The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-05-24
London, May "a, Noon.

= London, May "a, Noon.
persistent rumors were
in circulation here early
to-day that a great naval
battle has been fought in
the vicinity of the Wind
ward Passage, between
eastern end of Cuba and
the western part of Hayti
Both American squadrons
were rumored to have
closed in on the Spanish,
Cape Verd Squadron, com
manded by Admiral Ger
vera, and completely de-
stroyed the Spanish ships.
London, May PA despatch from King
ston, