Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1898-05-18

The last few days have been devoid of
substantial news, though rumors and
speculations and reports of naval move
ments both OF our own and the enemys
fleet have been rife These, however,
form no part of our news summary,
though treated in this article.
The past week has been marked by the
first fatalities on the American side in the
present war. Five men were killed at
Cardenas and two at Cenfuegos on
Wednesday, May II.
On Friday came news that the Spanish
Cape Verde fleet, the arrival of which at
Cadiz was discredited IN The AMERICAN
last week, had arrived at Martinique,
1000 miles from Havana.
The Spanish fleet consists of four ar
mored cruisers and three torpedo boat
destroyers. 1t is a formida Bile fleet, being
both fast and heavily armored. In fig hit
it would hardly be a match for SIMPSONS
fleet, but i'll game of hide-and-seek,
such as the Spanish admiral, Cervera,
seems disposed to play, the advantage is
with the Spanish fleet because of speed.
The United States seeks a battle wit b
the Spanish fleet, for the result of which
no fear is felt, and which would be a long
step toward the inevitable result of the
war-the surrender of Spain. The Span
| Ism admiral Is Wise enough to foresee the
result of meeting, and hence his effort
! to avoid n battle With the probable in
tention of doing all the damage he can to
| detached vessels of the American navy.
The news of the arrival of the Spauis h
| fleet caused change in he plans to in
wade ba, it being the desire of the war
| department to seek a decisive naval bat
tie before risking the ships in an engage
ment with Cuban fortitications.
Sampson was at San Juan, Porto Rico,
where he had just bonn barded the forts.
AT last reports was hurryng westward to
head off the fleet from Cuba, probably
| going through the windward passage to
the suIth OF Cuba to prevent he SPANS b
| fleet reaching Clenfuegos, which may be
| its objective point. Commodore Schley,
with the flying squadron, hurried south
ward to reinforce the fleet before Ha-
vana, and head off the Spaniards there.
! The Spanish feet was last heard from
| Monday at Curocoa, $50 miles west sout h
west of Martinique, and but little nearer
Cuba than it was at Martinique.
Since then news of the fleets have been
closely guarded from the press. The
government has been seriously hampered
| i'll the past by the premature publication
OF navy and army plans, and have on
severa! occas ions been obliged to change
the plans entirely. Thus it is hardly
likely hat the fleets will be heard from
officially until they meet, or the Spanis h
| fleet turns up at some American port. A
few days may bring news of decisive
naval battle.
At present there are indications that
the war depart ment is to return to the
plan to invade Cuba, which was deferred
on receiving news from the Spanish fleet,
and troops may be landed in Cuba this
week. Such plan will not only hasten
matters in Cuba, but may have the effect
| of drawing the Spanish fleet into battle.
The need Of troops for Manila and for
Cuba may necessitate another call, and it
is reported that even now a bill is being
framed directing the President to call So
900 or 200,0 900 more troops.
THE SITUATION AT MANILA.
Admiral Dewey has been heard from
| twice during he past week, and from his
dispatches it appears that he is still un-