src="@public@vhost@g@gutenberg@html@files@18745@18745-h@images@house.png" alt="THE CASINO ESPAÑOL, FACING PLAZA, SANTIAGO DE CUBA." title="THE CASINO ESPAÑOL, FACING PLAZA, SANTIAGO DE CUBA." tag="{http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml}img"/> THE CASINO ESPAÑOL, FACING PLAZA, SANTIAGO DE CUBA.

The escape of the Oregon is considered another victory for us, as during that trip of about fifteen thousand miles she might easily have been intercepted and destroyed had she not been splendidly handled. Her run of four thousand miles between San Francisco and Callao (cal-ye-ä-o) is the longest ever made by a battle-ship without stop, and in the latter part of her trip, on one long stretch, she averaged over fifteen knots, a wonderful speed at the end of a trip of over ten thousand miles—for a vessel's bottom becomes very foul with barnacles, seaweed, etc., which greatly retard its passage through the water.

It is reported that, while coaling at Rio, a number of dynamite-bombs were smuggled into the coal, but fortunately they were discovered by the sailors.

Action in reference to neutrality has been taken by Russia, Greece, Venezuela, the Netherlands, and Canada. The declaration of neutrality by Venezuela is of special importance, as Spain's fleet would have found Venezuelean ports of inestimable value as places of refuge and for the purpose of coaling. Venezuela expresses her position in the one sentence: "The Republic will observe the strictest neutrality during the contest." No statement is made, however, as to what will be considered contraband.

The Dutch proclamation of neutrality, in addition to the usual forms, especially cautions the citizens of the Netherlands against becoming connected in any way with privateering; and the Dutch vessels are also required to respect the blockade; in reference to coal, the Dutch regulation is that only enough shall be sold to permit Spanish or American vessels to reach the nearest port of their country.

The Russian proclamation contains a statement to the effect that the Imperial Government, in concert with the other powers, had endeavored to find a means which would prevent an armed conflict between the two countries; that such friendly measures were without result, and that the Imperial Government "witnesses with regret the armed conflict between two states to which she is united by old friendship and deep sympathy; it is firmly resolved in regard to the two belligerents that a perfect and impartial neutrality will be observed."

Greece has simply declared that the strictest neutrality will be maintained.

On the 25th of May, President McKinley issued a call for 75,000 additional volunteers; of the previous volunteers called for, about 112,000 have been mustered into the army; with the addition that is now called for, the army will number about 250,000; and it is expected that active operations will be begun at once, and that Porto Rico as well as Cuba will be seized at the earliest possible moment; it is expected that part of our fleet will proceed at once to San Juan, Porto Rico, and destroy the fortifications there, so that our army can without serious opposition land on the island.

The cruiser Columbia, which was disabled in a collision off Long Island, is being rapidly repaired in the Brooklyn Navy-Yard. If she had not been very strong there is little doubt but that the Foscolia would have cut her in two; the frames of the vessel, however, are so well constructed that these, with the protective deck, prevented more serious damage. Naval officers are very much pleased to find how well the vessel withstood the collision; they say that if the Columbia had been a ship like the large ocean liners, nothing would have prevented her sinking with the ship that struck her. When the officer on the Columbia saw that a collision was inevitable, he gave the order "Full speed ahead"; it is very fortunate that he did so, as otherwise the Foscolia would have hit her amidships; and the damage must then have been very serious, as the water compartments in that part of the vessel are large, and when filled might have caused her to capsize. The damage proves to be much less severe than was at first thought; after two or three weeks it is thought she will be on duty again.

This is not the first time that the Columbia has been in trouble of this kind; two years ago she collided with the Wyanoke, a coasting steamer; in spite of the trying circumstances at that time, not a man was lost on the sinking coaster, so perfect was the discipline on the Columbia.

It is reported that the balloons recently received from Paris will be sent forward with the first expedition to Cuba; arrangements for equipping the balloon train are under charge of Lieut. Joseph E. Maxfield of the Signal Service. It is reported that one of the French balloons will be first given a careful test from the deck of one of the war-ships off Cuba. The necessary plant for generating the gas is already in Tampa; the gas will be forwarded in steel tubes, which will hold a large volume when the gas is compressed.

It is now proposed to take the necessary apparatus to Cuba, and have pictures of the bombardment of Havana and of other engagements made for reproduction with the cinematograph. Dr. D. S. Elmendorf is now at Tampa, Fla., making elaborate preparations for taking these pictures. The cinematograph is a wonderful invention. By a clever arrangement hundreds of photographs are taken, one after the other, with marvellous rapidity; these pictures are printed on a long strip, and made to pass through the magic lantern as rapidly as when the photographs were taken; the result is a composite picture which, when thrown upon a screen, reproduces every motion.

Edison was the one who invented this system of taking in succession very rapidly a great number of pictures of moving objects. We hope that Dr. Elmendorf will be successful, for we will then be able to see these interesting scenes; and if by a clever use of the phonograph or graphophone he can record the sound of the guns, we may not only see, but hear, the battles.

In The Great Round World last year we described experiments that were being made with kites by Mr. W. E. Eddy, of Bayonne, N. J., who has been largely instrumental in promoting interest in scientific kite-flying. Kites have been made of such power as to carry a heavy cable from one point to another over some obstruction, or to lift a man some distance from the ground for the purpose of observation. It is now planned to make use of the kites for offensive and