Evening Star Newspaper, May 14, 1898, Page 1

THE EVENING STAR. CBLISHED DAILY EXCEPT SUNDAY. AT THE STAR BUILDINGS, 3101 Fenrsylvania Avenue, Cor, 11th St, by The Eregts Ser ATE oe Kew York Usies, 49 Fotter Building, ‘The Evening Star ts served to subscribers fp the ety by corriers. oo thet own account, at 10 cents Ber weck. or 44 cents per month. Copies at the ccunter 2 cents each. By mail—anywhere in th United States‘ r Canada— postage prepaid—G0 cents Per month. ii Saturday Quintuple Sheet Star, $1 per year, with foreign postage added, $3.08. (atered at the Po t Gffice at Washington, D. C.. as second-class ma’l matter. criptions must be paid in advance. rtising made known on appHcatior No 14,104, WASHING TON, D. ©, SATURDAY, MAY 14, 1898—TW ENTY-FOUR PAGES. TWO CENTS. The Evening Star is the only afternoon paper in Washington that receives the dispatches of the Associated Press. It is therefore the only one in which the reader ean find the complete news of the world, directly trans- mitted by telegraph, up to the moment of going to press. ONE MAN WAS KILLED Six Others Severely Woanded in Fight Off Cienfuegos. CRUISERS AND SPANISH BATTERIES Marblehead and Nashville Went Into Harbor and Cut Cable. SPANL HEAVY The official report to the Navy De- partment of the attempt to cut the cables at Cienfuegos, Cuba, says that the work was done with cool- and that two of the three cables were cut. Speculation continues in adminis tration and congressional circles re- garding the whereabout of the Span- ish fleet reported off Martinique. Spanish infantry and shore bat- teries fired on two boat crews from the cruisers Marblehead and Nash- ville last Wednesday while they were cutting the cable in the harbor of Cienfuegos. One sailor was killed and several wounded, four of them seriously. Three of the officers re- ceived slight wounds. Recruiting is going on rapidly, and in a month there will be nearly 200,000 men equipped and ready for service. Spain protested to France against the auxiliary cruiser Harvard being allowed to remain in Martinique ports to make repairs. France re- plied upholding the right of the Har- vard to remain. Secretary Chamberlain made a speech at Birmingham, England, strongly advocating an alliance with the United Stat Admiral Cerveras first landed at St. Pierre, Miquelon Island, off the south coast of Newfoundland. His fieet coaled there and sailed for the West Indies. ness and intrepidity Special From # Staff Correspondent. KEY WEST, Fla., May 14.—The battertes Cienfuegos were Wednes Ville. The Windom has just brought in the news that one was killed wounded. shore at destroyed sailor and six The name of the man who was killed is Reagan. The wounded are: John Davis, New York city; John J. Doran, Fall River, Mass.; Robt. Boltz, Carteret county, North Ernest Suntzeantch, Kochminster, Harry Henric Carolina; Herman on: All were of the Nashville's crew except Boltz. of the wounded will die. Some They were part ef a landing party from the Marblehead which was trying to cut the cable. A bat- tery opened on the men with fatal effect. Fight Was a Hot One. ‘The fight was a hot one. The Marblzhead, the Nashville and the revenue cutter Win- dom were all there mainta Vour boat crews had bee: ning a blockade. sent out from the Marblehead and Nashville to cut the cable. They had been at work about an hour when fire was opened on them from the shore battery, as well as from riffe pits along the beach. The fire from these rifle pits was mos: t Gestructive, as the range was short. Reagan of the Marblehead’s crew was kill- ed by the frst volley and others in the boat Were wounded. Capt. McCalla of the Mar- blehead at once opened on the shor: bat- teries and on the rifle pits. The wounded were taken on board the Windom while the firing continued from the cru!s:r and gun- boat. One shot destroyed Cienfuegos light house. Several thousand troops, partly cavalry, were massed on shore. After the rifle pits and battery had been sflznced the work of cutting the cable was completed by the boats’ crews under the protection of the wuns of the Marblehead and Nashville. The batteries were silenced in a few min- utes. The loss of the Spaniards is not yet known, but the reduction of the shore bat- terles was complete. The Windom has brought the wounded to Key West. No Farther Figh) ie at Cardenas. No further firing has been reported from Cardenas since Wednesday's fight. The Wilmington is maintaining a patrol inside the keys at the entrance to the bay. Span- ish gunboats are lying at the docks. They have desisted from any attempt to com- plete the mining of the harbor, and as far as can be learned, no new batterles are be- img constructed. There appears to be a large body of Spanish troops, mostly cav- airy, on shore back of the town. The Wil- mington {s patrolling within three miles of shore. ‘The cable is cut between Cienfuegos and Sentiago. The latter place had cable con- nection with Kingston, Jamaica, and thence with Madrid. without of communicating with Madrid. The work was done Wednesday morning by the Nashville and Marblehead in spite of the fire