Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 67, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 April 1898 — NEWS VERY SCARCE. [ARTICLE]

NEWS VERY SCARCE.

Little Information from the Seat of War Is Received. 1 Dll OF EVENTS IT THE CAPITAL. j Roosevelt Realigns aa Aaalatent Secretary of tbe Navy to Command Regiment of Cowboya—John da- ~ r eob Aator Shows Patrlottam. Washington, April 26.—There was a dearth of news from the seat of hostilities off the Cuban coast, so far as the department was concerned, or if it was in possession of information it was so carefully guarded that nothing leaked out. A few telegrams came from Key West announcing the arrival there of the prizes whose capture has been reported through the press. Nothing could be obtained as to the intentions of Commodore Schley in hastily rushing away the flyers Columbia and Minneapolis from Hampton Roads, but it is believed that their purpose is to shelter the Paris or some of the other liners from attack at the hands of some Spanish cruiser. There was talk of establishing a supply depot in the Philippines to meet the conditions in Asiatic waters. Our fleet there now has no home, and under neutrality laws the stay of the ships at any port is limited to a few hours. This is unpleasant besides involving the expenditure of a great deal of cool, so that it may become necessary for Commodore Dewey to seize a port in the Philippines and fortify it as a base of supplies. Many Important Event*. Congress on Monday formally <S|5clared war to exist between the United States and Spain; the senate passed the naval appropriation bill, carrying large amounts of money for the im-

provement of our sea-fighting arm of the federal service; the Hull army reorganization bill was passed by the senate, and now goes to conference; Secretary Sherman resigned as chief oi the state department, to be probably succeeded by Assistant Secretary Day, and the latter by John B. Moore, of New York, an acknowledged authority on international law, and the war department called on the several states for their quota to the volunteer army of the United States. These make up the important events of the day. It \#as not announced when Secretary Sherman’s resignation would take effect, the secretary having yielded his original idea of leaving at once, and it is presumed that he will remain until Judge Day qualifies as his successor. The selection of Mr. Moore, who is now professor of international law at Columbia university, New York, to succeed the latter, was warmly welcomed by all the state department employes. Another Proclamation Coming. The officials of the department, with the assistance of the attorney-general, huve been preparing another proclamation, which will be issued in a day or two, this time treating of prizes and defining the conditions and time when such seizures might be made. It is believed that the protest and suggestions coming from foreign embassies and legations here have led the department to define, once for all, its position in this matter. A prize commissioner was appointed Monday afternoon in the person of Commnnder John Wynne, a retired naval officer. He will be stationed at Key West, where he now resides, and it will be his duty, In conjunction with two of the members yet to be selected as part of the commission, to make appraisements of the value of prizes and to assist the prize courts in their work. Roosevelt Reaiaraa. It has been understood for some time past that Assistant Roosevelt, of the navy department, would soon retire in order to enter the military service in the Cuban campaign. This story can now be confirmed positively, although the time set for Mr. Roosevelt’s departure from the department is not definitely fixed. The president Monday named Mr, Roosevelt as lieutenant colonel of one of the regiments of mounted riflemen to be raised in the Rocky mountains under Col. Wood, whom Mr. Roosevelt has urged for the place. Col. Wood is now Dr. Wood, of the army. He won a medal of honor for distinguished gallantry while commanding a detachment of regular troops during the exceedingly hard Apache campaign against Geronomo. Secretary Alger selected Col. Wood and

Mr. Roosevelt for these positions because he felt that their training and experience in the past peculiarly fitted them to do good service with a cowboy 1 regiment. Col. Wood starts west today to superintend the recruitingMany offers have already comfe to Mr. Roosevelt from individuals and organizations among the cowboys. Secretary Long wishes Mr.- Roosevelt to remain in his present position as long as possible, bo it may be two or three weeks before he will join his command, i A Patriotic Millionaire. 1 John Jacob Astor, of New York, hot content with offering the government free his splendid yacht Normahal and free transportation for troope and supplies over the railroads in which he ia interested, has come forward with notice that he has raised and equipped, at his own expense, a battery of artillery which he desires to offer to the government under his own plans for service in Cuba. This offer probably will be accepted, although the department has. been deluged with offers to raise volunteers in this way to the aggregate number of at least 50,000 men. As the president’s authority on the volunteer bill is to enlist only three regiments outside of the regular quotas to be furnished by the state, there is not much opportunity to accept the services of these partiots. To Arm Iniargenti. Washington, April 26. Arrangements have been completed by the government to supply the Cuban insurgents with arms and ammunition. The government is preparing now to land in Cuba from 25,000 to 30,000 stands of imprcfved Springfield rifles, a number of artillery batteries, rapid-fire Maxim guns and an abundance of ammunition for tbe effective use of them. It cannot now be said when these munitions of | war will be placed in the bands of the insurgents, but when the proper time arrives for the 35,000 armed Cubans to ! cooperate with the American forces they will be thorougrly armed and ! equipped for battle. It is understood ! that this government will not deliver i the arms to any person but Gen. Gomez j in person, and he will, as a guarantee of good faith, receive them. Gen. Miles believes that if the insurgents are properly armed and supplied with the artillery they have so long needed they can do more effective work and render the A.merican troops invaluable aid in driving the Spaniards from the island. May Fight at Manila. Hong-Kong, April 26. —The first naval battle of the Spanish-American w ar will probably be fought off Manila. It will almost certainly take place to-day or Wednesday at the latest. The American squadron is speeding on its Way to the Philippines and should be almost half way there. A big Spanish fleet is waiting for Admiral Dewey’s ships, expecting and looking forward to a fight. Spain has a lively rebellion on her hands in the Philippines. It is reported that 20,000 natives are in arms, their rifles and ammunition having been furnished by Japan, according to general belief. Engaged in the work of sup Dressing this rebellion Spain lias elgh cruisers and ten gunboats. Against these Admiral Dewey will pit the cruisers Baltimore, Olympia, Boston and Raleigh, the gunboats Concord and - Petrel, the revenue cutter McCulloch and two colliers.

Landed a. Force In Cnba. Key West, April 26.—The torpedo boat Porter Sunday night landed a force in Cuba —the first during the war. Lieut. Fremont., oommnnder of the Porter, himself led the party, under cover of darkness. The Porter stole in fairly under the guns of the land batteries until she found a suitable landing place near MarieJ, hardly a dozen miles from Havana. The party explored the shore for over an hour, going far enough Inland to ascertain just what a landing force would have to contend with. The Porter’s party were not disturbed, though they were close enough to hear the sentinel at the batteries. Masked batteries at Matanzas Monday fired at the torpedo boat Foote without effect. Notified to Leave. Washington, April 26.—The Posit says: The Spanish fleet, which mobilized at Cape Verde Islands, has been notified by Portugal to leave St. Vincent. Queen Enters a Protest. London, April 26.—The queen regent of Spain Monday made a protest to all the European powers against the action of the United States. Vesnvlns Sails. Newport, R. I„ April 26.—The dynamite cruiser Vesuvius, which sailed Monday morning, is believed to have gone to Key West. She carried an extra quantity of projectiles.