si.
WILMINGTON, N. C, TUESDAY JUNE 14, 1898.
81.00 PER YEAR.
OL. XXXI. NO. 48.
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FIERCE FIGHTING.
Spanish Make a Vicious Attack on the Ma
rines at Ghiantanamo.
FIGHTING FOR THIRTEEN HOURS
Attacked by Spanish Troops Saturday Afternoon, They Sustained a
Iiuh Fight Until Sunday Morning Four Marines Killed Their
Bodies Mutilated Our Men Show Great Nerve Under
the Night Attack Americans Dragging ;for Mines
in the Harbor To Ke-establish the Cable.
Under Spanish Batteries.
(Copyright by Associated Press.)
On Hoard the Associated Press Dis
patch Hoat Wanda, off Santiago de
Cuba, June 11. 4 p. m., via Kingston,
Jamaica, June 12 Noon. For three
lays the scene of the chief military
and naval din-rations has been Claima
nt ra and Guantanurno bay. The
Amerk an flag is Hying on the shore in
the harbor, first planted on Cuban soil
by United States marines from the
transport Panther, under Lieutenant
Colonel It. W. Huntington, covered
by th- guns of the cruiser Marblehead,
f.mrnanded by Commodore MeCalla,
whose name is a synanym for activity
ari lighting.
The battleship Oregon has already
coaled in the smooth waters of the
harbor and has sailed away. The bat
tleship Texas is coaling today, to be
followed by other ships.
The squadrons f Hear Admiral
Sampson and Commodore Schley are
still off Santiago, maintaining a strict
watch day and night to prevent the
.possibility of the escape of Admiral
Cervera. From men who have landed
to take observations of the harbor, it
is learned definitely, all agreeing on
the point, that the Spanish cruisers
and two torpedo boat destroyers are
there, but these vessels are regarded
by naal experts, aftar all, as "men in
buckram."
As a naval officer remarked today:
"Spain throughout her whole history
lias never sought a naval light and
never will. She has always dodged
and is dodging now. Cervera never in
tended to light. lie intended to dodge
and he has succeeded. Spain will
never send another fleet to these wa
ters during the present, war."
Severe storms prevail in the channel
between Santiago de Cuba and Jama
ica. The press dispatch boats have en
countered these storms for the last
ten days, making tire voyages very
difficult.
The heat adds to the discomfort,
but a daily service is maintained.
TO RE-ESTABLISH THE CABLE,
n Hoard the Associated Press Dis
patch Hoat Dauntless, off Guantanamo
Hay, Saturday Noon. Hy the Associ
ated Press Dispatch Hoat Wanda via
Kingston, Jamaica, June 12. 1:30 p.
in.. In controlling the outer harbor of
Cuantanamo, where Lieutenant Col
onel Huntington's battalion of marines
landed on Friday Hear Admiral Samp
son secures possession of the Cuban
terminus of the French cable to Hayti.
The apparatus in the office at the har
bor mouth was wrecked by a shell, but
the cable steamer Adria has instru
ments and operators aboard .and direct
communication with Washington will
soon be established. The distance
overland to Santiago, around the bay,
is about sixty mllef. and the roads
have been rendered impassible by the
Cubans under Pedro Perez.
The first division of the Cuban army
claims to have 4.000 men. but these fig
ures are probably over estimated. The
Cubans believe that there are about
?Si0 soldiers in the vicinity of Caima
nera. which lies at the entrance to the
inner harbor. Guantanamo city is in
land about fifteen miles. The two har
bors are connected by a narrow chan
nel, with a dumbbell effect. It is the
.niter harbor which Admiral Sampson
now holds with the Marbleheud. the
Yosemite and the Vixen, and with a
battalion of marines on the crest of a
blunt topped eminence commanding
the entrance on the western side. In
the inner harbor are two small Spanish
gunboats and at Catmanera there as a
battel y.
An expedition of three steam
launch s. officered by Lieutenant Nor
man. 10ns ign Eustis. of Mr. James
D. Eusti. formerly United States am
bassador to France, and Cadet G. Van
Ordon. under the general command of
Lieutenant Anderson, of the cruiser
Marblehead. last night dragged for
mines . but found none. Lieutenant
Anderson, who distinguished himself at
-Oienfuegos, pulled a dingy within fifty
t yards of the tort without being discov
ered. He font! the fort to consist of
-masonry, with three guns mounted
ard.
