Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1898-05-28
1T WAS PREMATURE.
The Report that Admiral Sampson Had
Annihilated the Spanish Flying Squad


Annihilated the Spanish Flying squad-
ron.
Washington, May 25.-There were
sensational war rumors here yesterday,
after week of comparative quietude.
The rumors ranged all the way from
the capture of the little Mangrove,
with a crew of Is men, to the reported
destruction of the entire Spanish fleet
by SIMPSONS and Schley's combined
forces They were circulated with
persistence Notwithstanding their de-
NAL as soon as they could be brought
to the attention of any official capable
of passing judgment on their accuracy.
AS the day rolled along the officials
themselves became apprehensive, as
was shown by the frequency with
which they called for the latest news
paper bulletins.
AT the close of the day it was an
nounced in the most positive manner
that the navy department had no in
| formation to warrant the report of any
sort of engagement in the Windward
passage. This did not specifically COW
er the waters of the West Indies, but
in view of the fact that the depart
ment has almost pledged itself to let
the public know of anything in the ma
ture of general engagement, possi-
bly, the bulletin announcement is suf-
ficient to cover the case.
When Secretary Long started for
home after n busy day he stated to
newspaper men that the department
had received no information of impor
tance. In response to an inquiry as to
| where the Spanish feet was located,
Mr.. Long replied that his belief was
that it was still at Santiago de Cuba.
Concerning the reported capture 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 Spaniards.
Mr. Long paid a handsome tribute to
the war board and said there was no
purpose whatever of changing the
present system whereby this board Co
operates with him in giving every pos
sible assistance and advice to the ad-
mirals in command. The office of the
war board, the secretary pointed out,
was not to fight battles; that was ex-
clusively the province of the squadron
! commanders. The board acted merely
in an advisory way, and at no time had
assumed executive functions
The Spaniards appear to be 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 bull
letins that issue almost daily from
Madrid.
Inquiries as to the whereabouts O.
the Oregon brought a reply to the
= : effect that the battleship was safe
Nothing could be learned of her loca
tion. 1t is probable that the telegram
:, said to have emanated from the vesse
= really were filed at Key West, bu
were brought to that port on some dis
patch boat cooperating with our fleets
i The cable from Santiago that wa
l. cut by the American warship st. Loui
,. was not the line controlled by tn
n French company, running from Santi
a ago to Haiti through Guantanamo, bu
q one of two English cables running
= from Santiago south to Jamaica. Ger
Blanco therefore is not isolated fror
y the rest of the world, but can stil
y communicate with the home govern
n ment by either the French cable goin
y to Haiti or the English one running t
NJ Jamaica.