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| Philippine Freedom Fighters. |
Cortland Evening Standard, Saturday, June 18, 1898.
CLOSING IN ON MANILA.
Insurgents Make Bold and Successful Attacks.
CITY MAY HAVE FALLEN.
MANILA, June 9, via Hong Kong, June 18.—There is intermittent firing on the outskirts of the city in all directions. The Spaniards are utterly exhausted by hunger, sleeplessness and incessant alarms. They have no information regarding the enemy's movements until suddenly attacked. In the meantime they are in constant dread of the populace rising up and attacking them in the rear. Besides this [at] every skirmish, directly the retreat begins, the native troops desert.
The insurgents avoid disturbing the noncombatants and English women and children are living peaceably and unhurt in the zone of hostilities. They find it unnecessary to migrate.
There was a concerted attack yesterday morning in every direction. The Spaniards were informed of the insurgents' intention to capture two magazines outside the fortifications at Malate and Santa Mesa, southward and westward of the city. Therefore they concentrated their forces for a supreme effort in their defense and bombarded the jungle all night long. In the meantime the insurgents captured Malabon and Caloocan, in the northern suburbs. The Spaniards were thus outwitted, out-generaled and harassed to death.
During the previous night, owing to a misunderstanding, a squad of Spanish artillerymen stampeded from Malate into Manila, causing immense consternation, it being believed that the insurgents were storming the city.
A Spanish officer commanding an outpost at San Juan left his men in charge of a sergeant, came to town and was found helplessly drunk. It is reported that he was sentenced to death.
A 6-inch gun at Malate, while being fired into the woods over the Spaniards' heads, fired a shot which struck a tree and killed several Spaniards.
There is a story current here this evening to the effect that the captain and officers of the German warship Irene went to a picnic on horseback to the furthest outpost of San Juan, accompanied by the highest Spanish staff officers. They had a champagne lunch, and the captain of the Irene is said to have made a speech during which he declared the Americans "will never annex the Philippine Islands while William remains emperor."
The Germans, it is further said, with their Spanish hosts, might have been killed by the insurgents who had the road to San Juan strongly ambushed. But, it is further asserted, the insurgents had orders to avoid giving a pretext for German intervention. Finally, it is said, the Germans proposed to remove the wounded Spanish soldiers to a hospital ship under the German flag, but Admiral Dewey is reported to have replied that hitherto mediation had always been British and must so continue.
DEWEY'S LAST REPORT.
Manila May Have Fallen, But It Was Not the Program.
WASHINGTON, June 18.—Admiral Dewey's report of June 12 from Cavite was food for a good deal of discussion at the navy department. Taken in connection with the press reports it would seem to indicate that Manila probably has fallen by this time. One phrase used by Admiral Dewey that "They do not intend to take the city at the present time" warrants the belief that he has reached a perfect understanding with the insurgent leader and that the town is not to be attacked until his own troops arrive.
For some reasons it is extremely desirable that such should be the case, and that Dewey should receive the surrender of the town in person rather than force the Spaniards to surrender to the insurgents and thereby afford a possible pretext for the interference of some of the European powers whose ships are gathering in suspiciously large numbers in Manila bay.
BRAG FROM SPAIN.
What a High Minister Says of the Situation of the Philippines.
MADRID, June 18.—One of the high Spanish ministers in an interview says: "Aguinaldo, after breaking faith with the Spaniards, induced the uprising in aid of the Americans by swearing the latter only came to liberate the Philippine islands and would support a native republic But when the natives see through the trickery and Spanish warships with reinforcements appear, there will be a reaction in favor of Spain, because the natives, although fickle, are still influenced by members of the secret societies, and not by the mass of the natives.
"If Manila is obliged to capitulate, the seat of government will be transferred to the Viscayas Islands, General Augusti capitulating as commander of Manila and not as governor general of the Philippine islands."
The minister also denied the Spanish government had any intention of ceding territory to Germany in exchange for her undefined assistance.
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| USS Vesuvius (AE-15). |
PAGE TWO—EDITORIALS.
A Vesuvius in Truth.
