to Cuba.

There have been several mutinies among the troops which were ordered out
with General Blanco.

A mutiny means that the soldiers refuse to obey the orders of their
officers, and is practically a strike among soldiers.

In this instance the men have refused to embark for Cuba. In spite of
their remonstrance they have been forced to obey, and the ringleaders
severely punished.

* * * * *

It seems that our chances of being drawn into a war with Spain have not
been greatly lessened by the answer to General Woodford's message.

Every one is waiting anxiously to know what the President will say at
the opening of Congress, for it looks as if the time had come when we
must take sides with Cuba.

The former minister to Spain, Mr. Hannis Taylor, has published an
article in _The North American Review_, in which he gives it as his
opinion that as Spain seems unable to put an end to the war, it is our
duty to interfere, and tell the Spaniards that the war must cease by a
certain date or we will have to take a hand and put an end to it
ourselves.

This article has stirred up a great deal of feeling, and we shall
probably hear more of it.

In the mean while Spain has sent a note to the various powers, asking
what they would be prepared to do if she should declare war on the
United States.

It is said that the European governments have given Spain to understand
that if such an event occurs she will receive nothing stronger than
diplomatic support from them.

* * * * *

The cruiser _Montgomery_ and the gunboat _Annapolis_ have been sent in
search of the _Silver Heels_, but have returned to port without finding
any traces of her.

The number of patrol vessels on our coasts has been doubled, and every
possible precaution is being taken to prevent another affair of the
kind; but, in the mean while, the filibuster has got safely away.

Cuban filibustering has, however, received a severe blow from England.

Information was received by the magistrate of Andros Island that the
Cubans had established a depot on one of the Bahamas Islands, of which
Andros is the largest.

These islands lie on the north and east of Cuba, and are a large group
of coral islands, which are formed by those great coral reefs which are
known as the Bahama Banks. Twenty of them are uninhabited, and many of
them are mere reefs or keys.

These islands are very interesting from t