The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-05-25

Washington, May 24.-There was a
lapse into sensational war rumors i'm
Washington to-day after a week of
comparative quietude. The rumors
ranged all the way from the capture of
the little Mangrove, with a crew of I3
men, to the reported destruction of the
entire Spanish fleet by SIMPSONS and
Schley's combined forces. They were
circulated with persistence, notwith-
standing their denial as soon as they
could be brought TO the attention of any
official capable Of passing judgment on
their verify. AS the day rolled along
the officials themselves became appre-
hensive. as was shown by the frequency
with which they called for the latest
newspaper bulletins.
At the close of the day. however. it
was again announced in the most posi-
tive manner that the navy department
had no information to warrant the re-
port of any sort of engagement in the
Windward passage. This did not speci-
fically cover the waters of the West In
dies. but in view of the fact that the
DltuStu llStlI W
let the public know of anything in the
nature Of a general engagement, possi-
bly, the bulletin announcement is sufii-
cient to cover the case.
When Secretary Long started for home
after an exceptionally busy day. he
stated to a group of newspaper men that
the department had received no notifi-
cation of Importance. In response to
an inquiry as to where the Spanish fleet
was located. Mr.. Long replied that his
belief was that it was still at Santiago
de Cuba. Concerning the reported cap
ture of the Mangrove and the loss of
other ships, the secretary dismissed
these stories as purely conjectural, and
not supported by facts.
Word had come from the commander
Of the Mangrove since the time of the
alleged capture. showing that the ship
could not have been in the hands of the
Spanish. Mr.. Long paid a handsome
tribute to the war board and stated that
there was no purpose whatever or
changing the present system, whereby
this board co-operates with him in Civ
ing every possible assistance and advice.
mainly in the way of information, TO
the admirals in command. The Office
of the war board. the secretary pointed
out. was not to fight battles; that was
exclusively the province of the squad
ron commanders. The board acted
merely in an advisory way, and at no
time had assumed executive functions.
The Spaniards appear to he making
ready for something more than de-
fensive campaign at home, or at least
they are trying to create that impress
sion by other means than news bulle-
tins that issue almost daily from Ma
drid. The navy department now has by
it's own reliable sources reports of the
greatest activity in the Spanish navy
yards and preparations for sea and for
long voyage of two of the torpedo
boat destroyers. 1t is given out that
they are to join Cervera Immediately his
squadron enters Cadiz harber. Possibly
this statement is made with a deliberate
purpose of misleading American sailors
into the belief that Cervera has taken
his way homeward.
Inquiries as to the whereabouts of the
Oregon brought a reply this afternoon
to the effect that the battleship was |
safe. Nothing could be learned of her
location. 1t is probable that the tele-
grams said to have emanated from the |
vessel really were filed at Key West. |
but were brought TO that port on some |
dispatch boat from the Oregon, which |
is cooperating with our fleets.
and at San Juan de Porto Rico, as re- |
ported to-day. was a military move OF |
the first Importance. Blanco has yet |
one link left of communication with the |
outer world but the Spanish command |
er at San Juan now finds himself total |
ly in the dark as to conditions in Spain |
or in Cuba. while the value of that port |
as a place of refuge for the Spanish |
flying squadron is materially dimin- |
ished. 1t is safe to say that the re- |
naming cable at Santiago will be cut /
soon like the others. so that IL Cervera |
is misguided enough to have entered |
Santiago harbor he will be completely l
out of touch with his home government |
on the one hand and equally unable
to communicate with Blanco al the 9TH
er end of the island.
The Philippine islands expedition is
now OF in dead earnest. The sending /
OF these ships will affect the Hawaiian l
question vitality. Like the Charleston,
the transports must stop at Hawaii TO
replenish their coal bunkers from the /
great heaps OF coal that Consul General /
has been piling up for months.
III the Hawaiians let US take this coal /
without the pretex; that we are using IL