams, N. H. McGeachey, W. A. Brown, Dil lon Jordan, Ncill McLauchlin, Jno. W. Strickland, J.W. Weisiger, L, C. Jones, R. S. Maultsby, C. D. Maultsby, D. L. McDuffie, Duncan Rose, George Whaley, W. A. Taylor, "N. W. Ray nor, G. E. Reeves, P. H. St. Clair, H. S. Atkinson, A. B. Jackson, T. F. Ward, Ernest Svkes. W. A. Maultsby, L. C. Brown, V . B. Klapp, t . L. hJiack, L. Albert Kinlav, Walter Cain, George Jones, N. Williams, J. H. Benoy, W. A. Sutton, W. C. Brunt, Oscar White, J. D. Bizzell, J. M. Clark, D. M. Sutton, F. P. Kinlaw, W. A. Hester, G. R. Hester, E. Johnson. Wm. Haywood, David B. Sutton, H.T. Reeves, E. McN. Mclver, John H. Ledbetter, J. F. Makepeace, D. J.- Maultsby, R. H. Taylor, F. T. Hale, J. C. Watson. It is a fine body of men and will do good service. Splendid work has been ! done by Major Huske and his assist- i ants. He received the notification that he could have a place in the Second regiment only last Saturday morning, and here is the result accomplished on Wednesday morning. Remshurg's orchestra gracefully tendered its music for the march to the depot, and no less gracefully did Dr. Murphy, of the Fayetteville mili tary academy, turn out his cadets as an escort of honor. There were thousands to see them off at the Atlantic Coast Line railroad station, and they departed amid cheers and the waving of handkerchiefs but there were tearful eyes and heavy hearts left hehind with it all. Mr. C. G. Terry, a popular official of the At lantic Coast Line railroad, accompan ied the soldiers to look after their comfort. The Fayeteville graded school held its closing exercises today, and they were full of interest declamations, es says, sketches, music, etc. There was a large attendance of visitors, and Col onel W. S. Cooke, mayor of the city, in very handsome terms, presented the medals. Miss P. H. Matthews, the su perintendent, and her assistants, Misses Fisher, Worth. Broadfoot, Lamb, Whitehead and Evans, deserve no little honor for the results of the year's work. A Negro Ie In Jail Under Pecular Circumstance Charleston. S. C. May 23. 'A special to The News and Courier from Anderson. S. C, says: A sensation was created today by the death of Elbert Harris, a negro confined in the county jail here. He was brought from Iva. in this county, last Friday. Coroner Nance summoned a jury and held an inquest. A. W. McCullough srwom. said: "I am a nonstable under J. L. Jackson. I started with Elbert Harris to Anderson last Friday. After traveling some two or three miles. I was met by a party and the negro was taken away from me. I could not tell how many were in tje par ty: probably twenty. They told me to wait and they would return him tn about an hour. A man, I don't know who he was. came up and told me to drive around u the other side of the road and I would fiai him. 1 drove there, found him and brought him to jail and left him with Mr. Gr.?n The negro was lying on the ground when I found him. He said he r J Tne jury had :lbeen whipped." returned a verdict that the .deceased came to his death from the ef fects cf wounds Inflicted by unknown partis. An interview with Constable McCul lough brought forth that on Wednesday night lait, B- H. Simpson's gin house was burn04. Suspicion fen- on Elbert Harris with his father and fcalf-brother, who are now' in jail. A search of their house revealed startling things. Five or six guns were found belonging to various people; also railroad tickets and other ar ticles, implicating them- in the foaming of the depot at Iva r time ago; Also damaging evidence ot participation Jn buildings. Elbert Harris -was .a lender I negro about 18 years old. t DEMOCRATS ASSEBLINC The Question of Fuvlon DI-u-hI Xlie Second lieslmenlNow Complete. veral More Companie Volunteer. Xhe.TIan Arretted asm Spy at Camp Grime Turns up In KIrt Bjlnient Camp at JarkonTille FolbIlilj of Coleolough RecoTery.SuIt for South Port XanU-Ipa! Offices. V Messenger Bureau, Raleigh. N. C, May 25. Delegates to the democratic state convention arrived in numbers today, it is clear that it will be a large and representative assemblage. All lead ing democrats ought to be here. Ex-Governor Jarvis, who is a dele gate, said to me this morning: "You ask me the sentiment of the people in my section and whether it is not against fusion with the popu lists. I answer by saying we are neither 'pro nor 'anti'; we are for the old democracy.' The 'old time relig ion' is what we want. We will have nothing to do with fusion." Delegate Harry Stubbs says the First district is against fusion. It is said positively the Sixth district is against it sonaiy. M. H. Justice, of Rutherford, says the fusionists do not