The War.

Waikato Argus, Volume IV, Issue 281, 30 April 1898, Page 2

The War.

BOMBARDMENT OF HAVANA. THE AMERICAN FLEET OPENS FIRE. GREAT EXECUTION DONE. SPANIARDS' FIRE INEFFECTIVE. PREPARATIONS FOR FURTHER OPERATIONS. (by electric telegraph- copyright). Washington, April 29. TnE American squadron bombarded the forts at the mouth of the Havana harbour, doing great execution and killing many of the garrison. Later. The cruisers Ne<v York, Puritan and Cincinnati bombarded the forts at the mouth of Havana Harbour today. Three hundred shots were fired, doing great execution. The earthworks were demolished, and some guns dismantled. Many of the Spanish garrison were killed. The Spaniards fired twenty-five shots in return, but did no damage. The discipline and marksmanship of the American gunners were excellent, New York, April 28. The Herald reports that two thousand marines and sailors will be landed in Cuba on Saturday. They will act in conjunction with nineteen thousand insurgents. Assisted by the fleet, they will make a combined attack ©n Havana. New York, April 29. In a landing expedition on Saturday, nineteen thousand insui gents will co-operate with the American warships, which will support the land force with two thousand marines, thus dividing the attention. Preparations are completed for the bombardment of Havana. When the marines and insurgents succeed iu ejecting the enemy from a fort desired as a military base, troops will be hurried into Cuba. A large force is at Tampa ready for embarkation. BOMBARDMENT OF MATANZAS. THE WARSHIPS UNTOUCHED. Washington, April 29. The American warships bombarded Matanzns, with a view to preventing the construction of earthworks. The bombardment lasted nearly an hour, and much damage was done. The shore batteries replied, but the warships were not touched. A NAVAL ACTION. GUNBOAT V. TORPEDO DESTROYER. London, April 29. Reutar's despatch says: The Spanish gunboat Lizeria had an engagement with the torpedo destroyer Cushiug near Matanzas. The Cushing was disabled and returned to Key West. The Americans declare that she strained her machinery. The Liieria lost her funnel during the action. GENERAL ITEMS. BOTH POWERS UNPREPARED. WAR BALLOONS ORDERED. A MEAT FAMINE IN HAVANA. Washington, April 28. Mr Dingley, in a speech in th« House of Representative?, said he desired to impress on the country that it must not expect a short war. America has ordered a supply of war balloons from Paris. President McKinley has instructed Captain Sampson, in charge of the blockading squadron, to Btop the seizure of Spanish vessels until the 30 days' grace expires. The Prize Courts have been requested to treat all cases coming before them with liberality. The engineers find that the ruleu guiding vessels in regard to entering a harbour laid with mines are not being observed. Stricter precautions have therefore been ordered. The Spanish Pacific fleet has sailed from Manila, in the Phillipine Islands, to meet the American squadron. The Spanish gunboat Elcano has captured th 6 American ship Saranac, with a cargo of 1640 tons of coal, off Manila. Owing to the scarcity of supplies in meat a famine prevails in Havana. Fresh meat is bringing two dollars per pound. It is now stated to be clear that neither Spain nor America is prepared for war, and that decisive operations are, therefore, likely to be delayed. The reported capture of the steamer Shenandoah, bound from San Francisco to Antwerp, with 20,000 quarters wheat, proves to be incorrect. A subsequent report states that the steamship Paris sighted the Shenandoah in mid-Atlantic. A force, comprising 500 irregulars, half of them Americans, lauded at Guanabacoa, between Havana and Matauzas, and proceeded to join the Cuban rebels. Lieutenant Nowan, of the American navy, has also landed at Guanabacoa, and arranged for the co-operation of the American forces and rebels under General Garcia. New York, April 28. The Herald reports that the cooperation of the Cuban insurgents is assured. Arrangements are being made to supply the insurgents in Cuba with arms, ammunition and medical stores. London, April 28. The London Standard states that hopeless confusion prevails at Washington in the War Department. The country is demanding that greater vigour be shown. Madrid, April 28. The Spanish Budget provides for a naval credit of 90,000,000 pesetos, and the issue of bonds for 100,000,000. SPANISH CRUISERS AND THE MAIL STEAMERS. Adelaide, April 29. A Spanish officer, at present on a visit here, on being interviewed was asked whether there was any truth in the rumour that Spanish vessels had been seen off Auckland. He replied he did not think it unlikely, when American mail steamers plying between Sydney and 'Frisco and be

'Frisco and J.ipan, usually carried a large quantity of specie. He thought it very likely that Spain would take advantage and make Manila the base from which to prey on American commerce in tho Pacific. The points of these attacks would naturnlly be somewhat in the neighbourhood of ports of departuro of these vesseis. THE OPINION OF CAPTAIN McDOUGALL. THE SPANIARDS WELL PREPARED. (BT TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION). Wellington, La3t Night. Capt. McDougall, of the Mamari, who commanded the Arawa for 17 months while transporting Spanish troops to Cuba, speaks highly of the soldiers, who are mostly young men, and so, he thinks, quite equal to the Americans ; but he has a p.jor opiniou of the officers. The men, however, are not well drilled. He gives it as his impression that the Americans have been far too hasty, and, if anything, the Spaniards are more prepared for war either on land or at sea. Spain is not a decaded nation. It was often thought to be non-progressive ; but it does not go backward, and the Americans will not have so easy a task as many people imagine. (BY TELEGRAPH—OWN CORRESPONDENT). Auckland, List Night. AUCKLAND DEFENCES. Lieut-Colonel PolePenton. officer of command of the New Zealand defence forces, is expected to arrive here shortly from Wellington, accompanied by Lieut.Colonel Banks (officer commanding the Auckland district), and Major Murray (Auckland Rifhs Butslion). Colonel Banks has been discussing the scheme of defeuce with other officers commanding tho districts in Wellington. During his stay here Colonel Pole-Penton will hi spect local defences. PRICES FOR FLAX AND GUM. The inquiry for flax continues. £l2 to £l2 oa ton is offered, but the demand so far is not brisk. Kauri gum is not coming in quite so freely, and there is very little buying for the American trade. The tendency of prices is down wauls