sun directly over your head. If it were not for the international date line it would always be Monday to you; instead of this, each time that you cross the 180th meridian the day changes.
* * * * *
[Illustration: A NATIVE OF THE PHILIPPINES.]
A report has been received from Hong-Kong that the insurgent chief Aguinaldo, at the Philippines, has issued a proclamation that would seem to show that he hopes to make himself leader or dictator over the island. The report goes on to say that he has issued orders that the lives and property of Europeans and all Spanish non-combatants are to be protected. It is said that his treatment of the captives has been very fair, and that he is conducting the campaign against Spain in a very able manner. Since he has taken charge of affairs the Spanish soldiers have lost battle after battle, and it is said that there are now in Aguinaldo's hands over two thousand prisoners, including many officers. Aguinaldo reports that the Governor of Cavite (c?-v[=e]-t[=a]) has surrendered to him. One of the American captains has written to Hong-Kong, stating that it is his opinion "that the rebels have undergone a radical change since the arrival of Aguinaldo; the Spaniards have lost every engagement, and if our people do not hurry, there will be no Spanish army left."
The American vessels have taken no part in the fight between Spain and the insurgents; Admiral Dewey has contented himself with superintending and insisting upon proper conduct of affairs. The news he sends is exceedingly cheerful, and he seems to be quite confident that he can hold out until reinforcements arrive; he anticipates no trouble in capturing the city of Manila.
* * * * *
Lieutenant Carranza's missing letter has been found. You will remember we told in our last number of the arrest of a Montreal detective who had been arrested and accused of stealing it. It was not taken by the Montreal detective, but by a secret service officer of our Government. It seems that the Spanish officials at Montreal have been very carefully watched for some time, for it was known that they were spying upon our Government. The detectives had followed Minister Polo and his staff ever since they left Washington, and had secured absolute proof that Du Bosc and Carranza were collecting information and forwarding it to the Spanish Government. On the pretext of purchasing the house, they were shown all over it, and succeeded in securing a number of important letters, cablegrams, maps, etc., which were forwarded to the Government. The letter which Carranza has made so much fuss about was stolen in a very clever way. The detective took a sheet of fly paper, and in a careless way dropped it over the letter; then took up the fly paper and the letter attached to it, and passed it to another detective, who at once forwarded it to Washington. Part of the letter has been published. It is addressed to his Excellency Don Jose Gomez Imay. In it Carranza expresses his regret that Imay was not appointed to command the Cadiz fleet; he speaks disparagingly of Camara and highly of Cervera; most of this part of the letter is in reference to his personal employment by the Government, and he expresses great anxiety to be away to the front and in active service on the fleet.
Speaking of his spy system, he says: "We have had bad luck because they have captured our two best spies. The Americans are showing the most extraordinary vigilance. I shall be extremely gratified to have a ship or a torpedo-boat to run the blockade, or anything rather than playing second fiddle." These quotations go to show that Carranza was not over-pleased with the work of conducting the spy department in Canada. He takes the trouble to criticize Cervera's actions, and he alludes to him as "Don Pasquale," and says that he cannot believe that the Admiral would do such a stupid thing as to get caught in Santiago, his purpose being to attack the American fleet and delay the invasion of Cuba. This letter demonstrates very clearly the wisdom of the Government in keeping carefully guarded all knowledge of the movements of our army and navy, for Carranza has taken advantage of the statements published and information easily obtained heretofore, and has kept his Government informed, and has also personally been advising Admiral Cervera whenever opportunity offered: he speaks of having cabled to Cervera on 20th of May. Our Government has made application to the English Government for the expulsion of the Spanish spies from British territory.
Kellert, the Montreal detective, has caused the arrest of both Du Bosc and Carranza, in a civil suit for damages for false imprisonment; so the Spaniards are in hotter
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