The record-union., 1898-05-23
DENIED AT
The NAVY
DEPARTMENT.
Statement That There
Was No Battle.
No Activity Yesterday in the
Naval Department.
Army Headquarters Are as Busy as
on Week Days.
No Word of Importance Received at the
State Department From Our
Consular Officers in the
West Indies.

WASHINGTON, May 22.-The ru-
last night We're disposed of by the
Navy Department early to-day in the
following bulletin:
mo truth in the published statement
concerning an engagement off St Mic
olas Mole, Hayti, in which twelve ships
We're sunk"
This was posted not only for general
information, but also to quiet the alarm
among relatives and friends of those
on board American ships. AS a rule
the department adopts the cautious
phraseology of stating that no official
information has been received, but to
make assurances doubly sure in this
case the department declared there was
no truth" in the reports. This indi-
Gates 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 opened throughout the
day, but the officials We're engaged in
rtatine work and there was no evil
dence of that activity which would at
tend the receipt of important informa-
ton, nor of that keen expectancy which
would indicate the near approach of
the two fleets In the absence of ex-
act information as to the location of the
fleets this inactivity in naval circles
was fair indication that the official
adVices did not give promise of an
immediate engagement. It 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 mo-
mentous results to go off on a fiuke or
to the public pressure for results. but
to move firmly yet cautiously and in
sure a 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 Sun
day rest. An extended dispatch was
received from San Francisco, giving
the final details of the embarkation of
troops for the Philippines next Thurs
day. 1t stated the City of Picking, the
Sydney and the Australia would sail
on that day with the First Regiment
of California Volunteers, the First Ore
gon Volunteers, one officer and fifty
men from the Heavy Artillery of the
California Volunteers, making in all
10 officers and 400 men. under Brig
adler General Thomas Anderson. AL
though General Anderson takes chargs
of this command, it is understood that
General Otis, who is in San Francisco.
will accompany the expedition. The
Picking was originally secured by the
Navy Department, but as she is so
large and serviceable as a troop ship
the army is using her in conjunction
with the navy. Besides the troops she
viii carry supplies and ammunition fof
the navy.
General Miles spent the morning in
his office, but in answer to inquiries.
said there was nothing to announce as
to his occupation plans or the concen-
tration of troops in the South
Secretary Alger called at the White
House at IU:OU CLOCK ana was with
the President for fifteen minutes Later
the President. accompanied by Marion
Herrick of Cleveland, with Mrs Her
rick. went to church. Up to this time
the White House had received no infor-
nation of Importance.
Secretary Day and Assistant Secre-
tary CridIer 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 officials
there threaten to cut the cable from
Galveston. if our ships isolate Bianco
by cutting the cables at Santiago are
received with much amusement by OH
Gals familiar with cable routes. The
cable from Galveston runs to vera
Cruz and other Mexican ports. III II
so far west that the Spanish Admiral
could not reach it without phenome-
nal run and if he succeeded in cutting
it there would be no strategic adVant-
age against the United States, as the
line is rarely used for Government
business.