Rensselaer Democrat, Volume 1, Number 3, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 April 1898 — The War Situation. [ARTICLE]

The War Situation.

TROOPS ARKABBKMBMN6 125,000 Volunteer Soldiers Called Ito. War Formally Declared and Fierce Battles May Occur at any Moatent. There is so much and yet so little to be said about the war situation that it is difficult to give a true synopsis of t|re case. Event after event' andlcapture after capture has crowded so fast one upon another and tlte public interest is worked up that the generality of people has perhaps informed itself through the medium of the great Julies as the main situation, that there remains but the latest facts to be told. • The following is the listof Spanish prizes captured by Amer* ican ships since the war began: > Date. Priae— April 22—Str. Bueno VentSHu.Cruieer NoahApril 22—Str.fMro. ■ CWofaer New York. April 22—Fixbiutf aehooner . . Torpedo boat htFicCHOU. April 81—Sehoomer MathlMe .....Torpetlq bout PortdMF. April 21—Schooner Condidia Jiuiibo*! ApTilM^Str.'cßtaHna...iCratapr Detroit. April H—L»r. Satorniu .Revenue cutter Winona. _ April 21—Schooner Antonio Torpedo boat Porter. April 25—Str. Panama..... LiffhChouae tender Maiqrrove. „ r* April al—Sloop Paquette . Omiboat Newport. April 20— Schooner Hrened . .Uuiibuat NewApriVn— Ambroee Bolivar. houitor Terror: So far it is opt positively known that any American boat has been captured by the Spaniards, but a recent dispatch from the Phtlipians islands via. Spain’s capitol says that the Spanish gunboat El Cano has arrived in port with the American BuHkSaranac. The dons ftwm the Havand fortress have seat a few scattering shots at our blockading fleet which were not returned by the Americans. In the capture of' several of the vestals several lively races took place, but after a few shots from our vessels the <W»I . BUT Rj fI , without auy tdxJttttirtngrsmhfc f It is confidewtiy ' our fleet now in Philliptan waters, will come in conflict Wfth the Spanish gunboats in’ the very near future —perhaps before the end of the week. In the meantime the officials have beeij doing their utmost to get the army and navy into the very best shape possible. A call has been issued by the President for 125,000 troops which have perhaps been more than raised by the present time. In response to the call the governors of the several states have called for the state militia to assembled and be reorganized ready for the field. The regular army is being increased from 27,000 to 61,000 troops, and the regulars are being rushed across the continent at the fastest speed possible to the old battle-fields at Chickamauga, which is now over-run by infantry, cavalry and artillery companies. At Springfield, 111., 10,000 state troop are assembled at the fair grounds, at Indianapolis a like number of Indiana guards are in camp, the same is the case all over the nation. A paper of the date of the 28th, says the only trouble is to discriminate who shall go to war, there being so many more applicants than places for men. If the President wanted an army of 1,000,000, instead of 125,000 he equid get if just as easily. It is very likely that no attack will be made on Havana until the army and insurgents are ready to co-operate with the squadron when the attack can be carried surely and swiftly to a successful finish. > It is also asserted that a fleet of Spanish gunboats are headed for America with the purpose of bombarding some of our least protected cities along the Atlantic coast. It is very difficult, however to gain any positive knowledge on account of the secrecy exercised on both sides.