Evening Star Newspaper, May 13, 1898, Page 1

THE EVENING STAR. ————— PUBLISHED DAILY EXCEPT SUNDAY, AT THE STAR BUILDINGS, JIC] Perreylvazia io Cor. ae St, by The Evening Star New: r Com SH KAUPPMANN Pres't! > teed Let New York Offce, 49 Fotir Build. The Evening Star ts served to subscribers in the ety by czrriers, on thele own account, at 10 cents Ber week, or 44 cents per month. Copies at the ecunter 2 certs each. By moail—anywhere in the United States r Canada—postage prepaid—50 cents Per month Saturda at the Po t Gffice at Washington, D. C.. i-class ma’l matter.) nail subscriptions must be pafd In advanct Ivertising made known on applicetior. Sampson to Engage the Spanish Flett, — THE CABINET'S DECISION Battle Possible Inside of Twenty-Four Hours. ENEMY'S VESSELS OFF MARTINIQUE Schley Expected to Prevent At- tempt to Escape. A CRISIS IS AT HAND Admiral Sampson yesterday bom- barded the fortifications at the city of San Juan, Porto Rico. Last night the troops defending the city capitu- lated. The Spanish Cape Verde fleet is off the Island of Martinique. It is expected that a decisive battle will be fought in the next forty-eight hours. The cabinet decided that Admiral Sampson should leave Porto Rico at once to attack the Spanish fleet. It is understood that Commodore Schley’s flying squadron will proceed to the West Indies to intercept the Spanish fleet in case it eludes Samp- son. The invasion of Cuba been postponed for a time awaiting the re- sult of the attempt to destroy the Spanish fleet. Thirty thousand volunteer troops have been ordered to Chickamauga for drill and instruction. The crippled torpedo boat Wins- low came into Key West this morn- ing under her own steam. The first land fight of the war oc- urred in Cuba yesterday, when the steamer Gussie tried to land arms and ammunition for the insurgents on the coast of Pinar del Rio. Commander Hawley, who has been the west recruiting sailors, re- turned today and expressed satisfac- President's in tion with his success It was almost unanimously decided at a brief cabinet meeting this morning to order Admiral Sampson to go to the Spanish fleet and attack ft at once. Secretary Leng went frcm the cabinet meeting and immediately dispatched orders to Admiral Sampson. The greatest naval battle of a century 1s aln sure to result in the next forty- eight hours. The Spantards will have the fight forced upon them if they do not seek it themselves. If they hunt for the fight the contest will take place before this time tomorrow. If they permit the Amer- ican fleet to go to them the fight may be €elayed forty-eight hours. The Cabinet's Decision. The cabinet met in regular session at 11 o'clock. Secretary Long took to the White House positive official dispatches that the Spanish fleet which left Cape Verde was then at Fort de France, Martinique. The Admiral Sampson. lis too great unless they get well supplied P ~— Che Evening Star. No 14,103. WASHINGTON, D. ©, FRIDAY, MAY 13 1898-SIXTEEN PAGES TWO CENTS. The regular permanent family circulation of The Evening Star in Washington is more than double that of any other paper, whether published in the morn- ing or in the afternoon, As a medium for unobjec- ionable advertisements it there- fore stands unequaled and un- approachable, THE FLAGSHIP BROOKLYN. to the Spaniards in violation of the neu-| trality laws. cs | This being the case it s the opinion that the fleet will be there for several days, pla ing what to do and getting ready. | The Spanish admiral has already learned from scouting ships that th> American fleet | of Porto Rico. Therefore the decision was reached to send Sampson and his fleet to Martinique. The Americans is in the vicinity will lie outside the harbor of Fort de | France until the Spaniards hav2 to come! out. The fight will take place outside, like that of the Kearsarge and Alabama. This program assumes that the Spaniards will remain at Ma-tinique until the Ameri- cans arrive. Assuming, however, that they leave for Porto Rico about the time the he can prevent the Spaniards getting to Havana around either side of the island. It is said that Admiral Sampson has abundance of ammunition with him on sup- ply ships, and that he will be able to met the Spaniards with enovgh shot and shell to settle all doubt of the outcome. Secretary Long’s orders to Ad:nira son today were sent to St. Thomas. fifty miles from San Juan, where Sampson is supposed to b2. Orders could reach him in a few hours. Gen. Lee, who was at the White House this afternoon, said that the Spanish fleet an amp- about could not make a better move than attempt { to evade everything and reach Havana. Excitement at the Navy Department. The Navy Department was all excite- THE