The Opelousas courier., 1898-05-21

itor for the follow ing special !elegrams
or the war =:
Flying Squadron off to Sea-
Plans to Invade Cuba Changed.
Washington, May l4th.-Secre-
tary Long has ordered Schley with
the Flying Squadron to put to
sea at once. Its destination IS
not known but it is firmly bcliev-
ed that it is sent in pursuit of the
Spanish Cape De Verde fleet at
Martinique, whe'1e it will cooper
ate with Sampsfn II in the attack.
The belief is cNtrent that Il bat
tie will take place between the
two fleets before Schlcy can reach
Sampson.
sampSon's Report
Washington. May. lt-The
Navy Department has received
the following dispatch from Ad-
miral Sampson:
St. Thomas, May Is 1898.
Part of squadron under my
command reached san Juan this
morning at daybreaI,. No armed
vessels found in port. rs soon
as it became light enough com
menced the attack on the batter
les defending the city. The at
tack lasted three hours. and re-
suited in much damage to the
batteries and portions OF the city
adjacent.
The batteries returned the fire
without material effect.
One man on board the New
York was killed and seven slightly
wounded. The ships suffered no
serious damage.
The War Department ; plan to
invade Cuba have been materially
changed since the news Of the
presence Of Spanish fleet near
Martinique. II Schlcy reaches
San Juan in time he will join
Sampson and attack the Spanish
fleet in concert
A battle between the Spanish
FlotiIla and Simpsons Fleet alb
soluteIy certain within Il day ol
two.
The Gussie expedition arrived
on the shore Of Cuba near Caba-
mas without any mishap.
Fleets Coming Together.
Sampson has been ordered tc
find Spanish feet and sink or des,
troy it. The fleets must be now
very near together and battle will
surely take place to-day or to-
morrow.
Schley's flying squadron is now
steaming rapidly towards Samp
sons feet to aid him. if necessary
to subdue the Spanish Cape dc
Verde feet.
First Battle on Cuban Soil
Key West, May 14.-Fort,
soldiers of Company f of frs
Infantry, had the first egnagmen
on Cuban soil between the u. 5
and Spain.
Three Spaniards were kllle(
and many wounded, one Ameri
can wounded, he was a newspa
per correspondent. The battl
took place near Cabannas.
Schley Will Not Join Samp
Washington, D. c., May To-
Sampson has been ordered t.
Windward passage to intercep
the Spanish fleet at Curacao yestel
day.
Schley will not unite wit
Sampson but Will cruise on th
West coast of Cuba for the pun
pose of watching the Cape Verd
fleet that is said to be making it
way toward that side Of the Islam
Blockade Still On.
Hong Hong, May 15th.-Re
port here is that Dewey is sti
maintaining a strict blockade a
Manila. He has captured tn
Spanish gun boat Calleoa.
Don't Want the Honor.
Madrid, May 1G.-The entir
Spanish Cabinet having resigne
Sagasta is empowered to form al
other. None of the prominer
Spanish Statesmen are willing t
accept the responsibility at tn
present crisis of State affairs.
Moving Westward.
Charlston, S. c., May 16.-Th
Flying Squadron passed here yes
terday morning steaming Soutl
i ward.
Sampson sighted--Dewey Al
right.
Washington, May 16.-Saml
sons feet has passed Cape Ha..
ten going West.
The Spanish Cape. Verde fle'
is reported to have left Curace
yesterday making toward we
coast of Cuba.
/. Vessels blockading the Sou1
coast of Cuba have been recalle
to Key West.
Dewey Cables that he has a