from shore. Some Later Details, Later detatis of the fight show that the Spaniards were well prepared to resist any Blanco and Havana are now means tay by the Marblehead and Nash- | put off at daybreak and in an hour one cable had been located and cut. Some scat- tering fire was received from the shore, which did not interfere with the work While tugging at the second cable the | firing was more active. The launches re- plied with the one-pounders. One body of troops was driven from thelr intrenchment and took refuge with the gerrison in the fort at the foot of the light house. A steady fire was then maintained on the boats by the light-house garrison. They had machine guns. A volley from these guns struck one of the launches, kill- ing Reagan and badly wounding others. Au the Marblehead, Nashville and Windom were pouring a steady fire on this time from the ore. It was a four-inch sheli Windom that struck the light house, de- mclished it and scattered the Spanish gar- What the loss of life to the Span- iards is unknown. The wounded men were then tran wi commanded by Captain McGuire. While the Nashville and Marblehead kept up their fire the other cable was taken up and cut, and the launches then returned with their crews. ~ Licut. Winslow, who was in one of the boats, was wounded in the hand. A chance shot wounded an ensign on the Nashville in the shoulder slightly and then, glancing, grazed Capt. Maynard's chest. PEPPER. More Details of the Fight. KEY WEST, F. 14—The United States cruiser the gunboat rison. ferred to the dom, which is Nashville and the auxillary cruiser Win- dom steamed up the harbor of Cienfuegos early Wednesday morning with orders to cut the cable connecting Havana with Santiago de Cuba. This task was accom- plished, but cnly efter a terrific fight be- tween our warships and several thousand nish troops, which lined the shore and y concealed behind improvised breast- works. One man, a seaman named Rea gan, of the Marblehead, was killed out- Tight in one of the working small boats, and six men were severely wounded. In addition, a lerge number on board the ship received minor wounds. Capt. S. E. Maguiresof the Windom be- Heves that several of the six badly wound ed men, who were brought to Key West this merning on the Windom, cannot re- cover. The following Is the list of killed and badly wounded: List of the Casualties. Regan, seaman, of the Marblehead. Badly wounded—John Davis of New York. John J. Doran of Fall River, Mass. Ernest Suntzeanickle. Herman W. Hochneister. Harry Hendrickson, all of the Marble- head. Robert Boltz, Carteret county, N. C., of the Nashville. Soon after the arrival of the warships off Cienfuegos four boats were launched and proceeded inshore for the purpose of grap- pling for the cable in order to cut it. The warships lay to about 1,000 yards or more off the harbor. When the commanders of the Marble- | head and the Nashville called for volun- to man the boats and cut the cable > men responded with a jump. Lieut. C. MeR. Winslow of the Nashville took command of the Nashville's boats. ‘The shore surrounding the entrance of | the harbor was first shelled, and then. the boats proceeded in. | The work of finding the cable was slowly | ane cautiously proceeded with. The cable was deep in the channel, and was found | with difficulty. One of the relays of the | cable had been cut when the Spaniards opened fire. Marines Answered the Fire. The marines in the boats replied at once, and a machine gun from the forward launch sent in a stream of bullets, while the heavy shells from the warship drove the Spaniards from the rifle pits at the shore, many of them secking refuge in the | lighthouse fort, which was afterward torn to pieces by a shell from the Windom. With desperate courage the American sailors remained calmly at their posts and succeeded in dragging up the second relay of the cable and severing it. Seven men badly wounded was the count, | and one of them, Reagan, died while on the way back to the ship. Lieut. Winslow was shot in the hand, and a number of others were more or less injured. On the Nashville Capt. Maynard was standing forward, with an ensign, when a Spanish bullet parsed through the ensign’s skoulder and strack Maynard on the chest rear the beart, wounding him only slightly. The Marblehead was struck scores of times by bullets from machine guns, and the Nashville suffered to about the same extent. The Windom also had many marks of the fray. Her shell, plowing up the lighthouse and scattering the the Spaniards in all directions, ended the battle. Two Expected to Die. Boltz and Hendrickson, who, with four others of the wounded, are at the naval hospital here, ere expected to die. The remains of Reagan were buried. It was observed that the Spanish troops hed assembled zshcre, but it was not krown that heavy guns had been placed in a masked battery and that the old light- house, far out on a neck of land, had been transformed into a formidable fort. ‘The small boats proceeded cautiously and for more than an hour worked unmolested on the cable. Suddenly, just as the work was about