The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1898-05-12

ment whatever information he has.
This will at once be transmitted to
Rear-Admlral Sampson, who will then
carry out the plan drawn up by the
War Board.
Admiral Sampson with his fleet is
expected to lombard San Juan in a
day or two. The Spanish fleet has
not been sighted and it is believed in
Washington that it has not crossed
the Atlantic.
The battleship Oregon and Mari
eta, reached Bahia, Brazil yesterday
and have over 1000 miles yet to sail
All the necessary preparations were
made to-day in the War Department
to send an army, consisting of both
volunteers and regulars, of over
$1,000 men to invade Cuba.
The first detachment of this army
will be i'll Cuba by Sunday next, and
will Immediately establish a base OF
supplies for the United States troops.
The entire policy of the administration
has been changed since the day that
the news of Admiral Dewey's great
victory reached Washington. From
defensive plan of operations the
government has now taken a most
aggressive stand. In the Cabinet
meeting to-day the final arrangements
were made, which it is hoped will cul-
inmate in the capture by the United
States army and navy Of all Spanish
possessions.
1t was decided by the President
and his Cabinet that it would be
much better to await report from
Admiral Sampson before the grand
invasion of Cuba was begun. The
administration fully expects to receive
a definite report from Admiral Samp.
son by Thursday of this week, and
it is hoped that in this report danger
hitherto experienced from the Spanish
armada will be entirely eliminated.
AS soon as this report is received at
the Navy Department orders will be
Immediately sent to General Shafter,
commanding the regular army at
Tampa, Fla, to move at once upon
Cuban soil.
By unanimous vote in both the
Senate and the House of Representa-
tives the thanks of Congress and Of
the American people have been ten
dered to Acting Rear Admiral Dewey,
and through him to the officers and
men of the fleet under his command.
By similar unanimous vote a bill
has been passed through both houses
increasing the number of Rear Admir-
ais in the United States Navy from
six to Seven, so as to enable the
President to nominate Acting Pear
Admiral Dewey to be Rear Adm raj.
The Senate has gone further, and
has passed bill, to which the House
, will certainly agree, authorizing the
Secretary of the Navy to present a
sword of honor to Admiral Dewey
and to cause to be struck bronze
medals commemorating the battle of
Manila Bay and to distribute such
medals to the officers and men under
the command of Admiral Dewey in
that battle.
TUESDAY.
| The only thing in the way of infor-
nation received to-day as to the
; whereabouts of the Spanish fleet came
in the way ofa cable despatch from
Ambassador Hay, reporting that news
had reached London of the presence
at Cadiz of four Spanish cruisers and
three torpedo boat destroyers.
The information indicated that these
we're the four cruisers and the three
torpedo boat destroyers that were at
the Cape Verde Islands.
1t is not thought probable that Am
bassador Hay would send such des-
+ patch without he had good reason to
think that it was trustworthy. A. the
same time it was received with in
credulity in the Navy Department.
1t is thought that ifthe Cape Verde
fleet reappears at Spanish port be-
! fore meeting the enemy it will have a
very bad effect in Spain. Still things
are about as bad there now as they
: can be.
The most vigorous thing now being
done in the way of war prepara. n is
that of making preparation for the
invasion OF Cuba. Since the prospect
) of meeting the Spanish fleet has grown
DINNER the decision to drive the
Spanish out of Cuba as quickly as
possible has grown stronger.