Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1898-06-02
THE SPANISH SQUADRON.
Gen BlancO Informs His Govern
ment That Cervera's Fleet Is
mt Santiago.

Madrid, May 2S.-Blanco cables that
Cervera's squadron is still at Santiago
and that the bulk of SIMPSONS squad
ron is blockading that port. Schley's
squadron is watching the Yucatan pas
sage.
Blanco says that the American vessels
have left Cicnfuegos and that the Amer
lean fleet of blockaders remains in sight
of Havana. He alsosays in his dispatch
that he opposed the departure of the
French steamer Lafayette with a cargo
of coal, as the coal was required for
Spanish ships.
Blanco also cables that the destroyer
Terror has arrived at Fajardo, Puerto
Rico. She intended to go to San Juan,
but found four American warships
cruising in front of the harbor.
A dispatch from Havana says Capt.
Gen. Blanco has received news that
nearly 30 American vessels were on
Thursday seen in front of Cardenas.
Admiral Aunon, minister of marine,
contradicted the rumor that the Cape
Verde squadron had left Santiago. The
Impartial reiterates Friday that Adj
miral Cervera is at Santiago de Cuba,
which port, is says, possesses advant-
ages over Cienfuegos.
London, May 2S.-The Madrid CORE
spondent of the Times, commenting on
the feeling of sadness prevailing in
Spain," says:
1T is less on account of ministerial dis
sensions, which are not really serious than
on account of fuller apprehension of the
difficulties of the situation, namely, that
it is hopeless to expect any assistance from
Europe, even France and Russia being,
since Mr.. Chamberlain's speech ayerse
from doing anything to precipitate COM
plications Spain now sees that she must
trust to herself alone in an unequal strug-
gle that can have only one end"
London, May 26.-The weekly news
papers agree that the policy of Spain is
toprolong the war. The Spectator says:
ut is clear that Spain intends to delay
the war as long as possible, hoping that
either Americans will grow tired of spend
ing or that Europe, disturbed by the in
terruption of commerce and the rise in
the price of wheat. will intervene and in
sist upon peace.
The Spectator, continuing, says it is
of the opinion that the government az
Washington had decided to make a land
attack on Havana while Admiral Ger
vera is bottled up at Santiago de Cuba,
and finds it difficult to believe that the
half-drilled, half-fed Spanish conscripts
will prove fighting superiors to the
hardy American volunteers. Never
theless, in view of the situation in the
Philippines" the Spectator argues, ''the
work before President Mckinley is very
serious, though it may not be danger
Gus, and the Americans who expected
short war will be grievously disap-
pointed"
Madrid, May 2s.-In the senate Mar
shall Primo de Rivera, former captain
general of the Philippines, defended his
administration of the colony. He said
he could not believe his ears when he
was told of the disaster at Cavite, add
ing: "That rag called the American
flag shall never float over the walls of
Manila"
HongKong, May %. - The United
States auxiliary gunboat Zafire, former
ly British merchant steamer, but now
commissioned, mounting four guns and
III Shdl &c VI q IlCutChdht
of the United States navy, has arrived
here from Manila, having on board the
captain of the first-class cruiser Olym-
pia, the flagship of Rear Admiral
Dewey, and two officers, who have been
invaded. The situation at Manila is
unchanged. The insurgents are quiet.
Beef costs $3.50 per pound at Manila.
The report that the commander of the
Spanish boat Callao was tried by court
martial and shot for not firing on the
American ships which captured the CAL
lao is untrue. The Zafire will return to
Manila on Monday next.
London, May 2s.-Spain has aban-
doned hope of aid from Europe. Russia
and France have been deaf to her APP
peals since Chamberlain's speech, and
she now sees herself involved in war
the only outcome of which can be dis
aster to her nation. Her policy is ex-
pected to be to prolong hostilities as
much as possible and then make the
best terms of peace that she can by
direct negotiations with the United
States.