completed, the shore battery fired a shell at the boats. It was follewea by others, and the Spanish infantry open- ed fire with their rifles. Marblehead Replies. Then, like a flash, the Marblehead sent a shell inland, and followed it with a perfect shower of shot. The Nashville was quick to follow suit, and the little Windom cut loose with her four-pounders. In the meanwhile Spanish bullets fell in every direction around the small boats. Though the attack had come suddenly and fiercely the bluejackets were not dismayed, and, protected by the terrific return fire of the warships, work was continued and the cable cut. When the boats returned to the ships, Regan, who was in one of the Marblehead’s oats, of which there were two, was found to have been killed. Six men were badly wounded. ‘The Spaniards had by this time suffered severe loss. Their shots from the light- house struck the warships several times, and, although they did not do much dam- age, the fire aroused the determination 6f hostile landing. Early Wednesday morning Commander McCalia on the Marblehead and Maynard on the Nashville called for volunteers to go in boats to cut the cable. More volunteered than could be utilized in the four boats which had been detailed for the work. Selections were made, the boats the American officers to exterminate the fert. Thereafter, for the moment, the fire of the warships was concentrated upon the lighthouse, and the improvised fort was blown to pleces. As there were great num- bers of Spaniards in and behind the fort at the time, there is no doubt that many of them were killed. DUTIES OF NEUTRALS No Evidence That France is Disre- garding Obligations. ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS ANNOYED Friendship Shown of Our Sister Republic. THE CASE OF THE HARVARD The offictals of the State and Navy De- partments strongly deprzcate as mischiev- ous and dangerous the efforts that are being mede to create the impression that France is not seting up to the rule in the observance of strict neutrality between the United States and Spain. They say that even were there some slight founda- tion for the statements, the Ume is very inopportune for newspaper attacks that might even involve France in the present hostilities. As a matter of fact, they say, there is no evidence of any diensition on the part of the French coionial oifictals in the West Indies to discriminate agaiist the United States and favor Spain. If there has been any delay in the transmis- sion of cablegrams from Martinique to the United States government or in the reverse direction, our government is not in po sion of any evidence tending in ihe est degree to show that obstacies wer purposely interposed. As far as the mat ter of coaling is corcerned there is as yet also an entire absence of any evidence that the Spanish fleet was accorded any undue advantage in this respect. If it took coal at Martinique, and even this is not certainly known, much would depend upon the quantity allowed. The practice is to give a ship in such circumstances just enough coal to carry it to the aearest home port, which, in this case, might be Porto Rico or Cuba. If the Spaniards plenished their coal bunkers from colliars lying in the port, another interesting question would be raised. Application of Neutrality Laws. In feet, the application of neutrality laws to such cases as are now presented by the frequent movements of both American and Spanish warshipy is very much beclouded. A distinguished official, one of the leading lights in the construction of international law, pointed to the fact that there were few precedents of value to guide a neutral government just now, and the probabilities are that by the time the present war is at an end the United States will, just as it did in the war of the rebellion, make a good many precedents and a good deal of international law for the guidance of the family of nations hereafter. The Harvard's Case. S@ch a question as that presented by the tion of the French authorities in detain- ing the United States steamer Harvard at St. Pierre for twenty-four hours, after the departure of the Spanish torpedo boat de- stroyer Terror, which she found in that port, raises in itself a host of interesting questions and reveals the fact that there is absolutely nothing Hke a uniform rule in the matter. Some nations require when two belligerent vessels meet in their ports that the first comer shall depart first, while the other shall be detained twenty- four hours. Another rule is that the weaker vessel shall be allowed to depart first in order to prevent the stronger from lying in wait for her outside. In other cases still, the second boat in is not de- tained in port twenty-four hours, but the neutral contents itself with a pledge from the commanding officer of the belligerent ship that he will not engage in hostilities with the other ship until twenty-four hours have elapsed after his departure from port. Generally these rules are founded on the old practice that obtained in the days of sailing ships and they have not been modi- fied to meet the needs of modern