The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1898-05-25
SENSATIONAL RUMORS
lot Verified by Dispatches to the
Navy Department.
sPANTARDS NAVAL ACTIVITY.

1t May BE Ruse to Divert Attention
From Cervera-rho Oregon Again
Reported safe, ana Probably Coop
Grating with Our Fleets.
Washington, May 25.-There was
lapse into sensational war rumors in
Washington yesterday after a week of
comparative quietude. The rumors
ranged all the way from the capture
Of the little MangrOve with n crew of
13 men TO the reported destruction of
the entire Spanish fleet by SIMPSONS
and Schleys combined forces. At the
close of the day, however, It was
announced I'm the most positive man
ner that the navy department had no
information to warrant the report of
any sort of engagement in the Wind
ward passage. This did not speclfical-
ly cover the waters of the West Indies,
but in view of the fact that the de-
partment has almost pledged itself to
let the public know of anything in the
nature Of a general engagement, pos
sbly the bulletin announcement Is suf-
fcient 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-
sponse to an inquiry as to where the
Spanish fleet was located Mr.. Long re-
piled that his belief was that it was
still at Santiago de Cuba.
The Spaniards appear to be making
ready for something more than a de-
fepsive campaign at home, or at least
no 10,
sion by other means than news bull
letins that issue almost daily from
Madrid. The navy department now
has. through its own reliable sources,
reports of the greatest activity in the
Spanish navy yards and of the prepa-
ration for sea and for a long voyage
of two of the torpedo boat destroyers.
1t is given out that they are to join
Cervera Immediately when his squad
ron enters Cadiz harbor. Possibly this
statement Is made with a deliberate
purpose of misleading American sail
ors into the belief that Cervera has
taken his way homeward.
IEqulries as to the whereabouts OF
the Oregon brought the reply to the ef-
feet that the battleship was safe.
Nothing could be learned of her loca-
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 CO.
operating with our fleets.
The cutting of the cables at Santiago
and at San Juan de Porto Rico was a
military move of the first Importance.
BAnco has yet one link left of com
no httf
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
place of refuge for the Spanish flying
squadron is materially diminished. 1t
is safe to say that the remaining cable
to Santiago will soon be cut, like the
others, so that if Cervera is misguided
enough to have entered Santiago har-
Dor he will be completely out of touch
with h.s home government on the one
hand and equally unable TO cOmmuni-
cate with Blanco at the other end of
the island.
Bhe Philippines expedition is now off
In dead earnest. The sending of these
ship will affect the Hawaiian question
vita y. Like the Charleston, the trans
por S must stop at Hawaii to replenlsh
their coal bunkers from the great heaps
of coal that Consul General Hayward
has been piling up for months past
| The taking of coal by the American
ships at Hawaii to make an extensive
campaign against the Spanish posses
sions, it is believed here, will result in
compelling the United States either to
assume protectorate over the islands
| or to annex them.