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| U. S. troops at Daiquiri, Cuba, 1898. |
The Cortland Democrat, Friday, June 24, 1898.
Landing Made at Two Separate Points.
FIRST BIG BATTLE NEAR.
Santiago to Be Attacked In the Rear, Side and Front.
WASHINGTON, June 23.—Just a week after the United States troops left Tortugas, they began to disembark on Cuban soil, landing in formation at two points, so as to attack Santiago in the rear and at the side with the navy to help the work in front. Thus the military invasion of Cuba may be said to have fairly begun, for though the United States marines were the first of the regular forces to land upon Cuban soil, their purpose after all was not invasion, but the establishment of a naval base and a base for a cable station, in both of which they were eminently successful. To the regular troops was left the beginning of the formidable task of invading Cuba in force by land.
A brief cablegram came to the war department from Lieutenant Colonel Allen. It had been expected. To the surprise of the officials, the cablegram was dated, not Guantanamo, but a place called Playa del Este, about 20 miles west of Guantanamo bay. Its exact wording is withheld, but the statement was authorized that it said the troops were landing and that preparations had been made to attack Santiago at the side and rear.
The delay in receiving further cable communications is thus explained: The lines were being carried westward, probably to be nearer the point selected as the landing place in Cuba.
In his dispatch Lieutenant Colonel Allen said that he had heard nothing officially from either General Shafter or Admiral Sampson. This is accounted for readily by his instructions. He was told specifically by General Miles in a cablegram not to embarrass General Shafter by any unnecessary questions.
Thus it will be seen to the delight of all true soldiers, that General Shafter, like Admiral Sampson, is not to be tied by exact orders from Washington, but is to be allowed the widest liberty of action in the belief that he, being on the ground, is capable of judging best the propriety of projected movements. The lieutenant colonel, however, who is a member of General Miles' Staff and directly in charge of the signal work in Santiago province, communicated briefly with General Miles in cipher the fact that the debarkation of the troops had begun and that a plan of attack had been arranged.
The reinforcement of General Shafter actually began yesterday in the departure of a regiment and a battalion of troops at camp Alger for Santiago. They went to Newport News and then by steamer will go direct to Santiago. If the expectations of the projectors of this movement are realized, these troops are likely to occupy actually less time in the passage than did the first contingent, which left Tampa directly, notwithstanding the distance is twice as long. Formal orders were issued placing General Guy V. Henry in charge of the new division of troops composed of Duffield's and Garretson's brigades, which are to form part of the new division. Probably some of the troops now at Tampa will be attached also, in which case they will be dispatched in separate transports. General Henry is one of the noted cavalry leaders in the army, possibly in the world.
It is evident from the nature of General Miles' advices that in addition to the troops now landing not far from Playa del Este on the east side of Santiago bay, the second landing is going on at a point just about the same distance west of the harbor entrance. The two divisions probably will be pushed forward steadily to take the town of Santiago on either flank while to Garcia and Rabi's insurgents may be left the task of bringing on the attack in the rear. The distance on the west side is slightly greater than on the east but it probably is not greater by either route than 15 or 18 miles. The country is mountainous, but there is no reason to believe it may not be traversed by the United States troops within a week, even if it should be necessary to construct entrenchments and abattis every few miles in order to beat back the Spaniards.
With the beginning of the military movement the navy will draw close in shore to pound away at the forts at the entrance and to draw the cordon of warships so closely around the mouth as to make it impossible for Cervera's vessels to escape even if they are disposed to take the most desperate chances.
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| Main Street, Cortland, 1899. |
DECIDED BY UNANIMOUS VOTE OF TRUSTEES.
Majority of Petitions Asked for Asphalt and Everybody Is Well-Satisfied—Specifications Will be Ready and Bids Asked for Next Week—Other Business.
General satisfaction seems to be the result of the decision of the [Cortland] village trustees Monday evening that the new pavement on Main-st., for the entire distance asked for in the petition, shall be of asphalt.
All the members of the board seemed to have reached the same conclusion after their trip of last week and when the matter came to a vote the decision was unanimous.
The usual order of business was carried out and some routine business transacted early in the evening. Several walks were ordered repaired and bills were audited as follows:
Police payroll, $126.00
Reider & McLaughlin, supplies for engine house, 24.44
G. W. Bradford, supplies, 20.00
Jas. P. Costello, salary, 25.00
Street Commissioners payroll, 269.00
Trustee Sprague, who was a committee to look up the cost of a cabinet to hold the village papers, reported that a suitable one could be procured for $25. He was empowered to get it.
M. F. Cleary came before the board and requested that the street commissioner scrape the street in front of the Catholic cemetery clear to the gutter instead of to within five feet of it.
Several letters were read asking for specifications on our paving in order that the sender may bid on the same.
President Stilson was instructed to arrange for the vacations of the police force. Messrs. G. T. Maxson and C. H. Price came before the board and presented a resolution which had just been adopted at a meeting of the board of trade after hearing the report of their committee which accompanied the trustees on their tour inspecting pavements. The resolution asked that the pavements be of Trinidad asphalt with brick between the tracks and for two feet outside, laid on a six-inch concrete foundation with an inch and a half binder.