naval service. The matter of coal supply is also obscured by doubtful interpretations in construction. Rather to Our Advantage. As faras the Harvard is concerned, the rule has not worked to cur hardship. On the contrary, the officials here are rather in- clined to be grateful to the French author- itles for their concession of the privilege to the Harvard to remain in port until she has completed some necessary repairs to her machinery. With a number of Spanish torpedo boats and cruisers lurking around Martinique there is no disposition on the part of the naval authorities to expose to their attack a vessel like the Harvard, ab- solutely without protection against the smallest gunfire and without much offen- sive power. The State Department satisfied itself as far as was possible to do so before making the statement yesterday that no French artillerists had been landed by the Lafay- tte at Havana. They are now inclined to think, after looking at the matter carefully, the whole basis for this absurd story grew out of a remark by some naval officers that the superior gunfire of the Spanish at Cardenas made it very evident, in view of their wretched shooting before that, that some Frenchmen must have come over to help them out. France Ignores Spain’s Protest. Official information reached here today that the Spanish government had filed a Frotest at the foreign office in Paris against the permission given by the French au- thorities at Martinique to the United States auxiliary cruiser Harvard to re- main in the harbor of St. Pierre, Martin- ique, for seven days to make necessary re- pairs. The French government has taken speedy action on the protest, and insists that the United States cruiser, being dis- abled, has a full right to remain seven days or such time as may be necessary to complete ker repairs, and that in the mean- time no steps will be taken to have her leave the French port. The Spanish protest 1s an important de- velopment in the present situation in the West Indies, as it serves to permit France to give a conspicuous evidence of her friendly attitude toward the United States, and to offset the insinuations which have been made as to French favoritism to Spain. It also makes clear for the first time the plans of the Spanish admiral to have the Harvard forced out of the harbor at Mar- tinique and then to capture her by his swift cruisers and destroyers. Fortunately, however, this plan of the Spanish admiral cannot be executed, by reason of the deter- mined stand of the French government to permit the Harvard to remain within the harbor for seven days. It is impossible for “—~Gontinued on Second Page) [NEED AGGRESSIVE ACTION|FAGLE WAS VICTOR|SCHLEY PuTS ouT To Sea | Delay Adds Strength to Spanish Defenses in Cuba, United States Army Need Not Expect Much Aid From the In- surgent Forces, Special From a Staff Correspondent. KEY WEST, Fla., May 14.—Events cf this week indicaté that the time for a final aggressive movement has come without re- gard to the insurgents. They are at most only an incident Mm the war between the United Stotes and/Spain. “In a long cam- paign they would te useful as allies, and in any circumsiances It is desirable to sup- ply them with rations and with arms. Captain Derst’s expedition, which is land- ing equipments for the insurgents, is bene- ficial in its way, but’tan Have no effect in bringing hostilities to an carly close. The same is true of supplying Gomez’s army of insurgents. In taking Havana they will be of:aid as alles, but they can never be chief ‘actors. When Havana has war vessels in front’ and regular troops from the United States. hemming it in from the land sides, the end of war will be in sight. The quicker this ‘concentra- tion comes the easter will be the restoration of peace. In the time.since hostilities open- ed the.power of the Spanish to resist has been greatly strengthened. That more American lives should be lost in unimportant engagements off Cardenas and Cienfuegos than in the destruction of the Spanish fleet in Philippines and in reducing San Juan 1s perhaps to be re- garded as an incident of war, but if pres- ent methods continue it is certain that more lives will be 16st 'without definite pur- pose, Yesterday while threading the shoals and reefs of Cardenas bay: 1 saw. evidences of activity on the part 6f Spanish troops in strengthening the Shore defenses. The same thing is true Of Matanzas and other places. While the “Warships can soon re- duce these fortificatfons they have no men to spare to land afid héld them. When an assault is made “on Havana it may be desirable to shell alf these ports and keep cavalry and infantryoccupied, which would otherwise be thrown into Havana for its defense. PEPPER. AT THE WHITE HOUSE No Intimation That Germany Wants to Leave*Bamana Bay, The administration has received no in- fermation about the reported attempt Germany to lease Samana bay from Santo Domingo as a naval base. Not much ere- dence is given to the report. It is pointed out that if Germdny’ should get into war with any power Santo’ Domingo would have to close Samana bay to