stand a ghost of a chance. Your correspondent cannot discover that any other counties save North ampton, Jones, Bertie, Wake, Rock ingham, Durham and Cumberland have declared for fusion. In fact, it appears that not even Cumberland is solid for it. It is said some Cumber land delegates will vote against it. Private Colcolough, of the Durham company, of the First 'regiment, who was so desperately injured in the col lision at Savannah, may recover. He has considerable fever. The arrangements were made today for the muster of the last three com panies of the Second regiment at Camp Russell. Captain Cooper's com pany from Murphy was the firs.t one of these to be mustered. The next was Captain Smith's, from Greenville. The latter had furnished men to com plete three other companies of the regiment, having given fourteen to Captain Cobb's company, from Lum ber Bridge. The Fayetteville com pany, which completed the regiment, arrived this afternoon with eighty-flve men already inspected, so that no in spection at camp was necessary. The detailed surgeon at Fayetteville re jected fifteen men. The officers of the Fayetteville company are: Captain, Benjamin R. Huske; lieutenants, G. G. Hollingsworth and J. B. Tillinghast. Majors A. A. McKethan and J. C. Vann and Captain Joseph C. Huske. all ex-officers who have served with the company for over twenty years, acompanie 4t here and paid their re spects to Adjutant General Cowles and Colonel W. H. S. Burgwyn. During the second week that the troops were in camp here, a man who claimed he had been in South Ameri ca several years and that he was a mulatto, was arrested on suspicion that he was trying to poison water. He was released and told to leave. Now he has turned up at the camp of the First regiment, at Jacksonville, Fla., and is again under arrest. It is a mysterious case. The man must surely have some sinister purpose. The sailor, Richard Volz, of Carteret county, N. C, who was fatally wound ed on the Nashville, off Cienfuegos, was captain of a gun and was a capi tal shot and excellent sailor. At Star, Montgomery county, to night Lodge No. 196, I. O. O. F., was instituted. Odd Fellows from Aber deen installing its officers. Volunteer companies are offering their services to the adjutant general daily. Two from Wilkes county and one each at Bryson, City, Salisbury and Charlotte are the latest tenders. None are from the eastern part of the state. Mustering Officer Gresham says the material in the Second, regiment is very good. W. J. Bryan writes Solomon Gallert, of the democratic state committee, as to his (Bryan's) published views on co-operation with populists: "No one is bound to consider my opinion save as that of a private citizen." Tne fusion democrats desire that their state convention tomorrow leave the question of fusion to the state committee. The anti-fusionists want to force the fight. Dr. W. H. Brooks, of Greensboro, surgeon of the Second regiment, arriv ed today. Leave has been granted by the at torney general to E. H. Cranmer and O. D. Burriss and others vto bring an action in the name of the state upon their relation for the recovery of the offices of mayor and alderman of the town of Southport, in Brunswick coun ty. These parties claim the right to the offices mentioned by reason of an election held May 2, 1898, but this claim is resisted by the old officers re fusing to surrender. Rev. E. A. Osborne, of Charlotte, is appointed chaplain of the Second reg iment. A woman from Wilmington arrived here at 2 o'clock today In search of her wayward 17-year-old daughter, ac companied by a policeman. The moth er went to a disreputable house and got the girl. It is alleged that. the girl was infauated with a Wilmington man who recently came here. The mother and daughter return home to night. The Democratic State Convention The democratic state convention will convene to Raleigh today. Besides the delegates! of (New Hanover coun ty, already mentioned as having gone to itaievgn to attend tne i ronventiofi, Messrs. C. W. Yates, F. J H. Stedman, B. F. King- and J. C. J Stevenson, delegates from this county left yesterday morning for the state capital Iredell Meares. 