Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-05-05
BLOCKADE OF CUBA.
The Squadron Of Adm. Sampson Re.
mains Passive Before Havana.
FORTS At NA1AyzAS BONBARDED.
The Object Of the Attack Was tn Prevent
the Completion Of the Earthw0rks
at Punta GOrda-NO Casual.
ties on Our Side.

WASHINGTON, April rs. 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 FIRE Of
the shore batteries The strategic
purpose Of the effective blockading Of
the Cuban capital is being accom-
plished to the entire satisfaction Of the
authorities here. There is no indica-
ton that part of the feet will be
withdrawn for the purpose Of afford
ing additional protection to north
Atlantic ports. As to the reports Of
the imminence Of a naval battle off the
Philippine islands, the naval authori.
ties here seriously doubt whether the
Spanish feet will make a stand
against the American ships. Their
reason for this belief is that
the Spanish fleet is very in
feror to the American force under
Adm. Dewey The department, there.
fore, is satisfied that the Spanish feet
will not 60 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 an 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 as base of operation in Asiatic
waters.
The very fact that the Madrid off,
Gals have rather ostentatiously de-
clared that the Spanish feet has sailed
to lombard the cities on the north
American coast is taken as o certain
indication at the navy department OF
the utter improbability Of such a
movement. II this were contemplated
the Spanish officials would be the very
last to make their purpose public.
In the war department there is
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 not 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 10
send out circulars prescribing the
methods to be followed in recruiting
the regular army up to its full war
strength OF 6i,OOO 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 ac-
tion 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 ss.-The New
York, the Puritan and the Cincinnati
bombarded the forts at the mouth
Of Matanzas harbor yesterday after
noon There were no casualties on
our side, but 1t is believed that the |
hail Of iron which pounded at the forts
must have caused loss of life to the
Spaniards, though nothing is known
definitely. The engagement COM
menced at 1857 and ceased at LIS.
The object Of the attack was to pre-
vent the completion of the |
at 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 800 shots were
put on land from the three ships, at a
'ange Of from 1000 to 1000 yards
Rear Admiral Sampson, when asked II
ne was satisfied with the result said:
Yes, am. | expected to be-" The
half completed Spanish earthworks
md battery were apparently blown up