Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-05-25
MYSTERIOUS SILENCE.
The Distinctive Feature 6f the Official Cir
Gle at the Spanish Capital.

The Distinctive Feature 6f the Official Cir
Gle at the Spanish Capital.
Madrid, May 25.-Thesame mysterious
silence reigned in official circles last night
as Monday night. The government dis
closed nothing from the seat of war.
La Correspondents Espana observes:
"An unexplained feeling Of dependency
Is noticeable. As no bad news has been
received we can only suggest that this
feeling is caused by fears Of a proleng-
alton Of the war"
London, May 25.-A dispatch to The
Financial News from Port de Paix,
Hayti, says: Admiral Cervera is be-
.lieved to have divided his fleet. 1t is
reported that the Vizcaya and the
Alfonso XIII have been destroyed"
Washington. May 25.-There was q
lapse into sensational war rumors in
Washington yesterday after q week Of
| comparatively quietude. The rumors
ranged all the way from the capture Of
| the little Mangrove with a crew Of
thirteen men to the reported de-
| struction Of the entire Spanish
fleet by SIMPSONS and Schley's
combined forces. They were circulated
with persistence, Notwithstanding their
denial as soon as they could be brought
to the attention Of any official capable
Of passing Judgment on their accuracy.
4 As the day rolled along the officials
themselves became apprehensive. as
was shown by the frequency with which
they called for the latest newspaper
bulletins. At the close of the day, how
ever, II was again announced in the
most positive manner that the navy
department had no information to war
rant the report Of any sort OF engage
ment in the Windward Passage.
Covers the Case Pretty Thoroughly.
This did not specifically cover "
waters of the West Indies. but in isW
Of the fact that the department has al
most pledged itself to let the public
, know Of anything in the nature of {
general engagement, possibly the bull
letin announcement is sufficient to GOV
J er the case. When Secretary Lon;
= started for home after an EXCEPTIONAL,
busy day he stated to a group Of news
paper men that the department had re
ceived no Information of Importance
2 In response to an inquiry as to wher
the Spanish fleet was located. Long re
piled that his belief was that 1t wa
: still at Santiago de Cuba Concernin
t the reported capture of the Mangruv
: and the loss OF other ships the secretar
}, said that word had come from the com
- mander OF the Mangrove since the tim
i Of the alleged capture. showing that tn
:, ship could not have been in the hand
: Of the Spanish.
Span!srds Are Very Active.
The Spaniards appear TO be maxim
II ready for something more than a Dc
d fensive campaign at home: or at lea:
they are trying to create lhat i'm
preston by other means than news bu
+. letins. The navy department now hs
through its own reliable sources repor,
n Of the greatest activity in the Spanis
navy yards. ana Of the prepars
tion for sea and for a long voyage
= two Of the torpedo boat destroyers.
Is given out that they are to Join Cel
vera Immediately. when his squadrc
enters Cadiz harbor Possibly tn
statement is made with a delibera
purpose Of misleading American sal
ers into the belief that Cervera h,
taken his way homeward.