Judging from tue panic in which the
Spaniards fled f rom the village at Fish
erman's Point, tliej will scatter at the
first approach. They left at Fisher
man's Point three m.diquated howitz
ers, several cases of .nmunition, shell
and cannister. some Ma"t rifles and
a regimental flag of the- Infantoria del
Principe No. 3.
PRECAUTIONS AGAINST' DISEASE.
Every precaution has been' taken to
.guard the men from disease. All the
iuts in the locality have beeV razed,
l?vrge casks of Spanish wine have been
smashed, two wells have been boV-rded
up and all the drinking water used is
supplied from the fleet. The camp w ill
t.robabiy be named Camp McCalla, at--
ter the commander of the Marblehead,
who is indefatigable and has not re
moved his clothing since the bombard
ment. This morning the British steamer
New Foundland, of Montreal, with a
general cargo from Halifax, steamed
into the harbor. Her commander was
greatly surprised at the presence of
the Americans, but he retained
enough composure to dip his flag three
times and then started to put about.
A shot across his bows from the Mar
blehead stopped him and the vessel
was boarded, her papers showing that
she was bound for Jamaica. The cap
tain explained that he had put in to
see if he could get a return cargo of
sugar. He was informed that he could
not and was then allowed to proceed.
THIRTEEN HOURS CONTINUOUS
FIGHTING.
On board the Associated Press Dis
patch boat Dauntless, off Guantana
mo, Sunday June 12, via Mole St. Nic
olas, Hayti, June 12. Lieutenant Col
onel R. W. Huntington's battalion of
marines, which landed from the trans
port Panther on Friday ana encamped
on the hill guarding the abandoned ca
ble station at the entrance to the outer
harbor of Guantanamo, has been en
gaged in beating off a bush attack by
Spanish guerillas and regulars since 3
o'clock Saturday afternoon. The fight
ing was almost continuous for thirteen
hours until 6 o'clock this morning
when reinforcements were landed from
the Marblehead.
FOUR MARINES KILLED.
Four of our men were killed and one
wounded. The advance pickets under
Lieutenants Neville and Shaw are un
accounted for.
Among the killed is Assistant Sur
geon John Blair Gibbbs, son of Major
Gibbs, of the regular army, who fell in
the Custer massacre. His home was
at Richmond. Va., but he had been
practicing in New York and he entered
the service since the war begun. He
was a very popular officer. The oth
ers killed are Sergeant Charles H.
Smith of Smallwood; Private William
Dunphy of Gloucester, Mass., and Pri
vate James McCollegan, of Stonham,
Mass. Corporal Glass was accident
ally wounded in the head.
The Spanish loss is unknown, but it
was probably considerable. The
splashes of blood found at day light at
the positions the Spaniards occupied
indicate fatalities, but their comrades
carried off the killed and wounded.
The engagement began with desul
tory firing at the pickets, 1,000 yards
inland from camp. Captain Spicer's
company was doing guard duty and
was driven in, finally rallying on the
camp and repulsing the enemy at 5
o'clock.
The bodies of Privates McColgan and
Dunphy were found, both shot in the
head. The large cavities caused by
the bullets, which, inside a range of
500 yards, have a rotary motion, indi
cate that the victims were killed at
close range.
-BODIES OF THE DEAD MUTILATED
The bodies were stripped of shoes,
hats and cartridge belts and horribly
mutilated -with machetes. When they
were brought in the whole battalion
formed three sides of a hollow square
about the camp on the hill top. Be
low in the bay were the warships at
anchor. Inland from the hill camp Is
a deep ravine and beyond this are
high hills. The adjacent country is
heavy writh a thicket 'growth.
The sky was -blanketed with clouds,
and when the sun set a gale was Iblow
hig seaward. "Night fell, thick and im
penetrable. The Spanish squads con
cealed in the ctoaipparel cover had the
advantage, the Americans on the ridge
furnishing fine targets against the sky
and the white tents. The Spaniards
fou$rht from cover till midnight, discov
erable only 'by flashes, at which the
marines fired volleys. The repeaters
sounded like crackers in a "barrel.