The first use in naval warfare of shells containing high explosives and hurled by compressed air was made by the United States cruiser Vesuvius at the entrance of Santiago harbor on Monday night. The target was a fort on a high headland to the west of the entrance. It had been previously bombarded with ordinary shells, but owing to its altitude there was difficulty in hitting it, and for that reason its guns were not silenced. Under cover of the darkness the Vesuvius stole within 600 yards of the headland, and sent forth from its aerial tubes, one after another, shells containing 200 pounds of gun cotton each. Their discharge was accompanied by only a slight sound, of course there was no flash or smoke, and there was no perceptible recoil of the tubes. The first indication the Spaniards had of what was being done was given by a terrific explosion on a ridge below the fort. An immense column of earth was hurled into the air to a height of 200 feet. A minute later, higher up on the cliff, there was a flash, which was more of a glow than a flame, followed by a tremendous roar, and tons of pulverized rock were sent skyward. A third shell went over the hill, and probably reached the supposed location of the torpedo boats in the harbor. The Vesuvius then backed out at a high rate of speed, although it was moving with engines reversed.
The amount of damage done by the Vesuvius' shells will not be learned until the Spaniards cooped up in Santiago harbor report. But the officers of the blockading fleet learned enough from the visible effects to satisfy them that the detonation of each shell exploded on impact, that high explosives in large quantities can be hurled a considerable distance through the air, and that no fortification can long withstand such a bombardment.
The Vesuvius was the first war vessel to be equipped with pneumatic dynamite guns. Our government was not inclined to duplicate the craft, because of the uncertainty as to its effectiveness. The three aerial tubes being fixtures of the vessel, the motion of the entire ship had to be taken into account when they were aimed, and for that reason the chances seemed to be against accuracy. Then, too, the range of the guns was limited. Moreover, while the cruiser was fast enough to run away from danger it was not built to meet it. Having no armor protection it could be easily riddled by hostile shots, and if one of these ever struck the highly explosive ammunition aboard, not only would the doom of the cruiser be sealed, but also that probably of any companion vessels that might be near it.
The successful test of the Vesuvius, guns and ammunition at Santiago point is a revolution in naval warfare. The important thing proved is that dynamite can be safely hurled and surely exploded where it strikes, to work immense destruction. This cruiser, under cover of darkness, could steal up within range of Morro castle, Havana, on which a searchlight from another vessel was directed, and simply pulverize it. Moreover, a fast dynamite cruiser could be constructed with its ammunition protected by impervious armor, thus enabling it to hurl explosives with impunity in the daytime.
Although the range of the Vesuvius' guns is limited to about a mile and a half, they have the advantage of a very high angle fire. A shell can thus be dropped into a port, or upon the deck of an enemy's vessel. When it explodes in a fort it completely wrecks everything for a considerable distance around where it strikes. When it hits a deck it is very likely to go through and blow up the ship. As the air pressure is the same at all times, an accuracy of fire is established which compensates the difficulty encountered, because in aiming the ship and not the gun has to be trained.
Wednesday night, the Vesuvius fired three more shots into the bay where the Spanish torpedo boats are anchored. One made a big hole in an island, but the other two hit the water, and if there were any vessels near where they struck they must have been destroyed. Taken altogether, the cruiser has proved its worth, and it is likely later to give a still better account of itself.
Held Up by the Marietta.
Dr. H. G. Hughes of Cortland is the physician and surgeon on board the Columbia line steamer Finance, plying between New York and Colon, Central America. When the war broke out the Finance was at Colon and was delayed there for some weeks by the owners in the fear of capture by the Spanish warships. When finally it appeared that the Spanish vessels could do no harm trips were resumed at irregular intervals, but the course was changed from passing the east end of Cuba to a line around the west end of the island, that being considered safer. On the last trip south when a little distance off Cuba the Finance was suddenly held up one night by a shot across her bow. There was considerable excitement and nervousness on board till a boat came alongside out of the darkness and a landing party disclosed the fact that it came from the United States cruiser Marietta. The Finance proved to be all right and was permitted to proceed.
Are Feeling Aggrieved.
Some of the subscribers to the Biographical History [pdf] of Cortland County which has recently been issued by the Biographical Publishing Co. of Buffalo are feeling dissatisfied with the work and have refused to accept the books or pay for them. The result is that the following notice has been sent to the subscribers:
Sir—The subscribers to the Cortland County History will meet at Fireman's hall Saturday evening, June 18, 1898, at 8 o'clock sharp to take measures to recover back the money paid the publishers. Let every subscriber be present. BY ORDER COMMITTEE.
