The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-05-18
NO OFFICIAL NEWS
Department knows Nothing Of l'osi.
tions Of the Fleets.
CRITICISMS MAKE OFFICIALS SORE.
Tux OF Changes, but What They Kill
BE Is Not Given Out.
RlTICISMS MAKE OFFICIALS SORE
WON'T PURSUE SPANISH FLEET
sampson md schley WIN Euc,rc,,
""' Maintain the blockade an,i
Assist In Landing Troops.

washington, May 1.-THE official bul,e.
y" ooards today failed to yield any news
OF tue movements OF either of the tbroo
h'e's' simpsons, Schiey's or the sna,,sh
hyihs squadron, and there is reason to
oesleNe That tho department itself has re-
ceived no Information on that sus,rct
ihe ofhcidls are beginning 10 show n utta
constituencies TO criticism In the matter Of
DELAY In bringing the Spanish feet into
"'uoh' conscious as they are that they have
made all dispatch compatible with due re-
gard Tor the safety for our own ports as
| well as OF the lives of the crews of our
MaiFnips. Every day there Is talk OF
| change IN the plans brought about by some
movement OF tho Spanish squadron. but
"hat the latest phase OF tho campaign is
NOBODY outside OF the members OF the war
noaru can say. The general Impression
today Is that no eftort is To be made nov
10 pursue the spanish fleet so long MS tney
Keep within tho confines OF the Gulf OF
Mexico and the Caribbean sea. hut that
Sampson and Schley In combination win
ehclrcln the Island OF Cuba. maintaining
the pioekade and transferring troops acros,
tho straits II necessary. meanwhile aim
piy Keeping watch on the Spanish squadron
W 70" mat II does not do any mischief or
'hiS plan the military and naval officials
might hope ia silence the rather severe
oVluelsms which are beng EXPRESSED of
uVlays III opening the military campaign
In Cuba itself
considerable pressure has come on the
ADMINISTRATION from congressional quarters
10 havo the campaign fastened and there
are thought To be signs of a resunption
Oh the plans OF military leaders for The in i.
Ndsloh OF Cuba at the point where they
were suddenly suspended by the announces. !
nlont OF the arrival Of the Spanish ryng |
Nquauron NJ Martinique, One sign of this |
was the inclusion In the regular ARMY On.
"eis OF direction TO Captain Alger TO 40 |
10 iainpa 10 Join General Miles
~ army headquarters there was no sign
vi immediate departure, but In view OF the |
iaot ina there, ut lenst. everything has
p'eh prepared Tor n move from ranua. IL
may DO presumed that everything IA ready
for departure ut short notice without omar
manifestation of preparations
ne department processes to feel no nm.
pIchehslon hat Admiral Dewey or his men
are IN any Wise endangered by thoir M
eupation OF Manila harbor on the present
o''h's' but this can not be said of the ,in-
fortunate Inhabitants OF Manila IL the prea
eht situation Is protrauted IL IL M small
matter 10 organize and transport an cxpe-
ull'on OF 1000 soldiers 5000 miles pcrnss
the ocean on sho,T notice. Indications are
'iat Nlthlh week some goldlars viii be
en- route from San francisco
There are indications TINT the war ae.
p"rtnent haa been brought to noe tho wis.
uom OF the suggestion thrown out BY Ma
Jof Generai Merritt that the eNpcdltiou
hnu"ia consist OF not less than rs 900 men
ana That at least third OF them should
pe seasoned troops from the regular army
aapao,u VI hretnk on even terms the vet
cram spanish soldiers, garrlsonci AT Ma,
MIA General Merritt denied very empbat.
leany the accuracy OF certain newsnnper
interviews published this morning which
placed him In the position OF refusing TO
opey an oruer 10 proceed 10 the Philippine
islands bccausA his forco was insvfnelent
me officials nj the department did not |
hesitate to express thcir bsllef at ono. ihai
iehenal Merritt was too good a soldier 10 ,
tihse 10 obey lawful order. though thew
omitted that he might have. as he ala TO-
ay through Inspector General Ehighes. n
lemper OF MS stan, suggest the proprey
an increase In the number and n better
naliy OF soldiers 10 be assigned TO HIS
The reports received here from Key West \
now maj the condition OF the little tor Y
edo boat Winslow Is much worse than nj
rst supposed, and IL viii be necessary I'm i
u PROBABILITY TO have her come to Nor
DIX far repairs. One shot smashed her
Nv pressure starboard cylinder aud am
ther tfaversed one OF her boilers II
iould be possible 10 get along under one L
oiicr and reduce the starbOard engine 4
'om a quadruple to triple expansion. but
10 eihciency OF the boat would be very n
lueii lossenod thereby.
The following official report ~ ,be ma. =
lnit on the WiTslow and her disablemont
ime through the mail ms an official re-. p
prt from Commander McCalla OF the on | .
iseinent the little boat wag In day or
so before sho came to GRIEF. II reflects r.
Teat credit on the officers and mon on the
ar ana was promptly made public by
le naval department. II reads as follows:
May l7-U. s. S, Machias. Off Cardenas.
ay II, 1898 The Machias. Wilmington,
udson ana Wlnslow proceeded In IA far as
lie DISTINCTIONS would allow. The Machais .,
OK up position about 200 yards north 81
'st OF Cabayn. The Wilmington with the
uhson and WiDslow proceeded between -
omey and Blanco Caya, where | felt oulte r.
'rtain there were no mines. the dopth OF =,
e water by the chart being one and three NJ
iarter fathoms. Found no trouble In en-
ring and were coon steaming into Car 10
mas bay. ! opened IRE on Diana signal
alton and sent the launch with Ensign
lizard In charge TO take possession OF the
alton. and find the wires and explode the
Ines. II possible or cut them. No wires Re
ere found however. although strict
arch was made for them on the island and La
: dredging around II.
Mr.. willard accomplished the work In an ID.
cellent manner. destroying the station
u all government property already aban- ~
ned and hoIsted the American flag on ",
e signal station and brought On board the | IL
anish flag. together with the signal ap-
ratus. At 1:40 r. m. fire opened from Co
g Hudson and Winslow and was con-
iued until p. m. when the vessels re.
rned TO the outer anchorage
THE NATI0VAI ETA nu-n lin