Cardiff, Wales. She
left there on April 22d, the day before war was declared, with
twenty-eight hundred tons of the finest grade of Cardiff coal consigned to
a Spanish firm in San Juan de Porto Rico, where the Spanish fleet was
supposed to make its first stop.

"When we reached San Juan," said the captain of the _Restormel_, "the
consignees told me very curtly that the persons for whom the coal was
destined were in Curacoa. At Porto Rico I learned that war had been
declared. I began to suspect that the coal was going to Cervera's fleet,
but my Spanish consignees said it would be all right. They told me not to
ask any questions, but to go to Curacoa as soon as possible. I did so,
placing my cargo under orders.

"The consignee at Curacoa was a Spanish officer. He said there had been
another change of base, and that the coal was wanted at Santiago de Cuba.
I tried to cable my owners for instructions, but found that the cables had
been cut. Under the circumstances there was nothing for me to do but to go
to Santiago. By this time I was pretty well convinced that the cargo was
for Cervera. I suspected that coal had been made a contraband of war, so I
wasn't a bit surprised when the _St. Paul_ brought us to, with a shot,
three and a half miles from shore."

In the prize court it was decided to confiscate the coal, and release the
steamer.

The President issued a proclamation calling for seventy-five thousand men.

Three troop-ships, laden with soldiers, sailed from San Francisco for
Manila.

_May 26._ The battle-ship _Oregon_, which left San Francisco March 19th,
arrived at Key West.

_May 27._ The Spanish torpedo-boat destroyer arrived at San Juan de Porto
Rico.

_May 28._ From Commodore Dewey the following cablegram was received:

"CAVITE, May 25th, via Hongkong, May 27th.

"_Secretary Navy, Washington_:--No change in the situation of the blockade.
Is effective. It is impossible for the people of Manila to buy provisions,
except rice.

"The captain of the _Olympia_, Gridley, condemned by medical survey. Is
ordered home. Leaves by Occidental and Oriental steamship from Hongkong
the twenty-eighth. Commander Lamberton appointed commander of the
_Olympia_."

_May 29._ Maj.-Gen. Wesley Merritt issued an order formally announcing
that he had taken command of the Philippine forces and expeditions.

_May 31._ United States troops board transports for Cuba.

The b