Rensselaer Democrat, Volume 1, Number 4, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 May 1898 — WAR [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

WAR

jREMEMBER THEtMaINE

FREEDOM FOR CUBA/

TWO FORTS SILENCED. Port Cabanas and .Mariel Fired On by the Flagship New York. The flagship New York, while cruising westward along the Cuban coast, went near enough to invite shots from the shore for the purpose of learning with what guns the Spanish could oppose the fleet to the westward of Havana. Mariel declined to reply. Farther west, toward Port Cabanas, were two small batteries, neither mounting modern high-power rifles. These tried to shoot at the torpedo boats Porter and Ericsson, which were running along astern of the New York. The flagship, lying broadside on, promptly replied as soon as she got range, and sent shell after shell into the little parapets which screened the gunners and above which the gunners could be seen. Twelve shots were fired from the New York, and there was no reply after the fourth. The New York's gunners had the range and shot right into the earthworks, tearing up sand and mortal, which fell in showers. With the guns "dismounted, the gunners fled. The fire silenced, the New York moved on her course. It was impossible to tell through glasses whether any were killed, but the New York had gained the desired advantage by drawing fire from these batteries and learning their strength. They were not at all formidable. No shot struck the flagship, the shells falling short or going wide.

Causes Vast Outlays. The call of the President for 125,000 volunteers and the passage of the bill increasing the regular army to 61,000 men has forced a revision of all the army estimates. Paymaster General Stanton has applied to the Secretary of War for fifty additional paymasters and for twentyfive additional clerks in the pay department. He also sent his estimate for a deficiency appropriation of nearly $6,000,000 for the payment of the army during the present fiscal year and for $40,000,000 for the pay of the army for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1899.

No Women Nurses. Surgeon General Sternberg of the army has received applications from over 1,200 physicians, Who have offered their services to the Government. He has been obliged to issue a circular letter declining these offers. He says that comparatively few contract surgeons will be required in the regular army, and he has nothing to do with the volunteers. No female nurses will be sent to Cuba or to hospitals on the gulf coast. Blow Up Wreck of the Maine, The State Department learned Sunday through its secret agents that the wreck of the battleship Maine, lying in Havana harbor, had been destroyed by the Spanish authorities. It is supposed by officials of the administration that this action on the part of the Spanish authorities had been taken to prevent raising of the wreak after tho capture of Havana. This tafermation has intensified the desire to "avenge the Maine.” Patrolling tho Channel. Two Spanish torpedo boats and a large armed ship were sighted cruising at the entrance of the htealish channel. <_

CITY OF PARIS SAFE. Fleet American Liner Reported Cap* tnred Arrives in New York. The American liner Paris arrived in New York Saturday morning from Southampton, after a rough passage of 7 days 17 hours and 45 minutes, with 9 saloon, 42 second cabin and 98 steerage passengers. The Paris left Liverpool the previous Saturday, with a large quantity of guns and ammunition for the Government, and had 152 passengers. Immediately after her departure and before she passed the Lizard reports were circulated from various British points that the Paris had been captured by a Spanish warship and was being taken to Cadiz. When the Paris passed Lizard, she showed her usual signals, and then put out all her-lights, and disappeared in the darkness of the ocean. This did not put an end to the stories. London and other cities in England reported that theswift ship had been overtaken. The Paris was delayed by rough seas, fog and rain, but at no time-during her voyage did she sight a Spanish warship. She discharged her cargo at once and was received by the naval authorities, her name being changed to the Yale.

Northwest Ready for War. In the Northwestern States there are now under arms 37,712 militiamen, according to dispatches, and careful estimates show that 465.060 men stand ready to volunteer, many being already enrolled. It is believed that in case of an emergency call the seven States named in the following table would furnish over 2,000,000 men: ” Number who would Trained Volunteers respond soldiers estimated to a callunder arms, ready, estimated. Illinois 0,472 • 65,000 750,000 Indiana ....5,460 50,000 200,000 Ohio 7,882 100,000 400,000 lowa 2,388 50,000 200,000 Missouri ... 5,000 150,000 400,000 Wisconsin .. 4,000 25,000 100,000 Michigan ... 3,510 25,000 100,000 Total ...37,712 44)5,000 2,150,000 Will Recruit 3,C00 Ncgr. cs Major General Brooke, commanding the division of the Federal army at Chickamauga, has begun tho enlistment of 3,000 negroes. This numbor of colored troops is required under the reorganization bill. Britain May Step In. Owing to the arrest of several Englishmen in Cuba, accused of being American spies, negotiations have been opened for the taking off of British subjects by British men-of-war. Would Wreck Army Trains. Gov. Atkinson received a letter from Dr. James L. Long of Good Hope, Ga„ saying Spanish spies were planning to. wreck bridges and blow up trains bearing troops to Key West. To Inoreasc the Regular Army. Preparations are being made to rapidly recruit the regular army up to its maximum of GO,OOO to 65,000 men under the reorganisation bilh This will require enlistment of about 25,000 men. With Havana out of beef a bull fight should he an appetizing spectacle there.

CARRIES ORDERS TO GOMEZ. United States Officer Reaches Camp of the Insurgent Commander. Lieut. Henry H. Whitney of the Fourth United States Artillery reached Gen. Gomez’s camp Friday night with an escort provided by Col. Bermudez, who met him on the coast, near Caibarien, Tuesday morning. Lieut. Whitney carried letters to the insurgent commander-in-chief and instructions from Gen. Miles of the United States army. These instructions direct the Cuban army to move to a point where they will unite with an army under Brig. Gen. Nunez, which is to be equipped by the United States. Nunez’s army will bring along complete equipments for 30,000 men. A point on the northern coast is to be seized and fortified as a base of supplies. The commander-in-chief and Lieut. Whitney naturally declined to reveal to correspondents the point selected for the base, but the Cuban officers say it is Cardenas. From the same source it is gathered that the first offensive action of the allied troops is to be against Matanzas, which is only twenty-five miles from Cardenas. The idea is that Captain General Blanco will not dare weaken the force he has gathered for the defense of Ha.vana to relieve Matanzas. This point once taken, the base of operations will be transferred to that city, and the investment of Havana will follow. COST OF TWO MONTHS’ WAR, The Increased Expenditures Will Be Approximately *90,000,000. The Secretary of War estimates that deficiencies in appropriations required for the use of the War Department for the remaining two months of the present fiscal year will aggregate $34,019,997. The several items in the deficiency appropriation usked for are as follows, cents omitted: Signal service of the army $21,000 Pay, etc., of the army (volunteers) ~ 5.766.061 Pay, etc., of the army (regulars).. 1,425,253 Subsistence of the army 2,739,643 Regular supplies, quartermaster’s department 1,000,000 Incidental expenses, quartermaster's department .. 750,000 Horses for cavalry and artillery.. 1,500,000 Barracks and quarters 300 000 Army transportation 6,000,000 Clothing and camp and garrisou equipage . 10,000,000 Contingencies of the army 20,000 Ordnance department 3,747,405 Medical and hospital department. 750,000 Equipment of engineer troops .... 50,000 Torpedoes for harbor defense.... 500,000 Expeditionary force to Cuba...., 150,034 Total ... $34,019,997

SCENE OF THE GREAT NAVAL COMBAT.