'Esq.. another delegate went last night ami was ac companied by Mr. H. B. Short, a dele gate from Columbus county, and Col onel Benehan Cameron, a delegate from Durham county, who has toeen in ine city for a few days. The delegates from .New Hanover arc solidly opposed to fusJoA with Marion Butler and Ms cohorts. .v . MORE VOLUNTEERS The President by Proclamation Calls for 75,000 Additional Troops. NO FOREIGN COMPLICATIONS Caused this Call as Was at First Supposed To be iLscd as a SccotJJUfer serve The Details of the Call not to be Made out for Several Days Yet Enlistments Not to be Restricted to National Guard Organizations North Carolina's Quotas-Gossip About the Fleets Why the Delay in Invasion of Cuba. Washington, May 25. The event of the day in the war situation was the issuance of a proclamation by the president calling for 75,000 more volun teers. It added a new and stirring phase to the lethargic conditions which have prevailed of late and came with almost startling unexpectedness even to many of the highest officials in the army. .The proclamation means not only the assembling of a large force of troops, but also the appointment of a number of major generals, brigadier generals, colonels, majors, staff and field officers for the organization of this additional force of 75,000 into ar my corps, divisions, brigades and regi ments. The reasons leading up to the call naturally were sources of much con jecture, as it was at first felt that the possibility of foreign complications was a factor in bringing about this new move. It speedily developed, how ever, that the call was not due to any late or serious emergency, but was rather in the line of getting together a large body of men, to be drilled and seasoned, and to constitute a sort of second reserve to be drawn upon la ter when the campaigns were fully unT derway. Secretary Alger stated that the determination to issue the call had not been reached, until late yesterday. The merits of it have been canvassed more or less for some weeks, but it was not until a few hours before the call itself appeared that the movement was finally decided upon. The ploclamation is as follows: By the President of the United States A Proclamation: Whereas, An act of congress was approved on the 25th day of April, 1898, entitled "An Act Declaring that War Exists Between the United States of America and the Kingdom of Spain" and. Whereas, By an act of congress en titled "An Act to Provide for Tem porarily Increasing the Military Es tablishment of the United States in Time of War, and for Other Purposes," approved April 22, 1898, The president is authorized, in or der to raise a volunteer army, to issue his proclamation calling for volunteers to serve in the army of the United States. ' Now, therefore, I, William M'Kin ley, presedent of the United States, by virtue of the power vested in me by the legislature and the laws, and deeming sufficient occasion to exist, have thought fit to call forth and here by do call forth volunteers to the ag gregate of 75,000 in addition to the vol unteers called forth by my proclama tion of the 23rd day of April in the present year, the same to be appor tioned as far as practicable among the several states and territories and the Distcrict of Columbia, according to population, and to serve for two years, unless sooner discharged. The pro portion of each arm and the details of enlistment and organization will be made known through the war depart ment. In witness whereof, I have hereto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed. Done at the city of Washington, this twenty-fifth day of May, in the year of our Lord, one thousand, eight hundred and ninety-eight, and of the independ ence of the United States one hundred and twenty-second. WILLIAM M'KINLET. By the President. WILLIAM R. DAY. Secretary of State. Coming v thus unexpectedly the war department had made no preparations for the call and it will be some days before the details are worked out as to the quotas from each state, the calls to the respective governors of the states, the mustering points and the general points of concentration. All that Is settled thus far is that the enlistments are to be thrown open, much as they were at the outbreak of the civil war, and are not to be re stricted to the militia and national or ganizations of the several states. It will be an encouragement to the or ganization of independent volunteer companies and regiments. These will retain their identity to a certain extent as state troops, as the govern ors will have the appointment of all company and regimental officers while only the brigade, division, corps and staff officers will be appointed by the president. While the adjutant general has not yet made up the quota of the several states, the following Is an approxi mate estimate of the quotas of the fol lowing states: Alabama 1,500, Florid 450. Georgia 1,950. Louisiana 1.1G4, Ml slssippi 1,115. North Carolina 1,55, South Carolina 448. Virginia 1,675. The organization and division of this extensive force is yet to be arranged by the adjutant general's office. Gen erally speaking, however, the 75,000 