INSPECTED PAVEMENTS.
Village Trustees Returned Last Might from Their Trip.
The [Cortland] board of village trustees and the special committee of the board of trade returned last night from their trip inspecting pavements. While they doubtless have opinions, they are not saying much as to preferences, but the material to be used on Main-st. will be decided upon at a meeting of the board of trustees next Monday night.
The board visited Syracuse, where they saw brick and asphalt. Wednesday night they went to Buffalo, where on Thursday they inspected brick, sheet asphalt, black asphalt, and Medina sandstone. In each of these two cities they were accompanied by the city engineer. Tonawanda was next visited, where they saw brick, and at Niagara brick was also seen. Yesterday was spent in Rochester, where they rode over brick and asphalt.
Asphalt manufacturers and agents were encountered everywhere, and the visitors were courteously treated by them, but Dr. White said to-day that the board felt compelled to refuse these courtesies once or twice when they wanted to see brick. Asphalt men might have a little choice as to where they showed brick.
Mrs. Nancy Lusk.
Mrs. Nancy Lusk, wife of Hubbard Lusk, died at her home in Dryden Friday morning, June 17, aged 57 years. Mrs. Lusk was a sister of Mrs. Lewis Bouton of Cortland, and also leaves one other sister, Mrs. Archibald Lamont of Quenemo, Kan., and two brothers, Messrs. John Lamont of Dryden and Peter Lamont of Willey, Ia. The funeral will be held at Dryden Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock.
He Wanted to be a Soldier.
County Judge J. E. Eggleston has this week been holding court for County Judge Ross at Syracuse. The Post this morning says:
Judge Eggleston yesterday signed a set of naturalization papers with more pleasure than usually attends that somewhat perfunctory duty. The applicant was one Antonio Madio, and when asked what he wanted to be a citizen for he replied: "To go to war; there are my enlistment papers; I have only been waiting to get my naturalization papers. I go to the front to-night." The judge signed the papers without further delay.
Take Notice.
S. J. Parmiter is still at the old stand, 22 Railroad-st., where he can repair your broken umbrellas as good as new. The material he uses for repairing is not the second-handed stuff that some repairers use, but is new from the factory and of good quality. A new rib 15 cents, braces 10 cents, runners 10 cents, notches 10 cents, new handles from 20 cents to 50 cents, new covers from 40 cents to $2.50. A very fine "English Gloria" for $1. He has all grades in stock from which to select and is ready to compete in prices with all repairers.
BREVITIES.
—Free dancing at the park to-night.
—The greenhouses of A. Frost have been connected with the telephone exchange.
—It is expected that the cinder [bicycle] path from Cortland to South Cortland will be completed to-night.
—A number of Normal students spent the day at Ithaca, taking advantage of the excursion rates.
—Ballasting on the E. & C. N. Y. R. R. is completed except the finishing touches between Solon and East Freetown.
—New display advertisements to-day are—Stowell's, Handkerchiefs, page 6; A. Mahan, Summer Bargains, page 7.
—The Cortland Y. M. C. A. baseball team went to Ithaca on the excursion this morning to play the Ithaca Y. M. C.A. baseball team on Percy field.
—The Cortland Political Equality club will meet with Mrs. B. R. Smith at the home of Dr. Cheney, Church-st., Monday, June 20, at 3 P. M. All interested are welcome.
—The officers of the Baraca class of the First Baptist church request all the members of the class to make a special effort to be present to-morrow as a report from the state Baraca will be given.
—To-morrow evening will be young people's night at the First Baptist church and the pastor Rev. Adelbert Chapman will preach a sermon specially for them. His theme will be "The Good Soldier."
—M. P. Van Kirk has a turkey gobbler that is strictly a family turkey. After the female turkey had laid five eggs, he drove her off the nest and since then has attended entirely to the incubating process himself. In four weeks he was rewarded by three of the eggs producing turkeys, and they are now roaming the fields with him, the objects of his solicitous care.—Newfield Cor., Ithaca Journal.
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