PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Aug 11, 1898

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 24, No. 32.

PROGRESS OF THE WAR.

Porto Rico.—General Miles' campaign of conquest is now under full sway in the island of Porto Rico. He has captured a number of towns, without resistance, and the inhabitants are welcoming the Americans as liberators. From Guanica, the landing-place, the Americans marched to Ponce, and received the surrender of the city. Yauco was the next to yield, and the Americans were welcomed in an address by the alcaide, who dated his proclamation, “Yauco, Porto Rico, United States of America, July 27.” The Spanish troops have retreated toward the city of San Juan, and hundreds of the volunteers are of their own accord surrendering to General Miles......General Brooke left Newport News, Virginia, on July 28, with 5,300 men, to re-enforce General Miles, and another entire division of the army has been ordered to sail to his support. No serious resistance is expected until the city of San Juan is reached.

Cuba.—Over four thousand American troops are now on the sick list in Cuba, and the Navy Department is making arrangements for bringing them back to the United States as soon as they are able to be moved......It is reported that the city of Nuevitas, on the south coast of Cuba, has been bombarded by the blockading squadron of the American fleet. The Spaniards evacuated the place and it was subsequently burned. Three Spanish ships in the harbor were captured and taken to Dry Tortugas. In Santiago quiet is still maintained under the policing of the American troops, but business has not been resumed in the degree anticipated, owing to the uncertainty as to whether the government of the province will be under the control of Americans or be turned over to the Cubans......The insurgents have captured Gibara, with 116 prisoners, and are now holding the town......The Cubans have court-martialed and shot four deserters from the Spanish army, who were detected poisoning the wells from which the Cubans took their drinking water......In the city of Santiago malarial fever and dysentery are epidemic, and the fatalities from these diseases average forty daily.

The Philippines.—General Merritt and the transports and troops under his command, arrived at Manila on the morning of July 25. All were well. General Merritt at once assumed command of the American troops. The course which is being taken by Aguinaldo, the insurgent leader, is giving the American commander much anxiety, and it is reported that more troops will be sent to the islands than was originally intended. Both the Americans and insurgents are intrenched around Manila, awaiting the signal to advance to the attack. The Spaniards have placed rows of women and children outside their fortifications to shield themselves from attack by the insurgents......The steamer St. Paul left San Francisco for the Philippine Islands, on July 29, with 850 men on board, to re-enforce General Merritt......Edward E. Hardin, financial editor of the Chicago Tribune, has been appointed by the government to study and report upon the general financial condition of the Philippines.

Peace negotiations are still in progress between Spain and the United States. The demands of the American Government have been laid before the Spanish cabinet and queen regent, and a reply to them has been received at Washington, together with a request for further information in regard to the disposition of some of the territory covered in the American demands. Just what the demands are, and just how they have been received, are not made public; but it is believed that the American terms will be agreed to, and that peace will soon be practically established between the two governments.

Casualties and Calamities.—A cyclone, accompanied by hail and lightning, visited portions of Missouri and Nebraska on July 29. Three persons were killed by the lightning in Nebraska, several houses destroyed, and a large number of horses and cattle killed in the fields......The powder mill at Troy, Pennsylvania, was destroyed by an explosion on July 28, and the owner of the mill was killed......A fierce gale, accompanied by hailstones as large as walnuts, visited Chicago on July 28. The pelting hail broke tons of window glass, killed thousands of birds, and caused a large number of runaway accidents. The property damage will amount to $250,000......The Federated Wire Trades have declared a strike at Cleveland, Ohio, and nearly three thousand wire workers are idle. The strike was caused by a reduction in wages......A hailstorm visited Coddington County, S. D., on July 28, ruining 30,000 acres of standing grain.

National.—The seventh annual session of the National Irrigation Congress has been called to meet in Cheyenne, from September 1 to 3 inclusive. Delegates will be appointed by each State, by each city of 25,000 inhabitants, and by agricultural colleges and irrigation societies......The United States consul at Lisbon, Portugal, has issued a formal protest to the Portuguese Government against the harboring of Spanish war vessels.

Fires.—The big box factory at Flagstaff, Arizona, was burned on August 2. The loss is about $75,000, and the destruction of the factory throws 200 men out of employment......Three persons were killed and fourteen injured by the burning of the Berwyn Hotel, Chicago, on August 1......By the burning of the Oregon House, San Francisco, on the night of July 29, five persons lost their lives, and six were seriously injured.