German vessels as well as to those of the other belligerents, under the neutrailty laws. The mere fa that Germiny had a lease on the harbor would not relieve Sarto Domingo from her neutral obligations: If she did not observe those obligations she would become the enemy of Germany's opponent and Mable to the chances of war, It is therefore not believed that Germany is contemplating 2 lease on any West’ indian harbo As a matter of fact, the administration finds n at thid time te foreshadow foreign complications: of any kind. Tae hundreds of rumors ef European interfer- ence do not re Is. Sccretary D: F dent for a long time this aftefnoon, going ‘over the situation from a diplomatic point. He was thought to be laying’ before the President certain matters in regard to France. Yellow Fever Iminunes. The matter of the organization of .yellow fever immune regiments continues to re- ceive the attention of President McKinley and the War Department. Senator Caffery of Louisiana today thiked with the Presi- dent about the probability of getting sev- eral regiments of immunes together and the proper man to command them. Senators Masofi and Jones of Nevada urged the President to put Duncan Har- rison in command of one of the.> regi- ments. These senators later saw Secretary Alger on the same subject. Speaker Reed and Hawaii, Fresh stories that Speaker Reed will pre- vent consideration of the report of the House foreign affairs committee for the an- nexation of Hawafi do not receive indorse- ment from men closést to the Speaker. Representative Dingléy was at the White House today and hada conference with the President. He found the President without fresh news as to the whereabouts of the Spanish fleet, and. with nothing new of any kind. zs Mr. Dingley was asketl as to the chances in the House for a “Hawaiian annexation measure. He answet€d: “4 think the reso- lution will pags.” Mr. Dirigley is probably the closest man im the Héuse to Speaker Reed. He ought to Kngw ‘the purposes of the Speaker regarding the Fesolution. What he said. does not.jnéiicate ‘opposition from the Speaker, as the®resofution could not pass If consideration 6f it is not permitted. jo Official New of Surrender. Up to a late hour @his afternoon no offi- cial news of the reforted capitulation of San Juan had been #eceivéd at the White House. The Presid@nt is said to have received unéfficial Mformf&tion yesterday afternoon, however, ‘indi@ating capitula- tion. Secretary Long thofight it was au- thentic. . The motives of the%admfiitstration in or- dering an attack,:on the fortifications of San Juan are said to Have been that such action was a notification to the world that the United States had staked out Porto Rico for a claim and mear¥ to take full Possession later. If Spain had asked for Peace before this claim was filed the pos- session of Porto Would have remain- ed indisputably with but notice has now been given an@;can be followed by an army of occupati@n later. Some of ihe $allers Today. The President many callers today and Hstened: to propositions of all kinds. Senators Allison, Gear and Burrows and Representatives. Northway, Joy, Powers, Southard, Ellis.amd Lacey were visitors with whom the President conferred. “few days ago Engagement Between American Gun- boat and Spanish Cruiser Galatea. OFF HARBOR OF CIENFUEGOS Spaniard Soon Got Enough and Retired Into the Harbor. PEOPLE FLEEING FROM CUBA (Copyright, 1€08, by Avs ciated Priss.) KINGSTON, Jamaica, May 14.—A corre- spondent of the Associated Press who pass- ed through the Cienfuegos blockade on the steamer Adula on Monday last succeeded in entering that city and getting a good idea of the situation there. He left Cien- fuegos on the steamer with a number of refugees on Tuesday, and last evening he sent the following dispatch ashore from the quarantine station: “When about forty miles off Cienfuegos on Monday afternoon we sighted the Amer- ican blockading squadron, consisting of the Marblehead, the Nashville and the Eagle. The flagship, the Marblehead, bore down upon us at full speed and fired a blank shot across our bows. We came to and were boarded by a lieutenant. We showed him a permit from the State De- partment to pass the blockade for passen- gers, on condition that we carried no cargo, and we were allowed to proceed. “The officer of the Marblehead said the flagship thought the Adula was a Spanish troop ship which is expected daily. Stopped by a Spaniard. “When about 49) yards from the narrow entrance to the harbor a Spanish 29-ton gunboat,mounting one quick-firing 1-pound- er aft, pcked her nose out from the man- gBrove-covered reef and stopped Our us. Papers had been vised by the Spanish con- | sul at Kingston, and so we were allowed to enter the harbor. The entiance harbor of Cienfuegos is about two hundred and fifty yards wide and there are forts on either side of it. These forts have long rows of old-fash- foned guns, and, just inside the harbor, there is a modern fortification building of timber, earth and sand. The British viec consul, Mr. Fowler, told the correspondent of the Associated Pr that the