men will suffice -or formation of seventy-five regiments. With three regi ments to a brigade, which Is the pres ent basis of organization, this makes twenty-five brigades. In turn, eight divisions of three brigades each will be formed, and out of these divisions the entire force will be divided into three army corps. This general divis ion is, of course, tentative, but it shows the general formation of this body of troops. The new force will require, either by appointment or by officers already appointed, three ma por generals and about twenty-foor brigadier generals. The law uutlio rizes the president to appoint on ntm jor general for each army corv a& one brigadier general for each tuiir&In. It was stated at the war dernrtmri that the details for the work of orjcjtn izing this new force would not be -tively taken up for the present. JusX now the adjutant general's office I co gaged in completing the enlistment erf the 125.000 volunteers under the r.rwX call. It will take some time to crro plete his work and not until then icvO the real work of organizing the viJun teer under the second begin. GOSSIP AS TO THE FLEETS. At the close of the day at the navy department the situation nK to Lh fleets, both American ami Spanixty was precisely as it was this rooming so far as the officials know, the only notable difference being an apparenx strengthening of the confidence of th officials in their belief that Cervrn squadron is lying in the Santiago har bor. In this hope and belief the of ficials found great comfort, knowlrsc the abilities of the American numl commanders in Cuban waters to kerp the Spanish admiral bottled up In hi narrow-necked harbor until they nrutll surrender or be starved outIf Or vera is actually at bay the officials fel not the slightest apprehension of anjr relief coming to him from the outSte in the shape of another Spanish squad ron from Cadiz. The reason for thl belief in their unquestioned ability tn hold Cervera In check with only a few vessels, perhaps a couple of monitors, and torpedo boats, thus leaving the re mainder of the big armored fleet to take care of any reinforcement that might attempt to come from Spain tr Cervera's aid. The force that could bo spared for this service, without en dangering the Integrity of the block ade at Havana or permitting the t cape of Cervera, would be much larger than the entire Spanish naval forrt now in Spanish waters capable of crossing the Atlantic. WHY THE DELAY OF INVASION. Within the past few weeks. In f&ct.. ever since the determination was pos itively reached to Invade Cuba bcfori? the dry season next fall, there have been published Intimations that the delay or what appeared to b th df-Ixy in beginning the invasion was at tributable to the navy. It can stated on the highest authority thai the impression thus created Is wholly unjust to the navy and without war rant In fact. The naval officer, ime and all, take special pride In th? de gree of readiness in which tho nary was found at the outbreak of hostKi were at Porto Itlco, when the navx ties and there never has b-en n mo ment, even when Sampson's forrr was not prepared on Instant orders to aid the army. Neither has the anrrr been at fault in this matter. It was xt first proposed to throw a small forecr of men, about 10,009 into Cuba im mediately and allow the remainder ot the army of occupation to wait until next fall before going over. Thert wrrc various reasons for abandoning this plan, such as the discovery of the In sufficient support that could !? rm dered the American force by the In surgents. The fact was brought tat with appalling force that to delay the campaign meant the absolute exter mination of the starving reeoncentra dos, and there were beside other uni sons for making haate. These con siderations caused a complete chanpe In the army plans and that Involvrl delay. To equip an army of 10,000 mn 1st thirty days and put them in a roruJJ tlon to fight trained veteran noldUrs on their own soiTwas no small under taking, so that in the opinion of Domr of the highest officers of the admlrrta tratlon there Is no reasonable ground for pressing the criticism that thrn- or has been undue delay In bginnfrcc: the military campaign, either on the part of the army or navy. Recommendation has been ma 2ft. that contracts be awarded for mjpfy Ing armor for the three battleship un der construction as follows; To the Carnegie Company 1,153 tons for thr Illinois and 2,558.76 tons for the "Wis consin. To the Bethlehem Company 1,405 tons for the Illinois and trass for the Alabama, all at 1400 pr too. Tk B7f to Um w. Acta ar ftWfcri AbfciaeiyPura a MrVAl WuCrt CO., IP ' ' 'i I