The MarbleheaTfc launch, a Colt ma
chine gun in her bow, pushed up the
ibay enfilading the Spaniards, and it is
thought that some were killed. The
marine? trailed miih (blood to the wa
ter's ede and there lost It. Sharks are
numerous In the vicinity.
The ships threw their sea'chlights
ashore, the powerful electric eyes
sweeping the deep tropic foliage and
disclosing bccasionally skulking parties
of Spaniards. It all resembles a trans
formation soene at the harbor.
Each discovery of the enemy was" j
the edge of tke camp ridge or ty the
long roll of the launch's gun, search
ing the thickets with a leaden stream.
THE MAIN ATTACK.
Shortly after midnight came the
main attack. The Spaniards made a.
gallant charge up the southwest slope,
but were met by repeated volleys from
the main 'body and lroke before they
were one-third of the way up the hill;
lut they came so close that at points
there was almost a hand to hand
struggle, the officers used their revol
vers. Three Spaniards gvrt. through
the open formation to the edge of the
camp. Colonel Jose Campina, the
Cirbari guide discharged his revolver,
and they, turning and finding them
selves without support, ran helter
skelter down the reverse side of the
hill. ,It was during this assault that
Assistant Surgeon Gibbs was killed.
lie was shot in the head in front of his
o.wn tent, the far hest point ct attack.
He "fell into the arms of Private Sulli
van jrtd both dropped. A second bullet
threw dust in their faces. SurVecn
Gibbs lived ten minutes, hut did not
regain consciousness.
The surgeons of the hospital corps
then removed theih quarters about the
old Spanish stockade north of the
camp. The attacks were continued at
intervals throughout the rest of the
night, with firing from small squads
in various directions.
Toward morning the fire slackened.
Dawn is he favorite time for attack,
and, as the east paled, the marines,
lying on their guns, were aroused.
Some were actually asleep, as they had
had no rest for forty-eight hours, and
tired nature could no longer stand the
strain. But no attack came.
SHELLING THE BRUSH.
Three new 12-pound field guns, which
could no be used during the night, for
fear of hitting our own men, shelled
several squads of Spaniards after day
light. They dived into the bushes like
prairie dogs into burrows as the shells
broke over them 'in the gray dawn.
As the correspondent of the Associat
ed Press talked with Major Cockrell,
who was in charge of the outposts,
word came of the finding of the body
of Sergeant Smith. He was reported
as having been killed at 5 o'clock on the
previous day, "but it appears that he
had been seen alive at 10 o'clock in the
evening. "When and how he was killed
no one knows at this writing. "Neither
had the men been mustered nor had the
outposts of lieutenant Neville and
Shaw been relieved.
Lieutenatn Colonel Huntington and
Major Cockrell gave high praise to the
nerve and steadiness of officers and
men, especially the young ones, as the
engagement was a baptism of fire for
a large majority. The men were in
darkness and in a strange land, but
they stood to their posts with courage
and fortitude and there was no symp
tom of a panic.
The marines, though exhausted, were
eager for more fighting, promising to
inflict heavy punishment. They com
plimented the daring of the Spaniards
with characteristic camp profanity.
A STORMY TIME EXPECTED.
Today the amplest precautions have
been taken, and, as the Dauntless was
leaving, reinforcements wrere landing
from the Marblehead. A 9tormy time
was expected.
Estimates vary as to the attacking
force, some say 200 and the figures run
as high as 1,000. Colonel Campina, the
Cuban guide, said the Spaniards were
mostly irregulars, but the reports of
the discharge of Mauser rifles would in
dicate that they were regulars, as most
of the guerillas carry Remingtons. The
Cuban guerillas, as a rule, have more
dash and courage than the regulars.
The new campaign uniforms prove
satisfactory and are almost invisible at
a distance of 200 yards. The Lee guns
caused several accidents in drawing
cartridges. Corporal glass shattered
his hand.
Despite the loss of the men, who are
keenly regretted, the marines, rejoice
that they have "been engaged in their
first fight on Cuban soil. They sailed
from New York the day war was de
clared and expected to land within a
week at Havana. Since then until they
landed on the shore of Guantanamo
bay, they had 'been cooped up on the
Panther, and they had begun to fear
that the troops would he there before
them after all.
THE NAVAL RESERVES.