Spaniards have eight or ten mod- ern high pewer guns to mount on the new works. Their calibers are probably four to six inches. Inside the harbor were three tiny gun- boats. The only warship of any conse- quence in port was the third-class cruiser Galatea. The correspondent counted four guns in her main battery and she had one quick firer aft. The Galatea went outside the harbor a to engage the United States auxiliary gunboat Eagle, Com- mander W. H. H. Southerland, a vessel about 6ne-third the Galatea’s size. The engagement was short, sharp and decisive. One of the Eagle's six-pound shells splint- ered the corner of the Galatea’s deck house and the Spanish cruiser quickly re- treated into the harbor. Two Merchantmen in Harbor. Besides the warships, there were two 2,000-ton merchant steamers, the Rio Ja- no und the Alava of Bilbao, and three coasting steamers, inside the harbor of Cienfuegos. These vessels were caught in the harbor by the American blockade fleet and will doubtless fall into the hands of our sailors in due course of time. A crowd of about two thousand curious people gathered at the wharf to meet us and the correspondent was told there had not been so much excitement in Cienfuegos since the preceding Saturday week, wnen a few shells were thrown at the forts by the American warships, following an at- tack made upon the Eagle. But no one was hurt. The correspondent of the Associated Press went ashore and walked unmolested through the principal streets of the city. About one shop in four was open and busi- ness was utterly lifeless. There were no trucks or carriages in the streets and many of ...e dwellings were closed. Blockade prices are charged for food. Flour selis at 25 cents per pound, meal at 40 cents a pound, and if you want milk you must pay 20 cents a quart for it. On the other hand, yams, bread fruit and plan- tains are plentiful at 5 or 6 cents a pound. ‘The correspondent was told there was food enough in the city to last forty-five days. Still, the population is afraid the blockade will result in starvation. There are from thirty-five to forty thou- sand people in Cienfuegos, and its vicinity, including about fifteen thousand regular Spanish troops and five thousand volun- teers. ‘The townspeople and the soldiers were talking vaguely about a glorious victory, said to have been won’ by the Spanish forces at Havana. Gen. Pando Has a Fight. General Pando, the commander of the Spanish forces in the field, ieft here for Havana on Sunday and heavy fighting took place on Tuesday about thirty-one miles from the city. ‘The British consul, who was the charter- er of the Adula, has sent to Jamaica his family, several Cuban Americans and forty of the best Cuban families in Cienfuegos— in all, 207 persons. As the Adula was only provisioned for 130 passengers, there were short rations for everybody on board, but nobody grumbled, all being glad to get out of the blockaded city. The Adula steamed out of Cienfuegos harbor on Tuesday afternoon, at which time the American blockading squadron had been increased by a large fighting ship whose name was not discernible and by a big collier. + ARRIVAL OF- COL. LIMA. Cuban Insurgent Leader Reaches Key West This Mornin; Special From a Staff Correspondent. KEY WEST, Fia., May 14.—Lieut. Col. Lima and three other insurgents, who left the Cuban coast in an open boat three days ago and put out to the fleet, reached Key West this morning. Lima and his party are from insurgent camps near Camp Florida, fifteen miles from Havana. Some of them had lately been inside that city. ‘They report a large number of Spanish sol- diers in Havana, while reinforcements are arriving hourly. The condition is very hard for Cuban families, who are kept in a state of terrorism. All the Cuban population is suffering for food. Lima is the insurgent officer who held a comand under Aranguren when the latter was killed. PEPPER, Men on the Flying Squadron Glad to Be in Action, Brooklyn, Scorpion and Texas Make Up the List Which Saltled. FORT MONROE, Va., May 14 (on board the flagship Brooklyn, at sea, via pilot boat, May 13).—Commodore Winfield Scott Schley and the fighters of his flying squad- ron steamed out of Hampton Roads this afternoon at 4:25 o'clock, under sealed orders. The entire squadron was to have gone, and at 1 o'clock all the ships had reported ready for getting away, but at 1:15 p.m. a dispatch from the Navy Depart- ment ordered Commodore Schley to leave the cruisers New Orleans and Minneapolis in Hampton Roads for further orders. Both are fast ships—much better time makers than the big battle ships—and could leave hours later and still catch the squadron. Capt. Folger of the New Orleans was left in charge of the twe cruisers. At precisely 4:20 p.m. the flagship sig- naled that she was ready to proceed, and at 4:25 the Brooklyn, the Massachusetts and Texas and the Scorpion were moving majestically down Hampton Roads for sea, the water with sc&rce a ripple on it, and the bright sun touching old glory as if in tender nediction. The temper of the men j on the squadron was well illustrated by the ringing