The Mena star., 1898-05-18
THE HOSTILE FLEET.
Sampson and Schley Are Penning
 Up Spain's Squadron.
Dimcult to Sec How Adm. Cervera Can NOW Avoid a Fight-Peaceful Blockade

Difficult to See How Adm Ceryera Can
 Now Avoid Fight-Peaceful Blockade
 Oyer-Blockaders Must Be yigiiant
 WASHINGTON, May 17.-Intimations have been received here that Capt. Gen. Blanco, at Havana, is very short of ammunition, in which case the DOW erful batteries at the entrance of Ha- vana harbor, of course, would be de- prived of large part of their defen- sive strength. This state of affairs may lead to some desperate attempts at blockade running on the part of the Spaniards, in the hope of getting more ammunition into Havana. It is believed that the supplies so frequent ly referred to as being on the Spanish flying squadron were of this character, rather than food supplies, which makes it all the more important that Samp- son and Schley should succeed in keep ing Adm. Cervera from reaching Ha- vana or Cienfuegos or any port of Cuba connected with Havana by rail-
 Commodore Schley probably is we'll down on the Florida coast now, and should be able to guard the Florida straits His appearance on that side of Cuba would enable Sampson to bring his ironclads with perfect safety into Cienfuegos, on the south side and, with this disposition of our naval force and the free use of a considerable number of our scouting vessels. it is hard to see how the Spanish fleet can escape from the gulf of Mexico or the Caribbean sea.
 Peaceful Blockade at an End
 WASHINGTON, May 17.-President Me Kinley has abandoned his peaceful blockade idea. He has had the inn pression that the Cuban coast was poorly defended, and that arms and ammunition could be landed for the insurgents at any point and at any time without loss of life or danger to our ships. The result of the Cardenas affair, in which good American blood was wasted, has, however, caused the president to revise his opinion. Hereafter when our warships approach a Cuban har- bor it will be with business intent. Orders were issued to-day to the com- mander of the blockading squadron that will give him an opportunity to turn his ships loose on all fortifica- tions where resistance is offered. Ev- cry Cuban port that is strongly pro- tected will be attacked and the bom- bardment will be kept up until the Spanish guns are silenced and all gum boats are sunk.
 Another Call Probable.
 CHICAGO, May l6.--A special from Washington to the News says:
 You can put it down that the president will issue another call for another 100000 volunteers within the next ten days" remarked Repre- sentative Lewis, of Washington, this morning, as he was leaving the white house T know that this matter has been con sidered by the president and his cabinet The secretary of war, I understood, wanted the first call for 900 volunteers. but 1t was considered best to divide the question and is- sue another call later At the time the first call was issued 1t was not contemplated that we would take the Philippines and Porto Rico and hence need more volunteers
 uiockaders Ordered to Re vigilant-
 NEW YORK, May 1.-The Evening Posts Key West special says:
 The blockaders on the south coast of Cuba have been warned that the Spanish squadron is reported off venezuela. bound northwest, and to double their vigilance. Powerful ves- sels which it is not necessary to name will be ready to aid the ships stationed there in resist ing the progress of the enemy. and there is small chance that the Spanish will be able to enter Cienfuegos a fortified port desirable to them on account of the large coaling facilities and machine shops. Both our squadrons are informed about the course of the spanish notilla
 TO Serve on Lees Staff.
 WASHINGTON, May 17.-A son of Maj. Gen. Fitzhugh Lee and Algernon Sar- toris. grandson of Gen. U. s. Grant, will be appointed on the staff ot Gen. Lee While it has been reported from time to time that these appointments would be made, it was not until satur- day that positive information confirm atory of the rumor was obtained
 WASHINGTON. May IT. Eighty two thousand volunteers have now been mustered in and are being sent to mo bilizing points.