FLAGSHIP NEW YORK. Americans leave for Martinique, the fight would take place about midway between the two places. From San Juan to Fort de France is about 466 miles. It will take Sempson two days to make the trip across and begin the fight. It is not believed that the Spaniards will attempt to run for Havana. The distance at Martinique. Sampson would probably beable to intercept them. The distance from Martinique to Havana ts about fifteen hundred miles. Pending the result of the great sea fight the army will have everybody moving to get ready for the invasion of Cuba. As soon as the Spanish fleet is beaten every- | thing will be clear for the invasion. Army | and navy will act together. The news from Martinique had an elec- trical effect on the cabinet. Plans were Monitor Puritan. quickly made and the cabinet adjourned at 11:30, having been in session a half hour, the shortest meeting of the present body ever held. Schley Ordered to Sail. Secretary Long this morning ordered Commodore Schley, at Hampton Roads, to put to sea at once with the flying squad- Ton, and it will sail today. Schley to Intercept Spanish. The belief in high official circles this af- ternoun Is that Ccmmodore Schley has been ordered, with the flying squadron, to in- tercept any attempt of the Spanish fleet to evade Sampson and to get to Havana. While it is believed that Admiral Sampson will find and fight the Spaniards, no chances will be taken on the enemy getting to Havana or other Cuban ports, where the American navy would have to fight both ships and fortifications. The slow- moving monitors with Sampson’s fleet might cause him to lose the Spaniards, who would be able to outrun him if they could once get ahead of Fim on the course to Cuba. But they could not outrun Schley’s greyhounds. If Schley can ob- tain a position at the eastern end of Cuba, cabinet instantly recognized the great im- portance of this news and lost no time in coming to the conclusion that the Spaniards must be met and defeated. It was decided not to allow Sampson to remain at San Jvan in the hope that the Spaniards would go to. him. The belfef was freely expressed that the Spanish fleet would enter the har- bor of Fort de France and remain there to coal and to get everything in shape for @ contest with the Americans. France is futly capable of giving shelter and harbor ment again this mornirg upon the re- celpt of the news that Admiral Sampson's squadron had begun the bombardment of San Juan de Porto Rico, and fuel was added to the flames when the news came later that the Spanish flying squadron had been sighted off Martinique, giving prom- ise of heavy fighting to come. ‘fhe fact that the admiral gave notice of his inten- tion to bombard, as Is reported from St. Thomes, is an indication that the move- ment tpon San Juan was not a suddenly conceived project, but part of a well-ma- tured plan. Whether the orders to the admiral included a bombardment is not disclosed at the Navy Department. In- deed, there is nothing in his report to indi- cate that he really did bombard the place. He merely attacked the forts at the en- tranee of the harbor, and if any shells struck within the town itself they were stray shot. It is surmised that Admiral Sampsen's obje«gt in making the attack in this fashion, withcut a landing force of troops in reserve to occupy the town if it were captured, was to destroy the fort!- fications and maké the harbor useless to the Spanish flying squadron as a place of refuge. The statement given out at the Navy De- partment that “the Spanish squadron is now hull down to the westward of Mar- tinique” could not be supplemented by ad- Gitional information as to the time the dispatch was sent, but it is supposed that the squadron was seen yesterday. Without doubt Sampson knew of its move- ments, for the Unit2d States scout boat Harvard, which put Into Martinique yes- terday, is said to have found there one of the torpedo boat destroyers composing the Spanish fleet and would certainly report the fact to Sampson via St. Thomas if possibla to do so. Will Be Investigated Later. ‘Theie 1s @ suspicion, however, that the United States has not been treated with perfect fairness in the matter of the use of the cabl2 from Martinique, and that mes- sages of the utmost importance, such, for instance, as those reporting the movements of the Spanish ships, have been delayed an unconscionable length of time, to tha great embarrassment of our forces. The subject is one that will come in for investigation in the future, as well as other facts connected with the treatment of the Spanish ships in West Indian ports which are nominally op- erating strictly under th? neutrality laws. It is suggested that the