Rensselaer Democrat, Volume 1, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 July 1898 — WAR HISTORY OF A WEEK. [ARTICLE]

WAR HISTORY OF A WEEK.

Thursday. Sagasta said to have announced in the Spanish chamber that the fleet of Admiral Camara is bound for the Philippines. Cable news direct from Cuba and by dispatch boat* to Jamaica is that there has been sharp fighting on land near Baiquiri. The auxiliary cruiser Yale sailed from Old Point Comfort with the first re-en-forcements for Gen. Shafter’s army at Santiago de Cuba. Cables from Cuba by way of Madrid report that fierce fighting has taken place between the allied American and Cuban forces and the Spanish. Splendid work has been done by Admiral Sampson's ships in bombarding the Spanish batteries near Santiago. The Texas is credited with the best work of the war. The Vesuvius has demonstrated the complete success of gun. cotton shells. Fridby. The sittings of the Cortes were suspended by royal decree. Official assurances received that Germany intends to be strictly neutral in regard to the Philippines. An additional army of 20,000 men is soon to be dispatched. There are doubts whether the destination is P«rto Rico or Cuba. Should Camara's fleet pass into the Suez canal an American squadron will start at once across the Atlantic and bombard Spanish sea ports. First serious engagement by our troops in Cuba occurred five miles from Santiago. Less than 1,000 American cavalrymen dispersed 2,000 Spaniards. The American loss a dozen killed and nearly fifty wounded. The warships under Admiral Sampson bombarded the forts of Santiago de Cuba again. The gunners found the range much better than on former occasions, and the execution wrought was serious. The loss of life on the Spanish side was considerable. Saturday. Two men suspected of being American spies arrested at Palmas, Island of Majorca. "■ Exciting debate in the Senate on the question of agreeing to a time at which a vote on Hawaiian annexation could be had. A report published in Madrid that suggestions for peace negotiations had been made by the United Stites is denied at Washington. The Spaniards have abandoned Morro Castle, the chief fortification nt the entrance to the harbor of Santiago de Cuba, without a shot being fired. They have concentrated their forces in the city.

Sunday. Fifteen regiments stationed at Chattanooga ordered to Cuba. Advance of Shafter’s army has forced its way to within four miles of the city of Santiago. Camara’s fleet is at Port Said,' but no request to take on coal has yet been made to the Egyptian government. Auxiliary cruiser Harvard sailed for Santiago with the Ninth Massachusetts regiment and two battalions of the Thir-ty-fourth Michigan. Train carrying Colonel Torrey’s rough riders to Tampa was in collision at Tupelo, Miss. Four soldiers and a colored porter killed and Colonel Torrey and several others wounded. Monday. Gen. Garcia and 5,000 Cubans were landed at Juragua. The third expedition to the Philippines, 4,000 men, departed from San Francisco. Up to June 23 the re-enforcements for Admiral Dewey had not arrived at Manila. Reports to Madrid say the American fleet bombarded Aguadores for five hours Monday. The opposing armies are within range of each other at Santiago de Cuba, but the Americans are not ready for battle owing to the non-arrival of field and machine guns. The administration has issued orders for the formation of an eastern squadron, under Commodore Watson, which is directed to sail as soon as possible for the coast of Spain. Tuesday. The Valencia, with 700 Dakota troops, Wt San Francisco for Manila. American field and siege gulls are on the heights overlooking Santiago. Captain General Augusti cables from Manila that the situation there is critical.’ One thousand Cubans, under Sanguilly, Lacret and Betancourt, with artillery and 500,000 cartridges, have landed at Banes. In two sham battles between some of the troops at Camp Alger several of the soldiers Were seriously if not fatally injured. The Yale, with one battalion of the Thirty-fourth, Michigan and the Thirtythird regimeht, reached Baiquiri and landed the troops. Officials in Washington believe Camara’s fleet will soon return to Cadiz. Plans are laid to pursue him if he go forward, the intention being to crush him between Dewey’s and Watson’s ships. . It is considered likely in any event that a big expedition under Sampson will be sent to attack the Spanish coast.