WHAT THE CABLES SAY

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVI, Issue 9, 1 July 1898, Page 19

WHAT THE CABLES SAY

The hostilities between Spain and America have of late been confined to some skirmishing in Cuba, but during the past few days the turn of events has assumed an entirely new, if not extraordinary phase. The Spanish authorities have deapatched a fleet on what seems to be a mad expedition, namely to the Philipines by way of the Sue/i Canal. The squadron hn<* already been sitrhted at Port Said, and reports from Washington state that if the" Spanish vessels^ enter the Suez Canal the best ships of Admiral .Sampson 'a fleet will be despatched to bombard the Spanish Mediteranean ports and the Canary Islands. A later telegram conveyed the intelligence that six vessels under Commodore Watson have actually "^bten ordered to proceed to the Spanish coast and after bombarding the costal towns to pursue the Spanish fleet which has sailed for the Philipines. There appears to be every prospect, therefore, of the hostilities assuming in the immediate future a much more exciting nature than has been the case in the past. Meanwhile some further sharp fighting is anticipated before Santiago, the objective point of the attacking parties is reached. The Spanish forces are gradually falling back on Santiago, which i.s reported to be strongly defended. A spy who came into the American lines declares that the Spanish fleet which is cooped up in Santiago harbour is damaged and without coal, but the defenders of Santiago have been augmented by marines which have been landed from the ships. The Cuban insurgents assisted the Americans greatly in cleaning" the country in their advance on Santiago. A serious blunder was made in connection w ith an attack by cowboys to dislodge the Spanish from the Savilla heights and which resulted in the Americans suffering considerable loss. It is stated that the attack was made without consent or knowledge of the general commanding and there is some talk of the men responsible for it being court martialled. The following detailed particulars concerning the engagement are given in the cables from Washington :—: — ' Mr. Roosevelt's cowboys commanded by Colonel Wood and a detachment of regulars under General Young started to dislodge the Spanish troops under General Linareas from the heights of Savilla. The heat was intense. Many of the troops were prostrated, and the heavy equipment had to be abandoned. The cactus bushes and thick undergrowth rendered marching a difficult operation. When the thickest part of the junglej ungle wa9 reached the cowboys fell into an ambuscade. An invisible enemy fired upon them, killing Hamilton, Fish, and Captains Capron and Luna. This momentarily demoralised the Americans, causing them to fire on their comrades in the confusion, Mr. Roosevelt and Colonel Wood soon rallied the men. After an hour's sharp fighting they found tne Spaniards with a mule which was carrying only a Hotchkiss gun. The mule bolted into the bush and could not be utilised. Seventeen Americans were killed, including several New York swells. Roosevelt was slightly wounded in the eyes and ears. Mr. Marshall, the correspondent of the New York Journal, was mortally wounded in the spine, but calmly smoked a cigarette while he dictated an account of the battle for his paper. General Young's further advance was conducted with greater caution, the enemy being completely defeated.' From another source we learn that Mr. Theodore Roosevelt resigned his place as Chairman of the Board of Naval Strategy and Assistant Secretary to the Navy, in order to raise the regiment of cowboys. He refused to accapt the colonelcy, because, as he thinks, he is not technically equal to the place, but took the position of second in command. It is Roosevelt's regiment all the saaie, however. So many were the applications for enrolment that two regiments had to bd formed instead of one.