Spanish squadron has beer. lying in wait for the Oregon, which sailed on the 11th from Bahia, Brazil, to join Sampson, in company with the Ma- rietta, and the reported activity of the Spanish torpedo boat destroyars in running in and out of Martinique seems to show that they are being used as scouts to give the rest of the squadron notice of the ap- proach of the American battle ship. If so, the mission will be fruitlegs, for, having discovered the whereabouts:of ths Spanish force, Sampson will carry out his orders to destroy their ships if he’can reach them. The fact that the Spaniards were headed yesterday toward the -westward would, on the surface, indicate that they were bound for the south coast of Cuba, but warships i in these circumstances try to mislead ob- servers ashore. News of Spain’s Squadron. Secretary Long's Information that the Spanish squadren had been sighted off Martin:que caused a decided sensation throughout naval circles, a8 this brought close to Admiral Sampson's squadron a formidable collection of Spain's strongest and most modern yessels. It is this fleet which was reported a few days ago to be lying at Cadiz. Evidentiy the latter report was inspired by Spanish officials as a eans of confusing the operations of the American strategists. artinique is one cf the 6utposts of the West Indies and is the natural point at whieh the Spanish The Marblehead. fleet, coming from Cape Verde, would first make a landing. The fleet must now pass the French Island of Guadaloupe to the west, the Danish Island of St. Thomas, a littie further west, and then its course is cpen to Porto Rico unless Admiral Samp- son’s fleet engages them before that move is made. The Fleets Compared. If Sampson should find the Spaniards in a fighting humor he would have the best of it, as far as charces can be estimated frcm a simple calculation of the respective number of armored stilps aha guns. The Lig battle ships Indiana amd Iowm, though 25 per cent Slower than the Vizoaya class, far overmatch them in offemmive and defen- sive power. The armor belts and turrets could not be pierced at fighting-range of 2,000 yards by the biggest gun mounted by the Spaniards, while the twelve end thir- teen-inch guns of our battle ships could perforate the Spanish armor belts. The New York, however, is inferior ta both of- fensive powe> and armor to the Spanish vessels, though she might hold her own by superior management and gunnery. If Sampson has taken his-whole fleet, the mcnitors Amphitrite @nd ‘errer would take up more than a balance of power against the Spaniards, allowing the cruis- ers Montgomery, Detroit and Marblehead as a force sufficient to take care of the Spanish torpedo boat déstroyers. The lat- ter, however, are almost” untried elements in actual warfare, and some naval officers fear that they are much more dangerous foes than the ordinary strategists allow in their calculations. ee ee SPANISH CABINET FALLS. The Duke of Veragua‘’ Will Succeed Senor Moret; MADRID, May 13.—It is reported at an early hour this morning that the Duke of Veragua will succeed Sehor Moret as min- ister for the colonies, instead of assuming the portfolio of public works in succession to Count Xiquena. i It is said that Senor et, secretary for the colonie: and Senor Gulon, 1o:ega min- ister, have resigned. Admiral Bermejo, minister marine, and Count Xiquena, of pubiie works, are also said to have resigned. CAPE VERDE FLELY AT MARTINIQUE of minister Confirmation of the Heport Comes From Madrid ‘Today. LONDON, May 13.—A Madrid special Says that upon being informed of the bom- bardment of San Juan the minister of ma- rine wired urgent instructions to command- er of Cape Verde squad¥on. A special from Madrid, says Admirai Ber- mejo admitted Thursday evening that the Cape Verde squadron Wa# at Fort de France, Martinique. > ~ MADRID, May 13.—A Gispatch from Mar- tinique to El Heraldo confirms the report of the arrival of the Cape Verde squadron, under Admiral Cervera, at Fort de France. The Cape Verde Fleet. While the Navy Department will not offi- cially admit the fact, a strong intimation is made that the Cape Verde fleet is west of Martinique. Flying Squadron Rrepares to Sail. FORT MONROE, Va, May 18—At 8:30 am. the flying squadron is still at anchor here, but there is every @ppearance that they are preparing to sail.at a moment's notice. Last night the launehes were taken aboard ship, and at 4 o'cloek this morning a batch of letters came ashore from the fleet. Officers gave a farewell gneeting to their wives, and private telegrams said: “We sail today.” : ; ‘The Navy Department @ees mot admit that Commodore Schley has orders to sail today. It is said his orders are @iscretion- ary to