The Mena star., 1898-05-18
LOOK|NGF|)R LIVELY NENS
A Fight with the Spanish Squadron and the Bombardment of Cuban
 Fortifications Probable.
ARMY TO MOVE TO CUBA IN A WEEK.
President Mckinley Assures Delegations from Two Church Conventions That the Reconcentrados Would He Relieved Whether the Spanish Cruisers Were Cap tured or Not-spain's Fleet to Be Met.

WASHINGTON, May 17.-There will be war news in plenty from the West In- dian waters this week. The fighting squadron is loose with instruc tions to go after the Spanish fleet and attack wherever it can find it. Commodore Watson has been given orders for the blockading squadron which Adm Sampson craved when he started for Havana. All along the blockading line the guns will boom. Wherever he finds the Spaniards in fortifica- tions Watson will smash them This will not permit the bombardment of cities, but 1t means aggressive op- erations against the defenses of Cuba. To do this work Watson has with him the monitors Miantonomah and Terror, the cruisers Cincinnati and Marblehead, the gunboats Nashville, Helena, hiacilias, Castin and a large contingent of the mosquito fleet. And, to add to the liveliness of the West Indian situation, Commodore Schley will soon be there with the flying squadron. What part he will play de- pends upon the movements of the Spanish fleet. While Sampson tries to bring about meeting with Cervera, the flying squadron will be held in re- serve day or two ready to go in any direction necessary to intercept the Spanish fleet. if it lodges the fighting squadron.
 A new policy at Washington goes into force this week. It is policy of strike hard "Use your discretion" enters into the orders more largely than has hitherto been the case. Events are to come thick and fast. There will not be time for command CTS to wait for specific instructions The president feels that there is no time to spare. He is pushing the cam paign as energetically as the most bel ligerent could wish. Adm. Sampson has been turned loose to force a fight out of the Spanish fleet If he can. He has been given much latitude. He will communicate with Washington as of- ten as he can, and he will be furnished with all the information that reaches here about Adm. Cervera.
 Army to Move to Cuba in a Week.
 WASHINGTON, May 17.-Delegations from two large church conventions waited on the president yesterday, called his attention to the reports of starving reconcent trados, and begged him to do something in their behalf Reports from Cubans are that the food left there for these starving people is taken fcrcibly from them by the Span ish soldiers. As Capt. Dorst reported the same thing week ago, it is prob ably only too true. The president as- sured the delegation that the army would move within week, whether the Spanish cruisers were captured or not.
 spain's Fleet to He Met.
 NEW YORK, May l7.-A special to the Herald from Washington says: Spain's fleet in the Caribbean sea is to be met by squadron consisting of the arr morclads of the United States in north American waters. This seems to be the intention of the naval board and preparations are being made to effect junction of Rear Admiral Sampson's and the flying squadron under thlis tshlis command of Commodore Sch1ey with all possible dispatch.
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