cheers that echoed from the fore- j castle down to the quarter deck, and made Commodore Schley remark, with a smile, “Those are the boys for fighting.” Commodore Schley refused to say where he thought the fleet was bound for, but the fact that the collier Sterling accompanied them, carrying 2,500 tons of extra coal, and that each ship had on board extra coal and Water, would seem to indicate there is lively work cut out for them. It is a hard fighting aggregation, this fly- ing squadron, under a cool and daring fighter. ¢ battle ships Massachusetts and Texas are not equaled in fighting power by any- thing in the Spanish navy, and the Brook- iyn is the best fighting ship of her kind in he worid. In totals, the ships carry four inch guns, two 12-inch guns, sixteen 8- inch guns, ten 6-inch guns, sixteen 5-inch kuns and an enormous battery of rapid-fire guns of smatier caliber. As soon as the squadron was at sea active preparations were made to meet an enemy. The ships were stripped for action, all lights covered, ammunitien supplied to the guns and men sent to fighting quarters for the night. The ships are all ammunitioned to their full carrying capacity, and will do desperate fighting. The men at the guns have been proven to be accurate marks- men. At Cape Henry, where the squadron ar- rived at dark, the pilots were discharged, taking their own boats. The men who brought the ships down in saf2ty through the mine fields in Hampton Roads are mem- bers of the Virginia Pilots’ Association, of- ficially recognized by the government. W. W. Scott piloted the Brooklyn, J. K. Peak the Massachusetts and George B2w the Texas. Con:modore Schley stood upon the bridge as long as the light lasted, and when be re- tired said: “I have not been so happy in weeks. Inaction was killing m2.” Very nearly every officer and man on the flagship seemed to think the same way. _— GEN. WHEELER AT TAMPA - ‘ Ex-Confederate Officer Warmly Greeted by His Companions. ‘Troops Are Mobilizing Rapidly at the . Port and Are Anxious to Move on Havana. Special Dispatch to The Evening Star. TAMPA, Fla., May 14.—Major General Joseph H. Wheeler formally reported to General Wade this morning. His reception by the regular army men has been most cerdial, especially in view of his being the first ex-confederate to report at headquar- ters. The statement that General Wheeler is to command the cavalry excites a certain interest here, as General Wade himself is a cavalryman, known in the army as “Sec- ond Little Phil,” and is establishing his headquarters under canvas with the three newly arrived cavalry regiments. Regular troops are this morning pouring in very*rapidly. The strength of the com- mand has been increased about 450 by the arrival of recruits from the north in small detachments. They are being drilled all the time. The health of the troops first arrived is better than it was, dysentery troubles dis- appecring as men become seasoned to hot days and cool nights. An analysis of the local water just made by the medical corps shows It to be harmless. No bad results from it need be apprehended by volunteers from the north. Officers and men are de- cidedly restive under information that the expedition is again held up indefinitely. —_—> AIN’'S NAVAL STRATEGY. sP Admiral Cerveras’ Fleet First Went to Newfoundland. LONDON, May 14.—The Star says Madrid dispatch via Paris throws interest- ing light, gathered from an official source, on Admiral Cerveras’ movements since he left the Cape Verde Islands. It appears that he headed for St. Pierre Miquelon, on the coast of Newfoundland, where sealed instructions awaited him. There colliers from Sydney were met ana the Spanish fleet coaled. Admiral Cerveras’ instructions then were to raid Portland, Boston and Newport, and if Admiral Sampson bombarded Havana to draw him off. © The news from Manila seems to have changed the plans. The next proposed move was to decoy Rear Admiral Sampson to Porto Rico and then sail rapidly for Havana and destroy the few ships left there. Finaliy, should Admiral Cerveras, on reaching Santiago de Cuba, learn that two American squadrons were coming to meet him, thus leaving the sea free, his plan would be to avoid them, sail straight for Charleston and bombard that city. a THE HOSTILE FLEETS poke ee Senn Department Officials Speculating og Their Location. SHOULD SPAIN'S VESSELS ESCAPE The War Might Be Considerably Prolonged. INTERNATION AL > QUESTIONS #dmiral Sampson has not contributed any further details to the Navy Depart- ment touching his engagement with the batteries at San Juan. Indeed, it ts doubt- ful whether the department itself ts aware of the exact whereabouts of Admiral Samp- ton at this moment. He did not communi- cate with the department over night, and it is just possible that he finds consider- able difficulty in sending Ms ships to cable stations of neutral powers in the West Indies without exhausting his privilege in the number of calls he can make. It {s un- likely, in view of the newspaper accounts of the fight at San Juan, that at the time Sampson drew off his squadron he had been iffformed