move according to the adtices of war movements of the Spariish fleet that he receives. It is a safe presumption that if the launches have been taken aboard ship the fleet 1s preparing to sail. Report of Bombardment. ST. THOMAS, West Indies, May 12—On the best authority, it ig reported here that the fortifications at San Juande Porto Rico have been bombarded by nine American warships. Private messages say the shells are falling over the city, | The United States auxiliary cruiser St. is in the offing. ‘Two Ameriosh warships have been signaled, to the westward. Sampson’s fleet attacked but failed to si- lence the forts at San Juan de Porto Rico yesterday morning. The Americans lost two killed and seven wounded. The Span-. ish loss is unknown. THE FIGHT AT SAN JU! Detailed Story of the Bombardment ef the Forts. (C.pyr'ght, 1898, by Aseocfited P2ess.) ON BOARD THE ASSOCIATED. PRESS DISPATCH BOAT DAUNTLESS, ST. THOMAS, Danish West Indies, May 1: The forts of San Juan de Porto Rico haye been bombarded by a portion of the fleet, under command of Rear Admiral Sampson. The remarkable feature of the bombard- ment was the bad marksmanship cf the Spanish gunners. Hardly a shot from the forts struck the ships, while the forts were hit repeatedly. Most of the Spanish pro- jectiles fell very wide, and at the close of the engagement the fortifications had a very dilapidated appearance, but the guns were as active as ever. The United States monitor Terror had a magnificent half hour’s duel with the forts. ‘The batterics bravely threw shot and shell about her until she seemed to occupy the center of a great geyser basin. The Span- ish gunners were crazed by excitement, and sometimes dropped their shells a mile away from the Terror. The latter fired one shot to three from the forts, and when the monitor retired she did so slowly, contemptuously, still fir- ing at the Spanish forts. The Spaniards continued to fire on her until she was miles out of range. After the engagement, steamed among the fleet, whose crews were cleaning the decks ard polishing the guns. The American sailors seemed to be not at all excited, and were going about their werk as if nothing extraordinary had hap- pered. ‘The only marks on the Iowa were a dent the Dauntless on her exhaust pipe and a slight injury.) to the railing of her bridge. The New York had several small heles in one of her ventilators. Each vessel in action carried two large American fi Only one vessel is known to be in the har- bor of San Juan de Porto Rico, and that craft is a small French steamer which hur- ried away affrighted after the warships had departed. Cape Verde Squadron Notified. LONDON, May 13.—A special dispatch from Madrid says that immediately upon being informed of the bombardment by the United States fleet of San Jyan de Porto Rico Senor Sagasta conferred with Admiral Bermejo, the minister of marine, who forthwith wired urgent instructions to the commander of the Cape Verde squadron. GUSSIE’S PARTY LANDED. Carried Arms and Ammunition te the Insurgents at Cabanas, KEY WEST, Fla., Muy 13.—The trans- port steamer Gussie, which left here with a big expedition for Cuba on Wednesday night, had a lively engagement with the Spaniards at Cabanas, province of Pinar Del Rro, yesterday, but succeeded in ac- complishing her mission.” The Gussie, which came here from Tam- pa, carried 7,000 rifles and a large quantity of ammunition intended for the Cubans. ‘The expedition was directed by Captain J. H. Dorst of the United States cavalry, who took with him over 100 men Of the Ist Infantry and ten Cuban scouts. After a rough voyage the Gussie was met off the Cuban coast by the auxiliary gunboats Wasp and Manning, which es- her in. As they approached the shore a large body of Spanish soldiers opened fire upon the expedition and the gunboats replied with effect, enabling the On shore the battle a corted expedition to land. was renewed. The Spanish troops had retired to their the woods and directed a constant inaccurate fire upon the landing party. The latter later was rein- forced by a body of armed insurgents, who had been informed of the coming of the expedition. Then, under the fire of the gunboats, the Spanish force was compelled to withdraw, and the mission of the Gusssie was accom- plished. One of the American party was shot in the arm. The Spanish loss is not known, but must have been heavy. works and to but TO REINFORCE THE PHILIPPINES. Second Spanish Fleet About to Sail From Cadiz. GIBRALTAR, May 13.