NEWS OF THE WEEK • T HE Spanish-American War, as we
have pointed out else- where, is rapidly widening in scope, but its incidents happen slowly. The danger of a collision between the United States and Germany increases, owing to the growth of an impression in the Union that the Emperor intends to inter- fere in the Philippines, but Admiral Dewey still quietly awaits his first reinforcements, which should arrive next week. General Merritt, who is to govern the islands, will not arrive for another three weeks. The Spanish Government has sent Admiral Camara from Cadiz with a squadron to attack Admiral Dewey, but he has as yet only reached Port Said, and it is doubtful whether, with his ill-found ships and the coal difficulty in his way, he will ever reach the Pacific. Indeed, he may not try, for the President has decided to send Admiral Watson with a squadron of swift cruisers to bombard Spanish ports, and Admiral Camara may be recalled to defend them. General Shaffer has landed, as we stated last week, at Baiquiri, has driven in all Spanish detachments, and is now with fifteen thousand men looking down into Santiago, which he will attack as soon as his engineers can clear a road for his heavy guns and provision carts. He has not, however, assailed it yet, and the rumours of an immediate assault may be incorrect. The general effect of the skirmishing is that the Spanish soldiers shoot unexpectedly well, but cannot stand up against an American charge. Poor lads, they are very young, they are badly fed, and they know beforehand that thoy cannot win.
