The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1898-05-27
The officials at Washington Expert
ence a Sensational Day.
A CHANGE IN SPANISH WAR PLANS.
No Information Received Tending to Com
firm the Reported Engagement OF the
Fleets and Admiral Cervera May
BE Homeward Bound.


of the little Mangrove, with crew of
10 men, to the reported destruction of
the entire Spanish fleet by SIMPSONS
and Schley's combined forces. They
were circulated with persistence, not
withstanding their denial as soon as
they could be brought to the attention
OF any official capable of passing judg-
ment on their accuracy. AS the day
rolled along the officials themselves
became apprehensive, as was shown
by the frequency with which they
called for the latest newspaper bulle-
tins. At the close of the day, how
ever, il was again announced in the
most positive manner that the navy
department had no information to
warrant the report of any sort of en-
gagement in the Windward passage.
This did not especially cover the wa
tiers of the West Indies but in view of
the fact that the department has almost
pledged itself to let the public know
of anything in the nature of general
engagement, possibly the bulletin an
nouncement is sufficient to cover the
case.
When Secretary Long started for
home after an exceptionally busy day,
he stated TO a group of newspaper
men that the department had received
no information of importance. In re-
Spouse to an inquiry as to where the
Spanish feet was located, Mr.. Long re-
piled that his belief was that il was
still at Santiago de Cuba. Concerning
the reported capture of the Mangrove
and the loss of other ships, the secre-
tary dismissed these stories as purely
conjectural and not supported by
facts. Word had come from the com
mander of the ManRrove, since the
time of the alleged capture, showing
that the ship could not have been in
the hands of the Spanish.
Inquiries as to the whereabouts of
the Oregon brought reply yesterday
afternoon TO the effect that the battle
ship was safe. Nothing could be
learned of her location. 1t is proba-
BILE that the kilograms said to have
emanated from the vessel really were
filed at Key West, but were brought
TO that port on some dispatch boat
from the Oregon, which is cooperating
with our feet
The cutting Of the cables at San
tiago and at San Juan de Porto Rico
as reported yesterday was a military
move of the first Importance. Blanco
has yet one link left of communication
with the outer world, but the Spanish
commander at San Juan now finds
himself totally in the dark as to the
conditions in Spain or in Cuba, while
the value of that port as a place of
refuge for the Spanish flying squadron
is materially diminished. 1t is safe to
say that the remaining cable to San
tiago will be cut soon, like the others,
30 that If Cervera is misguided enough
TO have entered Santiago harbor he
will be completely out of touch with
his home government on the one hand,
and equally unable to communicate
with Blanco Mt the other end of the
island.
The Philippine expedition is now off
in dead earnest. The sending of these
ships will affect the Hawaiian ques-
ton vitality. Like the Charleston, the
transports must stop at Hawaii to re-
plenish their coal bunkers from the
great heaps of coal that Consul Gem
eral Howard has been piliug up for
months past If the Hawaiians let us
take this coal without the pretext that
we are using it TO make our way to our
nearest home port, as is required by
international law in such cases, they
will stand convicted of gross breach
of neutrality that, in the eyes of the
law of nations, allies them with the
United States in hostility to Spain
The taking of coal by the American
ships at Hawaii TO make an extensive
campaign against the Spanish possess
sions, it is believed here, will result in
compelling the United States either to
assume protectorate over the islands
or to annex them.
A CHANGE IN SPANISH WAR PLANS.
WASHINGTON, May 25.-The British
embassy has received no reports from
London or from British sources in the
West Indies concerning the reported
engagements between the American
and Spanish squadrons in the Wind
ward passage. 1t is believed that
when an engagement occurs word of
ii is quite likely TO come from London
or some other foreign point, owing to
the difficulties the American com
manders have in cabling TO the navy
department Notwithstanding the
persistent rumors in circulation, il
can be stated positively that the
navy department has no information
that tends in the slightest TO confirm
these rumors. Unless the improbable
happens, there is no immediate pros
pect of a naval engagement of any
magnitude, in the opinion of the navy
department officials. The unanimity
with which the best informed express
this view almost warrants the conclu-
sion that it is based upon knowledge
''-' +N~ hostila facts ara AGAIN far
apart indeed, there is no certainty
''-' A@-~i~el CArvara is not alrendv
bound homeward, providing he has
succeeded in securing supply of coal,
for he could not make the run back to
the Canaries with less than about $500
or 3, 900 tons.
There are signs in Madrid that have
been noted here seeming TO warrant