“‘Is there any officer in that boat to receive a surrender of prisoners of war?’ I shouted. “An old man leaned out under the awning and waved his hand. It was Admiral Cervera. The marines lowered their rifles and we were helped into the launch. “Then we were put in cells in Morro Castle. It was a grand sight a few days later to see the bombardment, the shells striking and bursting around El Morro. Then we were taken into Santiago. I had the court martial room in the barracks. My men were kept prisoners in the hospital. “From my window I could see the army moving, and it was terrible to watch those poor lads coming across the opening and being shot down by the Spaniards in the rifle-pits in front of me. “Yesterday the Spaniards became as polite as could be. I knew something was coming, and then I was exchanged.” [Illustration: QUEEN REGENT, MARIA CHRISTINA OF SPAIN.] CHAPTER IX. BY WIRE. _May 30._ The auxiliary cruisers _Leyden_ and _Uncas_ made an attack on one of the outlying blockhouses at Cardenas, plying their 3-pounders until the Spaniards deserted their batteries. _June 1._ The government of Paraguay represented to the American consul at Asuncion that the Spanish torpedo-boat _Temerario_ was disabled, and had been granted permission to remain at that port until the war between the United States and Spain had come to an end. In Spain there are many differences of opinion regarding the conduct of the war, as evinced by a newspaper article to which was signed the name of Emilio Castelar, the distinguished republican statesman. Señor Castelar attacked the queen regent, reproaching her with being a foreigner and unpopular, and with interfering unjustifiably in political affairs. He compared her position with that of Queen Marie Antoinette on the eve of the French revolution. The matter came before the Senate; Duke de Roca demanded the prosecution of Castelar, and other Senators expressed in violent terms their indignation at Señor Castelar’s conduct. _June 2._ The British steamer _Restormel_, captured by the auxiliary cruiser _St. Paul_ off Santiago de Cuba, was released by the government. It was shown that the _Restormel_ sailed previous to the declaration of war, there being no evidence that the steamer’s owners were wilfully and knowingly guilty of aiding the enemy’s fleet, and she was ordered released. The cargo was condemned. The names of the captains and commanders of the ships in Admiral Dewey’s squadron were sent to the Senate, by the President, for advancement because of their conspicuous conduct. The House of Representatives passed an urgency appropriation of nearly eighteen million dollars for war purposes. From Captain Clark’s report, the Navy Department made public the following extract relative to the extraordinary voyage of the _Oregon_: