Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1898-05-26
CALL Being CONSIDERED.
Anxiety That Our Armed Force Is
insufficient for the Response
bi1ities 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
Were victorious-NO Confirmation Said
z to Have Been Received at Washington.

r8Bo III w HUH eA10 a hAAcEACnAA os4oetA
Were victorious-No Confirmation Said
NEW YORK. May 25.-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 $4,000 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 Is. 900 men, together with
the prospect that Spain will not be in
huenced 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 sufi-
cheney of the armed force OF the gov
eminent for carrying out the response
Utilities 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 years. until the war is
beginning to assume tremendous di-
mansions. If Porto Rico is added to
the scales eventually. as the Philip
pines were, the magnitude of American
responsibility will be materially in
creased, and further increase of the
army will be 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-
ton to make Cuba free and 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
incapacity 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 IS. 900. The
Ia tier mum Der, 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.
Rumorei Destruction of Cervera's Fleet.
LONDON, May 25.-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.
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
Spanish warships have visited ia
maican ports since the beginning of
the war.
no Confirmation Received at Washington.
WASHINGTON, May 25.--It is stated
at the navy department that no news
has been received here of an engage
ment between the fleets and that no
news has been received of the arrival
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
and representatives. who have been
eager for news of a conflict between
the two navies- Several of them called
the attention of the president to it,
but succeeded in getting no news con-
corning it
Cables Cut.
WASHINGTON, May 25.-The navy de-
partment late this afternoon posted
the following bulletin: 1.-THE depart
ment has no reason to believe that a
battle has occurred in the Windward
passage. The auxiliary cruiser st.
Louis has cut the cables at Santiago
de Cuba and San Juan, Porto Rico.S
Mrs. 7. D. Stradley was called to
Huntsville, Reno county, Sunday to
attend the sickbed of her mother.