ass.

Spanish accounts of the blowing up of the _Merrimac_ are exceedingly
amusing. The official announcement is made that an American vessel,
trying to enter the harbor of Santiago, "was sunk by the batteries"; the
affair is described as a brilliant Spanish victory; it is also added
that Admiral Cervera personally saved an American officer from drowning,
as his ship was in close proximity to the cruiser during the engagement.
The official report goes on to say that the mines guarding the harbor
were exploded simultaneously with the opening of the fire from the
ships, forts, and batteries; congratulations were sent to Admiral
Cervera.

[Footnote: Authority for pronunciation of proper names: Century
Dictionary.]

* * * * *

Each day is taken advantage of by the Spaniards at Havana to add to
their defences. Earthworks are being rapidly thrown up in the
neighborhood of the city; a signal service has been established to
enable them to guard the coast at all the points, and they feel
confident that a successful invasion cannot take place in that part of
the island, as it is so well guarded with modern rapid-fire guns in the
batteries, and quite a large force is concentrated there for the defence
of the city.

Little, if any, news comes from the blockading squadron off the north
coast of Cuba; there are, from time to time, reports of engagements and
the landing of troops; but official news has not yet been given out,
and for this we must wait until the Government deems it advisable to
publish it. Several regiments have been embarked at Mobile, and by this
time are supposed to be off the coast of Cuba; they started in high
spirits, and there was a great deal of enthusiasm on the part of the
people who saw them start. They have probably gone by way of Tampa, and
been joined there by the other transports.

A great quantity of ammunition and supplies will be sent with the
troops, so that they may not suffer from lack of material to make the
invasion successful.

One of our New York papers publishes a letter, written by a young girl
in Havana to a friend in New York; it gives an excellent idea as to the
true state of affairs in Cuba. Among other things, she says:

"Our fisherman brought in some papers from New York, and what a lot of
lies they contain! My father and all the other officials say that we
have food here for five months--flour, codfish, beans, and
groceries--all brought down fr