"Situation is unchanged. Blockade is continued. There is a great
scarcity of provisions in Manila. The foreign subjects fear an outbreak
of Spanish soldiers; arrangements have been made for the transfer of
these foreign subjects to Cavite if necessary. The rebel
commander-in-chief, Aguinaldo, who was brought here by the _McCulloch_,
is reorganizing a force, and may render assistance that will be
valuable."

[Illustration: THE CASINO ESPAÑOL, FACING PLAZA, SANTIAGO DE CUBA.]

The first shipment of troops to the Philippine Islands started May 25th
on the three transports, _City of Pekin_, _Australia_, and _City of
Sydney_. When these vessels left San Francisco, late in the afternoon,
the shores were lined with people, and there was great enthusiasm. These
three transports carry about twenty-five hundred men; the expedition is
under command of Brigadier-General Anderson, and consists of four
companies of regulars under Major Robe; the First Regiment California
Volunteers, Colonel Smith; the First Regiment Oregon Volunteers, Colonel
Summers; and a battalion of fifty heavy artillery, Major Gary; and in
addition to these a number of sailors, naval officers, a large amount of
ammunition and naval stores for Admiral Dewey's fleet, and supplies
sufficient to last a year. It was expected that the fleet would arrive
at the Sandwich Islands by Tuesday, May 31st; it will proceed from this
port in company with the _Charleston_, and should arrive at Manila about
June 20th. A detachment of the United States Engineers was ordered from
Willets Point, N. Y., to the Philippines, under command of Captain
Langfitt; Captain Langfitt is an expert in the matter of torpedoes and
harbor defences of this kind, and it is thought that his mission at the
Philippines will be to fortify the different harbors by planting mines,