To be Clustered Into tne Service A Ltt
ter from the Enlisting Officer.
(Special to the Messenger.)
Raleigh, N. C, June 11. The adju
tant general today received from Sec
retary Long a telegram, saying he
had referred the 'adjutant general'3
telegram about the 'North Carolina's
naval reserves to Ttear Admiral Erbin,
of "New York, who is in command of
them. This afternoon the adjutant
general received the iollowing letter
from Lieutenant C. H. Arnold, U. S.
navy, at Charleston, S. C:
"I have 'been directed to enlist the
members of the naval malitia of North
Carolina into the service of the United
States auxiliary naval force. Memhers
presenting themselves will be required
to pass physical and professional ex
aminations and will 'be given ratings
for -which they may be found best
qualified. Officers and men will foe no
tified that while the intention of the de
partment is that their service shall be
used as far as practicable for necessary
coast defense, they must be prepared
to serve wherever .the department
deems their presence necessary. En
listments will he made for one year's
service, unless sooner discharged. A
discharge will be granted upon re
quest provided the exigencies of the
service will permit. Officers will be ex
amined for grades to which they may
(be appointed for one year if successful,
and according to the duties they will
foe expected to perform."
Immediately upon receipt of this let
ter Adjutant General Cowles wirel
Lieutenant Arnold to know where he
wished to muster the men into service
and suggested Wilmington.
Raleigh Times: The Biblical Recorder
is the only paper so far that has con
demned the recent lynching in Cabarrus
county.
Tka Royal i the highest grade bakiag powder
kflowa. ActMl tests show St goes
third farther than aay other bread.
FEOffi
Absolutely Puro
MCAL BAKING PCWOCft fcO-, fcFW VOAft.
THOI BLL IX THE C'AXP.
A Row Between a Whiky Keller and
a Soldier at Camp Ttioma Soldier
Loot the PremUee Soldier Dragged
from a Train by Telegraph Wire.
Chiegarnauga, June 12 A much needed
rain fell today, ccolir.g the atmosphere
and laying the dust. Tr.e men in camp
were relieved this morning: from any
duties and hundreds were given leave to
vis the city, Lookout mountain and the
"ridge."
An accident occurred this morning at
Lyttle, the camp station that will prob
ably terminate thw existence f the
whisky shops and gambling dens which
have up to this time been permitted to
ply their busineS by the Georgia author
ities without let or hindrance. A private
of Twenty-first Kansas regiment, who had
been drinking at the whiskey dive of one
Joe Baker, became involved in a diffi
culty with the barkeeper. Blows follow
ed and Baker drew a revolver, firing point
blank at the soldier, the bullet, it is
claimed by the soldier, striking him
above the eye, inflicting a wound which
may cause the loss of an eye.
A crowd of soldiers rushed in, but
Baker, fearing further trouble, had got
ten out of the way. A large body of
soldiers formed with the purpose of handl
ing him severely and avenging the injury
to their comrade, and for a while it look
ed as If there would be serious trouble.
An armed guard, however, was quickly
detailed by order of General Brooke, who
took charge of Baker and his place and
order was soon restored. The soldier was
taken to the division hospital, wht-re the
surgeon found a wound as indicated, but
thought the injury had been caused by
a bit of broken glass and not by a bullet.
After, the shooting a number of sol-
j diers discovered the gambling den was
running a brace game and that the dif
ficulty between the soldier and Baker
had resulted from the fact that the lat
ter had been playing the former with
loaded dice. It took the soldiers only a
few minutes to demolish the place. They
broke up the furniture, scattered the
gambling paraphernalia in the street and
-vere only detered from pulling down the
"'louse by the arrival of the officers.
It is stated this evening that a number
of good citizens in the vicinity will, be
cause of failure of the Georgia officers
to enforce the law. petition that the por
tion of Walker county in the vicinity
cf the park to be put under mar
tial law so that General Brooke can
administer the law on the lawless ele
ment now doing a thriving business there
One of the trains from the park was
crowded to suffocation this morning and
a number of soldiers mounted the top of
the coaches. At a point about three miles
from Chattanooga a number of telegraph
Wires across the track of the railroad
over which the soldier excursion train
was passing. When the track reached
this point, C. H. Ames, Third Illinois;
Thomas Barrett, Fourteenth New York,
4nd "Judd" Sharp, Sixteenth Pennsyl
vania, were standing on top of a car and
not -having a knowledge of the wires.
