The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1898-05-20
CAUGHT IN A TRAP.
1t Is Hard to See How the Spanish
Fleet Can Escape 0ur Ships.
BLOCKADERS MUST BE ylClLANl.
Our Vessels Around Cuba Warned About
the Proximity of the Spanish squadron
-Bianco short OF Ammunition
May Attack Coast Cities.


WARRINGTON, May Examinations
have been received here that Capt.
Cen Blanco. at Havana, is very short
of ammunition in which case the pow
erful batteries at the entrance of Ha-
vana harbor, of course, would be de-
prived of a large part of their defen-
sive strength. This state of affairs
may lead to some desperate attempts
at blockade running on the part of
the Spaniards, in the hope of getting
more ammunition into Havana. 1t is
believed that the supplies so frequent
ly referred to as being on the Spanish
flying squadron were of this character,
rather than food supplies, which makes
it all the more important that Samp-
son and Schley should succeed in keep
ing Adm. Cervera from reaching Ha-
vana or Cienfuegos or any port OF Cuba
connected with Havana by rail.
Commodore Schlev probably is well
down on the Florida coast now, and
should be able to guard the Florida
straits. His appearance on that side
of Cuba would enable Sampson to
bring his ironclads with perfect safety
into Cienfuegos, on the south side and,
with this disposition of our naval force
and the free use of considerable
number of our scouting vessels, it is
hard to see how the Spanish fleet can
escape from the gulf of Mexico or the
Caribbean sea.
1t is said that Adm. Sampson report
ed to the navy department yesterday
by cable from Cape Haytien. 1t is UNI
derstood that the admiral, by reason
of information just received by him,
has changed his plan of operations
and, instead of going to Key West, has
directed his vessels toward Cienfuegos
where he is expected to arrive within
the next day or two,
The navy department takes with
great allowance the report that
the Spanish have succeeded in
sending second squadron, un-
der Adm. Villamil, to the West
Indies and that it is off Martinique.
Even if the alleged information did
not bear the suspicious earmark of a
Madrid date, the department would
not be surprised to hear that Adm.
! Villamil, as we'll as Adm. Cervera, was
with the Spanish force in the Carib-
bean sea. The fact that the report
came from Madrid satisfies the officials
here that this is another Spanish ruse
to center our attention on Martinique
while their ships have passed west
ward. The report has it that Adm.
Vallamil has with him the cruisers
Cisneros, Catalina and Princess de
Asturias. 1t is known, however, that
Villamil is not the admiral of these
ships and that at least one of them
the Cisneros, is on the other side o.
the water.
The fact that the alleged report OF
the second squadron passed a Madrit
censor indicates the desire of the Span
ish authorities to spread abroad this
misleading information. Its purpose
it is believed, is to induce Adm. Samp
son to remain with his fleet at or neai
Martinique, in quest of the shadowy
second squadron, so as to take hin
away from his pursuit of Adm. Cerveri
and the actual Spanish game alread,
in sight
BLoCKADERs ORDERED TO BE vIGILANT
New YORK, May l7.-The Evening
Posts Key West special says:
The blockaders on the south coast of Cub
have been warned that the Spanish squadro
is reported of Venezuela, bound northwest
and 10 double their vigilance Powerful yes
sells which II il not necessary TO name will b
ready to aid the ships stationed there in resist
ing the progress OF the enemy. and there is sma
chance that the Spanish will be able to ente
CienfueRos, a fortified port desirable to theI
on account of the large coaling facilities an
machine shops, Both our squadrons ar
informed about the course Of the SPANS
hotilla
BLANCo SHORT OF AMMUNITION.
CHICAGO, May ia special to tn
Journal from Washing ton says:
Havana is short OF powder and shot It is
supply Blanco with ammunition for his bi
guns that the Cape Verde fleet has been ordere
TO take all risks TO reach Cuba Blanco, IL
asserted, wired to Madrid that he had NJ
enough ammunition for the guns OF his harbC
Notifications 20 last two days, and that IL
had 10 be divided with the forts protecting Hi
vana on the land side his powder and shot SUI
ply would not last "a hours
MAY ATTACK COAST CITIES.
WASHINGTON, May 17.-It is believe
: TO be the plan of Adm. Cervera to kee
out of the way of the battleships an
turn his entire attention to the cruz
ers and gunboats This he can pc
haps do by reason of his superiC
speed. Coast cities may be attacke
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