—The second Span- ish fleet, now at Cadiz, consists of the bat- tle ship Pelayo, the armored cruiser Em- perador Carlos Vy the cruiser Alfonso XIII, the Rapido and the Patria, auxiiiary cruisers, formerly the Hamburg-American line steamers Columbia and Normannia, and three torpedo boats. It is reported that a strong military expedition is being organized at Cadiz and that it will shortly proceed to the Philippine Islands, escorted by the Cadiz fleet. It is claimed that submarine mines have been placed so as to protect the entrance of the harbor of Cadiz. WINSLOW REACHES KEY WEST. She Was Hit Eighteen Times During the Cardenns Fight. KEY WEST, Fia., May 13.—The torpedo boat Winslow, damaged in the engagement at Cardenas, came in here last night under her own steam, in charge of Ensign Bailey of the Wilmington. It is believed the tor- pedo boat can be repaired and made ready for active service again in a few weeks. Two of the seamen on board her badly injured. They say that one of crew who was standing in the conning Brady, chief gunner’s mate; P. Cooney, H. Ji R. EB. DB. Me- Keon, J. J. Cavanaugh, BE. Basse, W, Laugiejah, J. I Madden, W. O. M. Leary, W. Myers, J. Gray, H. Anderson and W. W. Jones. Cox said that when they left Cardenas it was understood on board that the Wil- mington was to go in and bombard Car- denas on Thursday. SPANIARDS CALL IT A VICTORY. The Official Report of the Fight at San Juan. MADRID, May 13.—An official from San Juan de Porto Rico says: “The Americen squadron was repulsed off Porto Rico. Although eleven warships bcmbarded the plece, the attackers were gloriously beaten back. The Spanish bat- teries, armed with 6-inch Krupp guns, were especially effective.” This alleged victory of the Spaniards has aroused great enthusiasm here. > . THE SPANISH SQUADRON. patch Description of the Vessels Sighted Martinique. The Spanish squadron reported off Mar- tinique is made up of seven first-class ships, of which four are armored cruisers and three destroyers. This is as near the exact strength as can be stated, for the reports from~Cape Verde and from Cadiz- have caused much doubt as to the exact com- position of the Spanish squadron. But al- lowing for the torpedo boats and other craft which returned toeCadiz, there is lit- tle doubt that the Spanish squadron off Martinique has at least seven warships of formidable dimensions. These are: Armored crulser Vizcaya, built of steel, with twin screws, two turrets, two fun- nels and two military masts with length, 264 feet; displacement, 6,80) tons: maximum speed, 20.2 knots. She has an armor belt of steel 5 feet 6 inches broad, 315 feet long and 10 or 12 inches thick. Her turrets have 9-inch steel armor; conning tower, 12-inch armor. Her protected deck is 2 to 3 inches of steel. Her armament is two li-inch Hontonia guns, singly in tur- rets, one forward and one aft; ten 5.5-inch guns, five on each beam, the forward and aft ones being sponsoned; eight 6-pound- ers, ten 1-pounders, eight Nordenfeldt ma- chine guns, two Maxim machine guns, six terpedo tubes and two submerged torpedo tubes. She carries 484 men. Armored cruiser Almirante Oquendo, built of steel; double screw; two turrets, ete. Her tonnage, armor and armament in every respect is similar to that of the Vizeaya. Armored cruiser Infanta Maria Teresa, built of steel; 6,890 tons displacement. This cruiser is also identical to the Viz- caya. Armored cruiser Cristobal Colon, built of steel; twin screws; two cover2d barbettes, fere and aft; two funnels, one military mast; length, 328 feet; displacement, 6,540 tons; speed, twenty knots. Her armor consists of a complete nickel steel belt, eight feet three inches wide, six inches thick. The armor of the barbettes is six inches thick. The protected deck is from two to eight inches thick; conning tower, six inches. All the guns have shields. Her armament is two 10-inch guns, ten 6-ineh guns, six 4.7-inch guns, ten 6-pound- ers, ten 1-pounders, two Maxim machine guns, four torpedo tubes. She has a com- plement of 500 men. The Terror and Furor are torpedo boat destroyers, lately added to the Spanish navy, having been built at Clydebank in 1896. They are of steel, with three funnels and one mast; length, 220 feet; displace- ment, 320 tons; speed, 28 knots; armament, two 14-pounder quick-fires, two 6-pounder quick-fires, two 1-pounder quick-fires. Each destroyer mounts two 14-inch torpedo tubes on deck. Each destroyer carries sixty-seven men. The Pluton is another formidable modern destroyer, but her exact dimensions and armameat are not available at the Navy Department. ————_-2-_____ THE KILLED AND WOUNDED. on Names the Navy Department's Muster Roll The men reported killed and wounded Guring Admiral Sampson's bombardment of San Juan yesterday are designated as fol- lows on the muster rolls of the Navy De- partment: Frank Widemark, seaman on cruiser New York, killed; born in Finland; next of kin, Gustav