Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1898-05-26

Washington, May 25.-There Wa
a lapse into sensational war rumor
in Washington Tuesday after a week
of comparative quiet. The rumor
ranged ali the way from the capture o
the little Margrove with crew o
thirteen men to the reported destruc
ton of the entire Spanish fleet by
SIMPSONS and Schleys combine
forces. They were circulated wit
persistence, notwithstanding the de
NAL as soon as they could be brough
to the attention of any official capabl
Of passing judgment on their accuracy
AS the day rolled along the official
themselves became apprehensiye, a
was shown by the frequency with
which they called for the latest news
paper bulletins. At the close of tn
day, however, it was again announce
in the most positive manner that tn
navy department had no information
to warrant the report of any sort o
an engagement in the Windward pas
sage. When Secretary Long starte
for home after an exceptionally busy
day he stated to a group OF newspa
per men that the department had re
ceived no information of Importance
In response to an inquiry as to where
the Spanish fleet is located, lcng re-
piled that his belief is that it is still at
Santiago de Cuba. Concerning the
reported capture of the Mangrove and
the loss of the other ships, the SCI
rotary dismissed these stories as pure
ly conjectural, and not supported by
facts. Word had come from the COM
mander of the Mangrove since tAs
time of the alleged capture, showing
that she could not have been in the
hands of the Spanish.
The Spaniards appear 10 be maxim
ready for something more than a de
fensive campaign at home, or at leas
are trying to create that impression
by other means than the news bulle
tins that are issued almost daily fr0.l
Madrid. The navy department nov
has through it's own reliable source
kSpOlI 10 VI JllC CdlSoI tiClLN Ivy III III
Spanish navy yards and of prepare
ton for sea and for long voyage o
two torpedo boat destroyers. 1t
given out that they are to join Ger
vera Immediately when his squadro.
enters Cadiz harbor Possibly thi
statement was made with the deliber
ate purpose of misleading the Ameri
t,,Io -. hnl, . &,t
has taken his way homeward
Inquiries as to the whereabouts o
the Oregon brought the reply that tn
battleship was safe. Nothing coul
learned of her location. 1t is prob
able that the kilograms said to hav
emanated from the vessel were reall
filed at Key West, but were brought
that port on some dispatch boat from
the Oregon, which is co-operatin
with our fleets.
The cutting of the cables at San
tiago and at San Juan de Porto Ric,
was a military move of first import
ance. Blanco has yet one link lef
of communication with the cute
world, but the Spanish commander a
San Juan now finds himself totally Il
the dark as to the conditions in Spaii
or in Cuba, while the value of tina
port as place of refuge for the Span
ish flying squadron has MATERIAL.
diminished. 1t is safe to say that tn
remaining cable to Santiago will b
cut soon, like the others.
The Philippines expedition IS nos
of in dead earnest. The sending 0
these ships will affect the Hawaiian
question vitality. Like the Charleston
the transports must stop at Hawaii t
replenish their coal bunkers and it i
believed here that this will result
compelling the United States eitha
to assume a protectorate over the Isl
ands or to annex them.