Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1898-05-26
1T WAS A FAKE.
Navy Department Denies Report
That IL Ships Were Sunk.
Speculation StIl Concentrated on tho Hos
tile Fleets and Great Naval Conflict
Expeoted-Tbo Flrst Cuban EH-
pedItIon starts.


peditlon starts.
WASHINGTON, May 23 The rumors
OF great naval battle, current Satur-
day night, were disposed of by the
navy department early yesterday in
the following official bulletin; mo
truth in the published statement con-
corning an engagement off st. Nicolas
Mole, Hayti, in which IL ships were
sunk" This was posted not only for
general information, but also to quiet
the alarm among relatives and friends
of those on board the American ships.
AS rule the department adopts the
cautious phraseology of stating that no
official information has been received,
but to make assurance doubly sure in
this case the department declared there
was mo truth" in the reports. This
indicates that the official information
is such us to warrant the statement
that the American and Spanish squad
rons have not met.
The bureau of navigation, navy de-
partment, where official dispatches are
received, was open throughout Sunday,
but the officials were engaged on rou-
tine work and there was no evidence
of that activity which would attend
the receipt of important information
nor of that keen expectancy which
would indicate the near approach of
the two fleets. In the absence of exact
information as to the location of the
fleets, this serenity in naval circles
was fair indication that the official
advices did not give promise Of an i'm
mediate engagement 1t is evidently
the view of the war board that an en-
gagement If it can be brought on,
will be decisive of the whole war, and
there is no purpose to allow such mo-
mentous results to go off on tluke,
or on a too precipitous move in defer
ence to the public pressure for results,
but to move firmly yet cautiously and
insure victory when there is fight
Army headquarters was as busy as
on week days as the moving of large
bodies of men gives scant time for
Sunday rest. An extended dispatch
was received from San Francisco, Civ
ing the final details of the embarka-
ton of troops for the Philippines next
Tuesday. 1t is stated that the City of
Pekin, the Sidney and the Australia
would sail on that day with the First
regiment of California volunteers, the
First Oregon volunteers, one officer
and so men from the heavy artillery
of the California volunteers, making
in all 1876 officers and 2, 400 men, under
Brig. Gen. Thomas Anderson. AL
though Gen. Anderson takes charge of
this command it is understood that
Gen. Otis, who is in San Francisco,
will accompany the expedition. The
Pekin was originally secured by the
navy department, but as she is so
large and serviceable as troop ship,
the army is using her in conjunction
with the navy. Besides the troops she
will carry supplies and ammunition
for the navy
QUIET DAY AT KEY WEST, FLA.
KEY WEST, Fla, May 23.-The tran
guilty of tropical Sunday was un-
disturbed by definite news from any
quarter. A few naval uniforms on
the street were the only signs of the
proximity of this languid town to the
theater of war. There are only one or
two ships in the harbor and they are
coaling with all haste to get away to
join their fellows in an action which
all are convinced is only matter of
days, perhaps hours. Speculation is
still concentrated on the whereabouts
of Admiral Cervera's squadron, the
general opinion favoring some point
on the southern coast AS both sides of
the island are now patrolled by United
States warships, the naval authorities
will not admit the possibility of Ger
vera's escape without the most desper-
ate conflict in the history of naval
warfare. Reports from Admiral Samp-
sons squadron say that all is quiet off
the northern coast of Cuba. Nothing
from Commodore Schley is expected
for day or two. A rumor reached
here that four American warships,
while bombarding Santiago de Cuba,
had been driven off by the Spanish
fleet, but the story is generally dis
credited. Where it came from is a
mystery.
THE FIRST CUBAN EXPEDITION STARTS.
CHICAGO, May pa special to the
Record from Macon, Ga, says:
Unless some accident has befallen the United
States transport Florida, there are now United
States volunteer troops on the island Of Cuba,
or they will be there within few hours. From
accurate information obtained here it can be
stated as q fact that the first expedition toward
Cuban soil has started, and the outlook is for a
! successful trip Wednesday May IS, the United
: States transport Florida left Port Tampa with
several hundred volunteer troops on board.
The passengers belonged to the regiment
of Cuban volunteers organized in the lower eX-
tremity of Florida some weeks ago. 1t was
! thought best to send these men, as they speak
Spanish and are more acquainted with the to-
biography of the country which 1t is proposed
to invade. 1t cannot be learned what United
States officers accompanied the regiment Of
volunteers If this expedition is success
other troops will be rushed into the island as
soon as possible
PlaudIt n Double Winner.
CINCINNATI, May 23.-Plaudit is a
double Derby winner Saturday he