of the presence of the Span- ish squadron off Martinique, and it is pos- sible that he is still lurking on the north ecast of Porto Rico, preparing for another onslaught upon San Juan. Of course, this purpose will be changed as soon as he can be reached by one of the dispatch boats with the Navy Department's belated in- structions. In the absence of specific advices as to the exact location of the American and Spanish fle the officials are thrown back on conjecture as to the probable course of the two fleets. It is recognized that the Spanish admiral bas the advantage in en- veloping his movements in complete mye- tery, for there is no way of learning his object, whether it is to make a dash to Ha- vana harbor and break the blockade, at the sam: time relieving Gen. Blanco, or wheth- er it is to 2ffect a landing on the south coast of Cuba, away from the American ships on the north coast, or, still a whether it Is to boldly engage the American ships at the first opportunity. Naval strategists believe Spain will not hazard her whole cause in a fight in which she must know that defeat is certain. The destruction of the Spanish squadron would leave Spain practically without a navy, as these ships are the pick of her naval strength, and those remaining at Cadiz would be ineffect- ive without the co-operation of the ships now cn this side. For this reason, with everything to lose, it is felt that the Span- ish admiral will avoid a set battle and seck to elude the two American squadrons, thus leaving him free to render such help to the Spanish forces in Cuba af he can, and in- cidentally to do such damag? to detached vessels as he can with his hands free from a direct engagement. Fast Spanish Vessels. It is r d also that the Spanish fleet is very the cruisers being 20- knoters, while the destroyers make from 28 to 30 knots. This makes the combined Spanish fleet much more swift than the combined American fleet under Sampson, for while his ship New York is very fast, she is retarded by the slow-moving battleships ard monitors. These condi- tions combine to make it possibie for the nish admiral make a quick run westward from Martinique, south of Por- to Rico and Hayti, to the south coast of Cuba. There are many ports along the south cogst, particularly S: de Cuba, where it is felt the Sp h ships would be practically safe while landing supplies to be sent across the island to the relief of Have Most of the blockading ships are on the north s watch along tke long covered by the blocka would endanger the blockade. intaining ch of coast ve of vhis the Commodore Schley’s Squadr: Commodore Schiey’s flying squadron may leulation early next week, ypen before then. His Minne E be coast of Florid next but the Massachu- s s, Texas er ships will be some time behind this. In the meantime, if the Spanish admiral eludes the Sampson fleet, | his course to Cuba will be an uninterrupt- jed stretch of water and the distance will be much less than that which Commodore enter into the but much may ship. the rd from off the or Tuesdas | hea Monda\ Schley’s fleet must traverse. Whiie all cale@lations are being taken into account, under the necessities of the case, the naval authorities are hopeful that Admiral Sampson will succeed in forcing a fight on the Spanish com- mander, whether he wants it or not. Whether this is to come or not imust be decided within the next few hours, vs the opposing squadrons, it is believed, are too close together to leave their future move- ments in doubt much longer. Either the Sampson Schley p away from them, and either « Will involve weighty resuits. Absence of Information.* Neither house of Congress was in session | teday, and the prospect of a fight between ! Acmiral Sampson's fleet and the Spanish fleet was discussed from every possible peint of view wherever a group of sena- tors or representatives were! asve nbled. Every one who had gone to the White House or vy Department was questioned for infermation, but even on most confidential re’ations with the President and members of the administration were without definite information. Bverybody was speculating as to the pos- sibilities and probabilities, and it was said that apparently the naval board of strategy is as much in doubt as ts everybody else. Possibly a Quaker Fleet. The most satisfactory information con- cerning the Spanish fleet was that con- tained in the newspaper dispatches, and apparently no one has been able to say with knowledge just what vessels com- prise the flect. It was even suggested this morning as a possibility, though not proba- Ue, that the vessels sighted off Fort de France were not the Cape Verde fleet, but were a number of small Spanish vessels sent hovering around in that quarter for the purpose of deceiving and distracting attention. It was pointed out that the re- ported absence of the fleet has resulted in the withdrawal of Sampson's fleet from San Juan, the postponement of the in- vasion of Cuba, and the sailing of Schley’s fieet, and might result in the cessation of operations by our vessels on the south coast of Cuba. It was suggested that this