Sharp was caught under the chin and
around the neck by one of them and
dragged off the car; pulling with him
Ames and Barrett who had attempted to
catch him. The train was running at the
rate of twenty miles an hour but as soon
as the accident became known it was
stopped, the three men picked up, carried
back to X.yttle and placed in the Letter
'hospital. None of the men was fatally
injured.
SPANISH SYMPATHIZERS.
The Germans Leaning Strongly to That
HSide Criticism of the American
Campaign Maligning the American
Hog.
(Copyright by Associated Press.)
Berlin, June 11. There is no material
change in the feeling in Germany in
regard to the war between Spain and
United States. The government scru
pulously avoids expressing its views
on the subject and a few of the Ger
man newspapers persist in their atti
tude of little short of open hostility to
ward the United States.
Throughout the week they have ve
hemently maintained that the occur
rences at Santiago de Cuba amounted
to "another defeat of the yankees" and
have gleefully printed the lying Mad
rid dispatches supporting this conten
tion. These newspapers also continue
to charge the Americans with cowar
dice for not attacking the Spaniards
"whom until recently the Americans
regarded as foes unworthy of their
steel."
A member of the general staff here;
in an interview with the correspond
ent of the Associated Press said: "It
is hard for a trained soldier of the Eu
ropean mold to suppress a sentiment
akin to contempt when reading the ac
counts of what have thus far been
done, or, rather, left undone, by the
American army against the Spanish
troops in Cuba. With no Spanish fleet
to worry them, money and transporta
tion in abundance, all of the men need
ed at their command, they have been
unable thus far to even effect a land
ing of troops. This fact speaks for it
self. And, after the enormous boast
ing of the American press and people
and who systematically belittled the
Spaniards for months before the out
break of hostilities, this inglorious
failure is doubly conspicuous, and if
striking proof of the great superiority
of the European system of standing
armies was needed, the Americais
have furnished it.'
The above sentiments are apparently
shared by all the German military
men.
The attempts of Spain to secure Eu
ropean intervention continue, in spite
of the little encouragement held out
by the cabinets approached.
The feasability and probability of
an Anglo-American alliance or under
standing is attracting widespread at
tention in the German press, though
the idea is scoffed at as impracticable.
The Cologne Gazette ridicules the idea
and claims that if an alliance were
made England would secure all the
advantages and America all the dis
advantages. The fact that the United States gov
ernment Is not participating in the
Brussels sugar conference is regarded
unfavorably here.
Fifty persons have been made sick
by trichinosis this week in the neigh
borhood of Zwickau. Saxony, and It Is
asserted that American pork was re
sponsible for it. But, when proof of
this assertion was invited it was not
procurable.
It i$ said at St. Petersburg that Mr.
Cornelus Vanderbilt. fearing capture
by the janiards, is to leave hie yacht
at Odessa uatil peace declared.
TROOPSHIPS SAIL.
The First Division of the Army of Invasion
on Its Way to Cuba.
THE P0RT0 RICAN EXPEDITION.
The Second Division to Start for San Juan in Ten DaysThe Sun
tiago Fleet Embraces Thirty Transports with Seventeen Thou
sand Soldiers and Sixteen Warships.. -The One to Porto
Rico to Include Heavy Hattleships for llomhard.
nient of the FortsWar Preparations by
the War
ashmgton. June 12. Under com
mand of "Major General Shafter, the
first dlviskm of the United States army
will sail tonight from Key West for
Santiago de Cuba to besiege and cap
ture that town. The army transports,
thirty in number, left Port Tampa yes
terday and are at Key West. The con
voying warships, 'believed to number
between sixteen and nimtten. will W
ready for the voyage by nightfall, and
with this powerful force there i? no
longer reason for apprehension that the
transports can be attacked successful
ly by any Spanish warships, even if
such should have escaped the vigilant
search of the naval commanders at
Key West and off Havana.
