The Mena star., 1898-05-25
GALL BEING CONSIDERED.
Anxiety That Our Armed Force Is Insufficient for the Responsi-
 bilities We Have Undertaken.
DESTRUCTION OF CERvERA'S FLEET.

Persistent Rumors in London of Great
 Naval Battle Near the WIndward Pas
 sage in Which the American Squadrons
 We're victorlous-No Confirmation Said
 to Have Been Received at Washington.
 NEW YORK, May 24.-A dispatch to the New York Tribune from Washing ton says: Another call for volunteers is under serious consideration by the military authorities, although it may not be issued for at least a week or two or, at any rate, until the invasion of Cuba has begun and the necessity for additional troops is clearly demon strated. The difficulties of arming and equipping many of the soldiers already mustered into the service are rapidly disappearing and from the experience gained in the recent call, army officers are satisfied that more than month will be consumed in mastering an additional 50,000 men, and that in this time equipments could be prepared for that number. The un- expected and extraordinary drain on the regular and volunteer force by the Philippines expedition, necessitating at the outset l5, ,000 men, together with the prospect that Spain will not be in- fuenced by European powers to aban- don her futile struggle, but will wage war until her resources are exhausted, is causing the military authorities con- siderable anxiety regarding the suffi- ciency of the armed force of the gov ernment for carrying out the responsi- bilities which have been undertaken.
 The simple task of freeing Cuba has been increased, through the necessities arising in the Philippines and through the probability of being compelled to maintain an army of occupation in Cuba several vears until the war is beginning to assume tremendous di- mensions If r rto Rico is added to the, scales evei tually, as the Philip pines were, the agnitude of American responsibility sill be materially in- creased, and further increase of the army will oc compulsory. Many public men are beginning to ex- press the conviction that the forces of the United States will be as difficult to withdraw from Cuba as those of England have been from Egypt, although there is no mod ification up to this time of the resolu- tion to make Cuba a free anu autono- nous republic and not a mere depend ent territorial acquisition. With re- gard to the Philippines and Porto Rico. however, disposition is already manifested to regard them as fruits of victory, and, in view of the notorious incapacty of their inhabitants for self-government, to take perma- nent possession of them and pro- vide them with complete colonial establishments. Eventually they may become in part self-governing, but the strong arm of the United States may have to be exerted indefinitely to pre- serve their peace and prosperity. It is already the prevailing belief that the expansion of the regular service, though contemplated only for the duration of the war, will be perma- nent. and that the standing army will never again fall below s5,0OO. The latter numb ber, in the opinion of Gen. Miles, is essential for operations in Cuba next summer, although most of the invading force will necessarily be composed of volunteers
 Runored Destruction of Cervera's Fleet. LONDON, May 24-Persistent rumors were in circulation here early to-day to the effect that great naval battle has been fought in the vicinity of the Windward passage, between the east ern end of Cuba and the westward part of Hayti, in which both of the American squadrons closed in on the Spanish Cape Verde squadron, com manded by Admiral Cervera, and com pletely destroyed the Spanish ships.
 A dispatch from Kingston Jamaica. to Reuters Telegram company said news had been received there of re- ported battle in the Windward pas sage, adding that no American or 1 Spanish warships have visited Ja- maican ports since the beginning of | the war.
 No Confirmation Received at Washing ton. | WASHINGTON May 24. It is stated at the navy department that no news has been received here of an engage ment between the fleets and that no 1 news IdS DeeH TctClNcu Ol LHc dTTlVdl of the Oregon at Key West. Secretary Long said that the Press dispatch from London about the reported destruction of Admiral Cervera's fleet was all the news he had upon the subject and that there had been nothing off cial to confirm it. The report attracted considerable attention among senators