The Mena star., 1898-05-11

No Information from Adm. sampson's
 Fleet Concerning Any Action-If the
 Spanish Squadron Has Gone to Cadiz
 Adm. Sampson VIII Be Able to Turn
 His Attention to Porto Rico or Cuba.
 WASHINGTON, May 10. The Philip pines, having come into possession of the United States by conquest, will be retained until the close of the war, unless they should be recaptured by Spain, result that is not probable. What will be done with the territory thus acquired cannot be determined until the cessation of hostilities If they do not go back to Spain the ques- tion of their disposi tion will be one of the gravest import, and one that may lead to serious complications with the great powers of Europe Among the great powers there is intense jealousy in relation to the acquisition of territo- ry in the orient, and at this time there is in progress grand game of diploma cy between them for territorial ad- vantages. The conveyance of the Phil- ippines to any one of the powers of Flu rope, or even to Japan, might disturb the peace Of the world, and it may, therefore, become necessary for the United States to retain the Philippines or return them to Spain in exchange for an indemnity or for territorial con- sessions on this side of the Atlantic. In the meantime this country will be obliged to hold and administer the newly-acquired territory. When the military forces, which are to be sent out from San Fran cisco, arrive in Manila, a military government will be set up with the commander of the United States forces as governor As the result of Commo- dore Dewey's advices, the administra- tion has determined to send a strong eXpeditionary force to occupy the Philippines during the pendency of the present war. If they can be collected in time, 5000 troops will form the military portion of the expedition, while additional steamers and marines will also be sent across the Pacific. The force will con- sist of all branches of the service, taken from the regular army and SUD- plemented by the volunteer troops mustered in west of the Rocky noun tains. Should the squadron sail May 15, it is expected that it will reach Manila by June 70 or 12. There are cavalry, infan try and artillery of the regular army all available at Pacific coast points, which will be drawn upon for the expedition to the Philippines. The remainder of the expeditionary force will consist of volunteers mus tered in from the national guard. The expedition to the Philippines, it is un- derstood, will take the route from San Francisco by way of Honolulu. where additional coal will be secured. The usual time of the City of Pekin between San Francisco and Hong Kong is four weeks and the time from Hong Kong to Manila 4S hours. It is not likely that this time can be exceeded by the squadron which will carry the expedi- ton to Manila
 No News of Any Action by sampson's Fleet.
 WASHINGTON, May 10.--Up to the time Secretary Long started for the cabinet meeting to-day he was with out information from Adm. Sampson's fleet concerning any action. All in- quiries about the navy depar tment
 
 were directed toward the whereabouts of this fleet and it's prospects of a speedy engagement with the enemy. While there is little doubt that the of ficials know the approximate locality of the fleet, it is quite certain that nothing has been received as to the cruising and search for the Spanish ships. It is felt that the next few hours will determine beyond further question whether the Spanish fleet, which left the Cape Verde islands, did in fact come to Porto Rico, or diverge northward back to Cadiz for a formid- able concentration of the strongest ships of the Spanish navy In the latter event Adm. Sampson will have no Spanish fleet to fight. save those smaller crafts in Cuban waters. It will leave the course free to the Oregon to make juncture with the fleet and also will leave Adm. Sampson's hands free for attention to Porto Rico or Cuba