23 May 1898
Page 1
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Newspaper
Cincinnati Commercial Tribune
Location
Cincinnati, Ohio, United States of America
Date
May 23, 1898
Page
1
Reported naval movements place the Spanish admiral en route to Martinique then San Juan as the Cadiz squadron may join. A battle update is awaited hourly. Spaniards seek to wipe out remaining Cuban forces. Winslow claims heavy casualties in the Cardenas attack. Spanish spies are said to infest Hongkong.
A special dispatch reports the Cuban invasion starting with transports sailing from Tampa and gunboats to cover two landing spots near Havana. The War Department refuses to confirm details but anticipates up to 60,000 troops and a four week objective to seize Havana.
May 22 dispatch from Key West reports Gustavo Aranguren says letters from Havana claim General Blanco has drafted Cubans into the Spanish army causing unrest. Betancourt and Gonzales Arango reportedly arrested at Cabanas Fortress for aiding insurgents as food shortages worsen. The piece notes Spain aims to crush Cuban resistance amid bombardment fallout. The Winslow incident involved Spanish gunboats luring the US torpedo boat into danger.
May 22 report from Hong Kong notes 7,000 Spanish troops in Manila, 2,000 in Delfi, 1,500 in Iloilo, 1,000 in Minandaro, 800 in Layte. US ships deter further Spanish activity as bombardment devastates Cárdenas and surrounding areas. Famine and siege conditions worsen for insurgents and civilians.
A Macon Georgia dispatch reports the United States transport Florida left Port Tampa on May 18 carrying several hundred Cuban volunteer troops. The expedition toward Cuban soil is underway and expected to be successful with troops who speak Spanish aboard.
Senor Ernesto Castro, president of the Revolutionary Junta of Cardenas, arrived at Key West aboard the gunboat Annapolis. He witnessed the recent bombardment from a small boat and spoke of escape attempts and transportation requests to the United States as naval operations unfold around Cuba.
Reports from St Pierre Martinique say Admiral Cervera's squadron may coal there and slip toward San Juan or Cienfuegos. The Twickenham is noted for coal supply and the Terror and Alicante are seen near Fort de France awaiting orders. If Cervera goes west toward Cienfuegos Schley and Sampson may close in, threatening capture in the Windward Passage.
A Kingston dispatch reports Cervera left Santiago de Cuba fearing American ships would trap him as Sampson’s fleet nears. The Spanish squadron may clash at sea while one ship at a time exits the channel. a nine year sentence looms for an unnamed American prisoner with Halstead.
A Manila famine report via Hongkong notes flour at ten dollars per sack and potatoes unavailable. An American miner Doeur, linked to a Manila coal mine, was ordered to leave as authorities feared coal could feed the fleet. Abuans aided Spaniards but families starved. tributes rose, provoking revolt.
Report from Cape Haitian dated May 22 notes a loud cannonading heard Friday from the north, seeming distant. No further information available and other reports are considered exaggerations.
Washington May 22 reports show 106000 volunteers mustered into U S service with state camps paused. Adjutant General Corbin cites militia inadequacies delaying completion but expects the quota to be filled within the week and within thirty days from orders to governors.
City of Peking Sydney and Australia sail Tuesday carrying First Regiment California Volunteers First Oregon Volunteers one officer fifty artillerymen totaling 125 officers and 2400 men under Brigadier General Thomas Anderson with General Otis expected to accompany. Army and Navy coordinate use of Peking for troop lift and supplies.
Unconfirmed reports from Cadiz say the Spanish squadron may sail for Cuba. A Spanish artillery battery arrived at San Roque, seven miles from Gibraltar, and has been deployed in position to reinforce defenses.
Madrid dispatch claims the Spanish squadron has arrived at Santiago but not met an American ship. Officials say the blockade is only on paper and that the fleet now cruises to keep the US fleet occupied, protecting the Cuban coast.
Official dispatch from Captain General Blanco reports American warships shelled the forts guarding the water approach to Nuevitas Puerto Principe on Thursday night last. Senor Leon y Castillo Spanish ambassador to France had a long conference with Premier Senor Segasta. Absolute secrecy maintained on the discussions.
London May 23 The Madrid corre spondent of the Daily Mail says the government delays sending the second squadron until Admiral Cervera reports results.
The Navy Department awaits word of a possible engagement between Sampson and Cervera as cablegrams from Paris reach Washington. France indicates Cervera may have landed ammunition at Santiago and then sailed to open sea, with three potential routes under consideration.
In San Juan Puerto Rico on May 22 1898 the Spanish gunboat Isabel II fired a shot at the British steamer Roth laden with coal to trap her in port until discharge. The Spaniards claim the shot was accidental. An American cruiser captured a Spanish bark six miles off San Juan and is towing it northward. Halstead the American correspondent was taken to the city jail.
President McKinley intends to send additional officers and ships to reinforce Commodore Dewey's squadron. The battleships Bennington and Yorktown and the cruiser Philadelphia are slated to depart for the Far East, expanding American naval presence amid the Philippine conflict.
Washington May 22 The Navy Department issued an official bulletin declaring there is no truth to reports of a naval engagement off St Nicolas Mole Haiti in which twelve ships were sunk. The statement aimed to calm fears of families and indicate no meeting between American and Spanish squadrons has occurred.
The New York Journal reports an 1898 dispatch from Kingston Jamaica about Blanco sending expedition Cubans to Vera Cruz to secure coaling facilities. The article notes the Spanish fleet may force Cubans to the front to bear American fire and mentions engineers are scarce as foreigners depart Havana Santa Clara and Vedado.
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