THE LATEST WAR NEWS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 102, 2 May 1898, Page 4

THE LATEST WAR NEWS.

In the Spanish-American war the attention of spectators at the present moment is most keenly "concenta'ated on the approaching naval battle between the Spanish Philippines Squadron and the American Squadron despatch t :l from China seas. It was supposed that news of an engagement between these hostile" fleets "would have

jcomfi.. £o,.ha^d .ere thisj but, according to' our" "latest act vice Tsy- 'cableI'-"?"tomi

Hongkong, the rival warships are still ''v'sotae distance apart.*"the American y~ Squadron,under Admiral Dewey, have W proceeded with all speed in the direction of Manila, having keen sighted oft" '/ Bolivoa, in the Island of Luzon, the mpst northerly of the Philippine Group, of which Manila is the capital. The Spanish fleet after leaving Manila steamed to Cavite, a fortified seaport only ten miles south-west of the nrstnamed port, and remained there, obviously with the intention of obtaining assistance from the shore batteries in tt.e approaching naval engagement. ■: Cavite has an arsenal, and is capital of the province of the same name, is the

xesklence of the governor, and head

naval depot of the Spanish possessions in, the east., Th,e; Spanish Squadron would meet the* American at Cavite, ■therefore, under the most favourable conditions. The hostile fleets are now so, close, together that news of their

engagement may be expected at any : Snoinient-. News comes to-day. of- the *: bombarding by three American warships of Cabanas, a Cuban port 30 f miles distant from Havana: The Ame- ..'. ricans claim to have destroyed fortifications there, but the Spaniards- al-

lege that no damage was done by the

bonabardment. The United States * Congress lias authorised the construction of four new battleships and sixteen torpedo destroyers, so that howf. ever much they may hope for a speedy termination of hostilities, they are" preparing for prolonged \varfare, ex- ■': '/•■ tending possibly over• a year or more.