Later, on motion of Trustee White, seconded by Trustee Nodecker, the following resolution was unanimously passed:
Resolved, That we pave that portion of Main-st. as described in the petition now on file in the village clerk's office with asphalt excepting between the rails of the Traction company and outside of said rails not to exceed two feet outside of each rail which shall be paved with brick or Medina stone, providing a contract can be made with a ten-year guarantee at a price that the board of trustees shall consider fair and reasonable with such plans and specifications as the board of trustees may hereafter determine.
The board then adjourned to Wednesday evening.
Wednesday evening Engineer Allen was present and the specifications were talked over. Bids will be asked for on stone curbs and on the one-piece, cement curb and on brick and Medina sandstone between and near the Traction company's tracks. Various other minor details were talked over and Mr. Allen said he would have the specifications ready to present to the board next Wednesday and a meeting will be held that evening. To comply with the law they must be advertised and bids asked for two weeks. Then the time will be short before actual work will begin.
Central School Graduates.
The closing exercises of the Central school were held in the opera house last evening and were exceptionally fine. The thirty-two graduates are:
Ella May DuChette, Earl Charles Odell, Millicent Louise Phelps, Margaret Francis Rice, Ethel May Seaman, Bertha Elizabeth Shults, Minnie Estella Burdick, Eva May Lathrop, Oscar Charles Smith, John Lawrence Mulligan, William Frances Kernon, Charles Francis Lynch, Leon B. Hilsinger, Mamie Anne Lynch, Mary Emilie Decker, May Florence Morris, Ina Anna Shevalier, Angeline Lucy Cummings, Olive Frost Landon, Augustus Dillon, Edith May Swift, Jessie Elizabeth Dennis, Harriet Elouise Harding, Mary E. Curtin, Eva May Snyder, Mary Beatrice Dalton, Daniel James Dalton, Pearl A. Williams, Lydia S. Mathewson, Irvin Horton, Reine Adelia Rogers and Mabel Edna Tennant.
PAGE FOUR—EDITORIALS.
Say, Mr. McKinley, if we began war for the starving Cubans, are you not afraid they have already starved to death by delay?—Ithaca Democrat.
About the only thing that Spain has left to pawn is her honor, and the price she will get for that will hardly keep her on corned beef and cabbage for a week, to say nothing of side dishes of garlic.
Speaking of "Dewey's luck" somebody asks "What is luck?" And then the Troy Press answers: "More than 10,000 miles between Dewey and the Board of Strategy at Washington. It this isn't luck for a naval commander what is?"—Ex.
The extra session of legislature, a call for which will be issued this month, will cost the state $30,000.
"If the foreigner pays the tax," aptly suggests the Chicago News, "will the Hon. Nelson Dingley kindly notify the Chinese and Japanese that that 10 cent tariff on tea is now due?"
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| Thomas Platt. |
Political Notes.
The only safe way in which Europe can interfere in the war would be to hurry up the surrender of Spain.—Tully Times.
Judging by present appearances, it may not be so much a question this year, whom Platt would like to run, as whom Platt can get to run.—Albany Argus.
At first Governor Black couldn't understand Platt's suspicious willingness to let him run again; but as the canal investigation proceeds, he begins to tumble.—Albany Argus.
The time seems to have come when to be patriotic it is necessary to vote for bonds, bonds, bonds. Such is the position of our Congress to-day. May the common people, who must bear the burdens of bonds, smite each bond-voter to the ground.—Knight Watchman.
If Secretary Alger should conclude to build a pew sawmill in Michigan, would he appoint as superintendent one of the capable assistants of a mill already in operation, or the son of somebody who had not yet done anything for an honest living but who was very much in need of a job?—World.
Shall we pay the Dole oligarchy $4,000,000 for the privilege of keeping its leprous serfs in order? Shall we give the Dole oligarchy two seats in the Senate and three electoral votes? Or shall we hold on to the only thing in the Hawaiian Islands worth having—Pearl Harbor, the one harbor fit for a naval station?—World.
The Troy Press wonders whether the Republican state convention will approve of Mr. Aldridge's administration of the canal fund of $9,000,000. The Troy Press ought to know that Mr. Platt favors conducting the coming state campaign on national issues. The Hon. William Barnes, Jr., has said so in his newspaper and he undoubtedly speaks by the card.—Syracuse Courier.
Certainly there is need enough for a thorough discussion and overhauling of State affairs. Under the incapables and inconceivables at Albany, the State's business has been bungled, botched and turned over to private and corrupt uses and agencies in a degree not surpassed by even the Tweed regime. Under such circumstances the sooner the light of searching inquiry and thorough discussion is shed upon the dark places where iniquity has been and is flourishing, the better.—Greenport Republican Watchman.
The canal investigation drags slowly along at Rochester, and the story is the same with trifling variations, as that developed at Syracuse—contracts let at figures materially higher than estimates; contract prices materially increased and not infrequently doubled by "extras," such as alleged rock work, etc., with plenty of reasons for doubting the legitimacy of much of these extra allowances. It is in this way that the original estimate of $9,000,000 proved utterly inadequate. The voters "won't do a thing" to this shameful business next fall.—Ontario Messenger.
