Cuba.—The War Department has begun the work of removing the soldiers from Cuba, and this work will be continued as fast as the troops are able to be transported. General Shafter reports that the fever cases in his army are on the decrease…… The work of transporting the captured Spanish army from Santiago to Spain has begun, and will be continued as fast as the transports arrive…… General Wood, the military governor of Santiago de Cuba, has compelled the shopkeepers of that city to agree upon a fair scale of prices for provisions which they are selling. This action was caused by the exorbitant prices which they had been charging…… The American forces took formal possession of the city of Guantanamo, Cuba, on August 9, after the Spanish troops had been marched out of the city…… The steamer Wanderer, during the week, has landed three different consignments of arms and ammunition on the coast of Cuba…… In Guantanamo Bay the ships of the fleet which sustained the most damage during the battle have been undergoing repairs. On some of the vessels these were quite extensive. Twelve of the Brooklyn's guns had to be remounted.
……General Garcia has captured the town of Gibara, and has demanded the surrender of Holguin, which is garrisoned by 12,000 starving Spaniards. It is reported that the commander has offered to surrender the place on condition that his troops be allowed to return to Havana…… Three small American war vessels, with 1,000 of the marines who made the first landing at Guantanamo, have sailed for the Isle of Pines to capture the Spanish garrison there and take possession of the island.
Porto Rico.—During the week the Americans have taken the towns of Arroyo, Coamo, a village at Cape San Juan, Fajardo, and Guayama, the latter a city of 16,000 inhabitants. General Miles is making a steady advance on the city of San Juan. A report from Madrid states that Captain-General Macias, of Porto Rico, has been ordered to make but slight resistance, and to surrender on the same terms as those granted the Spaniards at Santiago…… American marines have lighted the lamps in the lighthouses along the coast of the island, accomplishing the work without resistance…… The Spanish colonel who abandoned the city of Ponce, with his small force, at the approach of the Americans, has been court-martialed and shot for not offering resistance.
……A two hours' engagement took place at Cape San Juan, Porto Rico, on August 10, between forty American marines who were guarding the lighthouse there and eight hundred Spaniards. The latter were driven back by shells from three American war vessels, and refugees report that about one hundred were killed…… The advance of the American army toward San Juan has been temporarily checked by the destruction of a bridge at the hands of the Spaniards.
Philippines.—The third American expedition to the Philippines has reached Manila in safety after an eventful voyage. Six men and one officer died after leaving Honolulu, and were buried at sea. When a few days out from Hawaii, fire was discovered in the coal bunkers of the Morgan City, and was not extinguished until after the transports arrived in Manila…… On the night of July 31, the Spanish troops attacked the Americans entrenched near the city of Manila. It was pitch dark and a storm was raging. The battle raged for several hours, but the Americans held their ground. The estimated loss of the Spaniards is 200 killed and nearly a thousand wounded. The American loss was 13 killed and 38 wounded. The attack was repeated on the two following nights, but the fighting was at longer range, and only two Americans were killed…… The steamships Charles Nelson and Lakme sailed from San Francisco on August 6 for Honolulu with 1,000 soldiers for the garrison of Honolulu. On the same day the Tacoma sailed for the Philippines with a cargo of vegetables, horses, and mules for the army at Manila.
National.—The government has decided not to disband the auxiliary navy, but to retain converted vessels in commission until peace is actually declared. ……Senators Cullum and Morgan and Congressman Hitt, members of the commission appointed to frame laws for Hawaii, sailed for Honolulu on August 9, to enter upon the duties assigned them. ……The government is making active preparations for the improvement and occupation of Pago-Pago harbor, Samoa, as a naval base for the American fleet in Pacific waters, and extensive coal sheds will be erected there as soon as the work can be completed. This harbor was acquired by America twenty-five years ago, and is considered the best in the group.
Fires.—A $125,000 fire occurred at Jacksonville, Illinois, on August 6…… The best portion of the town of Bismarck, N. D., was destroyed by fire on August 8. The damages will amount to many thousands of dollars…… The packing plant of the St. Louis Dressed Beef Co. was partially destroyed by fire on August 7, resulting in a loss of $50,000.
……On August 9, tramps riding in a car loaded with naphtha, near Truckee, California, ignited the cargo by lighting a cigaret. The car was blown to pieces, the men frightfully burned, 1,800 feet of snow-sheds consumed, eleven cars of merchandise destroyed and all passenger trains delayed for one day
Domestic Miscellany.—The government has ordered the release of the French steamer Manoudia, which was recently captured by the American blockading squadron. The French minister at Washington has requested the release of the steamer Rodriguez, captured under similar circumstances; but a decision has not been reached in this case…… A report from Cuba to the Navy Department states that the wrecking company has succeeded in raising the Spanish cruiser Maria Teresa…… Statistics collected by railway companies and business men show that the wheat crop of the United States for the present year will be the largest ever recorded.