Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1898-04-30
BLOCKADE OF CUBA.
The Squadron Of Adm. Sampson Re
mains Passive Before Havana.
Forts at matansas Bombardsd- Object OF
the Attack Was 20 Prevent Completion
of Earthworks ut Punta 0ordA-
No Casualties.

WASHINGTON, April 2s.-The war sit
uation is substantially this: The block
aiding squadron remains passive before
Havana, with no present purpose OF
bombarding or Of drawing the Ere Of
the shore batteries The strategic
purpose Of the effective blockading OF
the Cuban capital is being accom-
plisbed to the entire satisfaction OF the
authorities here. There Is no indica-
ton that part of the fleet will be
withdrawn for the purpose Of afford
ing additional protection to north
Atlantic ports. As to the reports OF
the imminence OF naval battle of the
Philippine islands, the naval authori.
ties here seriously doubt whether the
Spanish fleet will make n stand
against the American ships. Their
reason for this belief is that
the Spanish feet is very in
ferior to the American force under
Adm. Dewey. The department, there
fore, is satisfied that the Spanish feet
will not go TO do battle on the high
seas with Adm. Dewey, but will re-
main in port to secure the protection
OF the batteries Of Manila, and the de.
partment is not expecting IN engage
ment for about two days. There Is no
certainty that there will be an engage
ment at all in the immediate future,
the main purpose of the American ex-
petition being to seize and hold some
suitable Spanish territory in the Philip
pines MS base Of operation in Asiatic
waters.
The very fact that the Madrid off,
cials have rather ostcntatiously de-
clared that the Spanish fleet has sailed
to lombard the cities on the north
American coast is taken us n certain
indication at the navy department Of
the utter improbability Of such
movement. II this were contemplated
the Spanish officials would be the very
last to make their purpose public.
In the war department there is n
growing belief that the campaign
proper in Cuba will not be in full
swing before next fall, when the rainy
season has ended. That belief, how.
ever, has net prevented the officers
whose duty 1t is to get the troops to-
gether from pushing their work with
the greatest energy. Thus within 10
hours after the Hull bill became law
the department was able to begin to
send out circulars prescribing the
methods to be followed in recruiting
the regular army up to its full war
strength OF Gl,000 men. The enormous
amount of work involved in thus in.
creasing the army, regular and volun-
teer, has caused Gen. Miles to abandon
his southern trip for the present. The
officials OF the department were over
whelmed yesterday with all sorts of
protests and appeals against their nc.
ton in making the assignments Of
troops among the volunteer forces
and many changes may be looked for.
FORTS AT MATANZAs BoMBARDED.
On BOARD THE FLAGSHIP NEw YORK,
OFF MATANzAs, April es.-The New
York, the Puritan and the Cincinnati
BON barded the forts at the mouth
OF Matanzas harbor yesterday after
noon. There were no casualties ON
our side, but It Is believed that the
hail of iron which pounded at the forts
must have caused loss OF life to the
Spaninrds, though nothing is known
definitely. The engagement COM
menccd at 1851 and ceased at 1:.5.
The object OF the attack was to pre-
vent the completion Of the
earthworks ut Punta Gorda- A bat
terry on the eastward arm Of the
bay opened fire on the flagship and
this was also shelled. The ships left
the bay for the open sea, the object Of
discovering the whereabouts of the
batteries having been accomplished.
In the neighborhood Of 300 shots were
put on land from the three ships, ut q
range OF from 1000 to 1000 yards
Rear Admiral Sampson, when asked IL
he was satisfied with the result, said:
"Yes, l am. / expected to be-" Tho
half completed Spanish earthworks
and battery were apparently blown up
by the shells