The Skaneateles Free Press says: "The Canal investigating Commission, now at work, is unearthing rich finds of corruption, especially regarding the Syracuse level. The whole scheme of canal enlargement was a big job of thievery for political contractors and hack politicians, many of whom have made big fortunes. The work in many places is very poorly done, the specifications being ignored and the inspectors called down by their superiors when they insisted on honest material being used. The people should vote no more money to be squandered on the canals."
Among the well known metropolitan residents who are hard at work on a suitable scheme of police control for Democratic New York city are Thomas C. Platt, of Tioga; Benjamin B. Odell, Jr., of Newburgh; William Barnes, Jr., of Albany; George W. Dunn, of Binghamton, and Louis F. Payn, of Chatham. It is the general hope that a plan may be evolved which will commend itself to Timothy E. Edwards, of Lockport; John Raines, of Canandaigua; and S. Fred Nixon, of Westfield, and having withstood the scruting [sic] of these leaders of cosmopolitan thought, be eventually approved by Frank S. Black, of Troy.—Albany Argus. [Satire on attempts by upstate Republicans to clean up Tammany corruption in New York City—CC editor.]
"Some of the canal improvement contracts were let to Democrats." This is the answer of the Albany Journal when asked to explain how the state's money was so freely given to contractors for extras, it shows the utter weakness of the position of the Republican officers who disbursed the money. They, not the contractors, were to look out for the state's interests. The politics of the contractors or the shovelers or the wheelbarrow pushers is of no moment, because it was not their business to have charge of the canal improvement. Of course, whether Democrats or Republicans, they did not refuse all the pay for extra they could get. The taxpayers' accounting will not be with the contractors, but with those who were entrusted with guarding the public welfare. Nothing so clearly discloses the extremity to which the apologists for the Republican canal blunders are put than this weak effort to lay blame upon the contractors.—Rome Sentinel.
HERE AND THERE.
Normal [School] commencement at the opera house next Tuesday forenoon at 10 o'clock.
Palmer & Co. have the agency for the famous "Barnes White Flyer'' bicycles and are pushing their sale.
The excursion to Ithaca last Saturday was a large one and everybody had a good time in spite of the showers.
Valentine Bros. harp orchestra furnished music for a private dancing party at the park Wednesday evening.
Thus far this season the Groton Bridge and Manufacturing Co. have received 189 contracts.—Groton Journal.
Emerald hose company are to have now uniforms. F. Daehler will make them.
A ball team from Orris hose defeated a team from Excelsior Hook and Ladder company in a game Wednesday afternoon 24 to 11.
The board of education held a meeting Monday evening and authorized the issuing of diplomas to the thirty-two graduates of the Central school.
Picnics at Cortland park are becoming very frequent, and why shouldn't they, for the park presents many attractions and is easy of access.
The Y. M. C. A. ball team of Cortland went to Ithaca last Saturday and won a game from the Y. M. C. A. team of that place by a score of 15 to 10.
The trial of Patsey Galvin for the murder of Thomas Lavan in Preble in February, 1897, will begin before Judge Geo. F. Lyon at the court house next Monday.
Editor L. D. Blanchard of the Cincinnatus Times attended the meeting of the Chenango Co. Firemen's association at Earlville June 23rd in the capacity of judge of special prizes.
Before 5 o'clock Tuesday morning Chief Linderman arrested John Burke and Chas. Stone in their beds on a warrant sworn out before Justice Mosher of Summer Hill, charging them with violating the liquor law. They were taken to Summer Hill.
The Asheville, N. C., Daily Citizen of June 6 contained an account of the death in that city on the 5th of Mr. John B. Steele, who was at one time a resident of Homer. He was born in Waterford, Saratoga county in [1828], and in his youth was a clerk in Homer where on June 6, 1849, he married Harriet G. Slocum, who survives him. He later became a commercial traveler for a large New York house and covered southern territory. He then started a large notion store in Charleston but for the past fifteen years has been in the same business in Asheville.
Cortland smokers who ride on the electric cars will do well to bear in mind the fact that when a Rochester man who was put off a street car in that city for carrying, though not smoking a lighted cigar, sued the company for damages, the judge promptly threw the case out of court. Of course, Cortland men may smoke on the two rear seats of the open cars.
With the beginning of next year the Conservatory of Music, which has become one of Cortland's most popular institutions, will be managed by A. E. Darby, B. L. Bentley and Geo. Oscar Bowen. Each will retain his present department position and Mr. Bowen will be the business manager.
Maude, the six-year-old daughter of E. A. Carter, jumped from the attic window of their house on Brink-st. on Monday forenoon and fell to the ground, a distance of about 25 feet. Three ribs and one of her legs were broken by the fall. Drs. Smith and Miller attended to her injuries and unless some internal injury develops, she will undoubtedly recover. She had been sent up stairs as a punishment, and it is thought that in a childish fit of anger, and not realizing the consequences, she opened the window and made the jump.—Marathon Independent.
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