Erickson, father, Aabo, Finland. He had declared his intentions of becom- ing a citizen. Length of service, about eight months. Samuel Feltman, ordinary seaman on cruiser New York, leg broken. Born in New York city; next of kin, Joseph Alexander, 91 Willet street, New York city. Native- born citizen; service about one year and five months. Raymond C. Hill, apprentice second class on battle ship Iowa; slightly wounded. Born in Coventry, England; next of kin, James Hill, 140 Ward strect, Paterson, N. J. Naturalized citizen; service about one year and ten months. John Mitchell, seaman, on battle ship Tewa, slightly wounded. Born in Constan- tinople, Turkey. Has no relatives; citizen- ship, alien intentions declared; service, about two years and eight months. These names ase taken from press dis- patches, as the Navy Department has not given out an official list of names. The name of M. G. Markle, being that of a marine, is nor borne on the naval roll. ———___-e-__ ____ DEWEY PICKS UP THE CABLE. Blockade of Manila is Strictly Main- tained by the Ficet. LONDON, May 13.—Lloyds’ agent at Ma- nila cabled from Hong Kong today that SAN JUAN FALLEN aire The Spanish Squadron ON Martinique € e: SCHLEY SAILS TO ATTACK IT Admiral Se Official Report. — ee, CASUALTIES AT PORTO RICO Only a Portion of the Fleet in the Engagement. ONE OF OUR MEN KILLED LONDON, May 13.—The Even- ing News this afternoon publishes a patch from St. Thomas, Danish West Indies, saying San Juan de Porto Rico surrendered at 6 o'clock yesterday evening. The dispatch adds that immense damage was done to the city, and that a number of important buildings collapsed. The Iowa and Detroit, according to this dispatch, fired 430 shots, with terrible effect. All the American warships, the dispatch further says, except the Montgomery, steamed in elliptical formation before the forts, which fired twenty to thirty guns, seven of which were good guns.. The fleet first fired too low, but at the second discharge they got the clevation and soon silenced Morro Castle and set fire to the town, driving the Span- iards from their guns repeatedly. The shore guns fired hundreds of shots. The New York was hit once and a seaman was killed and four were wounded. The Iowa was hit once and two men were slightly wounded. The dispatch adds that the Ameri- cans did not attempt to take posses- sion of or destroy the town, beyond razing the fortifications. The dispatch winds up with an- nouncing that the American fleet un- der Rear Admiral Sampson is now outside of San Juan de Porto Rico awaiting the coming of the Spanish fleet, commanded by Admiral Cer- vera, which was last reported off Fort de France, Island of Martin- ique, French West Indies. FLYING SQUADRON SAILS. Commodore Schley Leaves to Meet the Spanish Squadron. Secretary of the Navy Long this morning received official advices from Martinique, Windward Islands, that the Spanish squadron had been sighted to the westward of that island. Martinique is about 600 miles in a southerly direction from San Juan, Porto Rico, where the Ameri- can squadron under Admiral Samp- son was in action yesterday. The Spanish vessels off Martinique | compose the formidable squadron the blockade of the capital of the Philip- | recently collected at the Caps Verde pine Islands is strictly maintained and that the cable is on board an American vessel. Islands, and which sailed from there Several local steamers, Lloyds’ agent |i a westwardly direction two weeks continued, are reported to have been cap- tured, but he says there is no confirmation of the reports. —— NEW SPANISH CABINET. ago today. Upon receipt of. this information Secretary Long ordered Commodore Schley, at Hampton Roads, to put to Senor Sagastn Experiences Difficulty | sea at once with the flying syuadron, im Securing Associates, MADRID, May 13.—Senor Sagasta is ex- | and it will sail today. While its des- periencing unexpected difficuity in forming |tination is not known, it is believed a@ new cabinet. There is much un>asiness here on account of a rumor that by tonight that the squadron has been sent in the bread supply in all the bakeried\ here pursuit of the Spanish squadron. will be exhausted. —<—<—__ INSURGENTS ‘WIN A BATTLE. Nine Hundred Spaniards Engagement in Cuba. LONDON, May 13.—A special dispatch inan SAMPSON REPORTS Attacked San Juan Yesterday ~ at Daybreak. from Hevara says nine hundred Spaniards| The following was received at the ;heve been kiliec in a fight with insurgents. The location of the battle is not given. Navy Department from Admiral ST. THOMAS, May 12. “A- portion of the squadron un- der my command reached San Juan this a.m. at daybreak. vessels were found in port.. As soon as it was sufficiently ligt I com-