It is believed here that the sally vui
of Havana of the three Spanish gun
boats was intended to create the im
pression that they were prepard to go
out to attack the transfiorts. if s the
plan miscarried for the craft were de
tected immediately 'by Com mod ore
Watson's cruisers and xl riven back
pellmell into Havana harbor under the
protection of the guns of the shore bat
teries. Even if these boats had escap
ed they could have done no damage
for the size of the convoy furnished for
the troopsbips is sufficient to rwararnt
Ibelief that they would haveljecn speed
ily destroyed should they have had the
courage to make an attack upon the
fleet of American ships. The Spanish
gunboats are not of formidable charac
ter, not one of them being the equal in
power of the smallest of the American
cruisers, or even of such gunboats at
the little Bancroft, which may be used
as General Shafter's flagship.
Every precaution has been taken by
the government to ensure the safety of
the troops en route to Cuba, The naval
war Doara was- in session today, making
the final preparations for the disposi
tion of the gtrardships.
The transports will be kept as close-
ly together as safe navigation will per-
mit and the warships will 'be disposed
ahead, astern and on either flank.
The fleetest scoutin g vessels will be
thrown far out in advance of the
transports and in order to ensure
against an attack from the rear some
of these vessels, such as the St. Louis,
perhaps, will linger far astern ready
to signal the heavy armed cruisers at
the first sign of an approaching foe.
The stately battleship Indiana, it is ex
pected, will lead the procession of ships,
which willbe the most numerous gath
ered in American waters since the civil
war. The troops should arrive off San
tiago by Wednesday nig"h't, supposing
the fleet proceeds at eight knots speed,
and landing operations should begin by
Thursday, for General Shafter will not
keep his men cooped on shipboard a
moment longer than necessary. It is
not Jbelieved that they will de landed
at Caimanera, the point on Guantana
mo bay where the American flag now
flies over the heads of Sampson's ma
rines, as the place, wbile well adapted
to serve as a naval base and as a har
"boir of refuge for the American war
ships, is not particularly well suited for
the beginning of military operations.
THE PORTO RPCAN "EXPEDITION.
In ten day's time, unless unfrre;een
obstacles are encountered, the move
ment upon Porto Rico will 'begin. The
war department has 'been in close com
munication by telegraph with General
Miles at Tampa and all of the necessary
instructions have been given to the
commanding general for the campaign.
General Miles in tarn has 'been con
sulting Generals Ooppinger and Lee at
Jacksonville, giving the necessary de
tailed instructions, and all is so near
ready that were some essential supplies
on hand the expedition could start
within twenty four hours. The navy
department has been advised Of the
purpose of the army and the war board
today was making arrangements to
supply the convoying fleet. This will
be of a more formidable character than
that which goes with the Santiago ex
pedition, for the plans contemplate a
Joint attack upon the San Juan fortifi
cations by the army and navy and
these fortifications are so powerful that
heavily armored ships only can le
sent against them, at the 1eginning.
Therefore, it is believed that Sampson's
battleships will head this fleet.
Now that Sampson Tas taken up a
position ashore in Guantanamo bay. it
Is e :pected at the navy department that
he will soon be in direct communica
tion with the department, which will
greatly facilitate the combined opera
tions of the navy and army. The cable
which he cut Just before landing the
marines was buoyed and as soon as
cable operators and instruments can be
gotten over from Hayti the cable wl!l
e opened again.
THE TROOPS WHICH LETT TAMPA
Tampa, Fla., June 12. The expedtion
that sailed from here to Key West
prior to goin to Santiago was made up
of nearly twenty regiments of regular
Infantry, of from 500 to 5S0 men each,
including hesides the regiments of the
Fifth army corps, four regiments of in
fantry that have been in camp at Mo
bile and -which formed part at Major
General Copplnfrer's command at that
rendezvous. The total force of regular
Infantry was about 11,000 men. There
Department.
were al.o two regiment! of voluntea
infantry, about ".OoO m. n altogvther
the Second regiment of er.valry from
Motile. r00 mn, and two !iua.Inra
each from the First . Third. Sixth
Ninth and Tenth cavalry, alut ?.0OQ
men: eight tnoi of volunteer cavalry,
taken from Roosevelt'. rough rkbr,
f.f men: f.Hir batteries of Ucht artil
lery 3(0 men and 16 guns; two batterua
of heivy artillery. 2'X men and If. guns;
the battalion of engineers. 2 mn;
signal and hospital eorps. etc., about
Six) mn: a grand total of ab-ut 17, (X0
mn. Th' regular. were jci.t ! ally,
picked men. as not a single nvruit
taken, the regiments carrying only ha
old masoned troops.
Or. the side's and on th snrk stack
if every one ,,f the transports which
formed the lleet were painted largo
white numbers and by thes.. numbers
the loats were officially known, their,
original names leinrk l!sc:uVI-d. Thld
vva? for the purpose f facilitating sig
naling 'between the llasship and tho
other Uuts of the lleet.
Washington. June 12. Secretary Al
ger today gave out for publication
statement showing with exactness Just
what has bevn done by the war dejnirt
ment up to this moment in preparing
the t'nited States army for war.
The figures run into vast amount?;
for instance, the subsistence depart
ment, showing that U has since May.
14th loaded twelve solid miles of freight
cars with provisions for Uncle Sam's
army. This included U,l:,3.m5 rations
for the regular and volunteer troops.
The ordnano department workedl
under i peculiar difficulties as the sup
plies required are not articles of com
merce and it is not easy to Induce pri
vate manufacturers to take up their
manufacture, involving, as it des, tho
installation of now machines and tools,
and the education of workmen in
special lines. Still, the deliveries from
; the contractors have been steadily in
i i-uiii, uuu iu u nun UUVUl UIUUUUl
I . n . . . i .1 . .
iu meet me ueiuanus.
Prior to 'April 21st. in anticipation of
the -present emergency, this department!
; had been aocummulattng Fmall arraa
cartridges for some time and had about
J 20,0X,000 of all kinds on hand. Thero
have been u roe u nil manv million
more by manufacture and purchase!
since April 21st, and the manufacture
and delivery of small arms cartridge
will soon reach 700,000 per day. Then
have been issued to the army small
arms of all kind and the supply i.i
sufficient for antfeinpated wants.
Since April 21st the old n'gular bat
teries have had their armament In
creased from four guns and caissons tn
six guns and caissons. The new reg
ular batteries have been supplied with
six guns and caissons and battery wa-g-ons
and forge. Heavy field guns with
their caissons and harness have also
been issued. Sixteen volunteer bat
teries have been supplied either In
whole or in part.
Since the oeginning of the war, thrt
department has sent to the field a largd
number of 5-inch siege guns and 7-lnoli
siege howitzers, with their carriages,
limbers, platforms, implements, 'ijuip
ments and tools complete. LA. 1 1 of thi.
siege material is of the latest -pattern!
and newly made. Three 6-inch 1MI
mortars which had been distributed fop
practice have been collected and sent
to Tampa. These are supjrtied with an
ample quantity of ammunition.
There have been shlpp.-l to the for
tifications since April 21st, many sca-
coast carriages, guns for which are al
ready provided. Rapid fire guns and
an ample supply of ammunition, cart
ridges, shell, shrapnel fu.se and smoke
less powder for the same, have been
purchased, and a portion of th'-m ha
already Ixen installed at permanent
works.
Th transportation branch of tho
quartermasters department took ad
vanced precautions to secure Btearnem
to carry troopH to Cuba. An experi
enced officer was early sent to New
York to consult with the jtM.mship
companies and inspect the vessel.
Hi3 wwk was so complete that- when
the call came the department was in
position to secure from the companies
the ships that were needed. The policy;
was to divide the call among the vari
ous coastwise lines with a view of noC
interfering seriously with their com
mercial interest. Consequently, the de-.
partment has been able without friction
to secure the most reasonable chartera
that the government has ever made
Up to this date there have been char
tered forty-one first clss steamshlua
for transprrts on the Atlantic coast,
four water vessels, one tug, three light
ers. All these had. to be fitted for
vice. All thes l.fid to be fitted lor.
troops, animals, and freight hy trac
ings bunks, building animal pens ar.cl
putting in extra tanks for the water. ,.
Indoor nod Out
"My health was very poor and I suf
fered from dizzy ?pells, rheumatism and
weak nerves. I did not care to live inl
such a condition. Hood's Sarsaparilla
has changed all this. It has complete
ly cured me and 1 am now afcle to wofkl
hard Indoors and out." airs. John A
Lively, Iallas, Wet Virginia,
Hood's Pills are the favortte family
ca than re Eay to take, easy to vpE
ate. 2 Sc. .
f l
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