Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-05-23

Washington, May 22.-The rumors
OF great naval battle, current last
night, were disposed of by the Navy
Department early to-day, in the follow
ing official bulletin:
mo truth in the published statement
concerning an engagement off st. Mich
olas Mole, Hayti, in which twelve 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 a
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 as to warrant the statement that
the American and Spanish squadrons
HAVE NOT MET.
The bureau of navigation, Navy De-
partment, where official dispatches are
received, was open throughout the day.
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 in
dictate the near approach Of the two
fleets. In the absence of exact inform
alton as to the location of the fleets,
this serenity in naval circles was a fair
indication that the official advices did
not give promise Of an immediate en-
gagement. 1t is evidently the view of
the war board that an engagement, if
it can be brought on, will be
DECISIVE OF THE WHOLE WAR,
and there is no purpose to allow such
momentous results to go Off on f1uke
Or on too precipitious move in defer
ence to the public pressure for results,
but to move firmly yet cautiously and
insure victory when there is a fight.
Army headquarters was as busy as on
week days, as the moving of large
bodies Of men gives scant time for Sum-
day rest. An extended dispatch was re-
ceived from San Francisco, giving the
final details of the embarkation Of
troops for the Philippines next Tues
day. 1t stated that the City of Picking,
the Sydney and the Australia, would
sail on that day with the First Regi-
ment Of California Volunteers, the First
Oregon Volunteers one officer and fifty
| men from the heavy artillery of the
California Volunteers. making in all 125
officers and 2,410 men, under Brigadier
General Thomas Anderson. Although
General Anderson takes charge of this
command, it is understood that General
Otis, who is in San Francisco, will ac-
company the expedition. The Peking
was originally secured by the Navy De
partment, but as she is so large and
serviceable as troopship, the army is
using her in conjunction with the navy.
Besides the troops, she will carry sup
plies and ammunition for the navy.
General Miles spent the morning In
his office, but in answer to inquiries
said there was
NOTHING TO ANNOUNCE
as to his own plans or the concentra-
ton of troops in the South.
Secretary Alger called at the White
House at 10: 80 o'clock and was with the
President for fifteen minutes. Later
the President, accompanied by Myron
T. Herrick, Of Cleveland who with
Mrs. Herrick are guests at the White
House. went to church. Up to this time
the White House had received 40 war
information of Importance.
Secretary Day and Assistant Secre-
tary Cridler were at the State Depart
ment part of the day, but it was said
by those in authority that no word of
Importance had been received from our
consular officers in the West Indies
They would be about the first to report
an engagement in that locality.
The report from Madrid that the Of
| ficials there threatened to cut the cable
from Galveston if our ships isolate
Blanco by cutting the cables at Santiago
are received with
MUCH AMUSEMENT
| by officials familiar with cable routes.
| The cable from Galveston runs to Vera
| Cruz and other Mexican ports. 1t is
SO far west the Spanish admiral could
not reach 1t without phenomenal run,
and if he did succeed in cutting it there
| would be no strategic advantage against
| the United States, as the line is rarely
| used for government business.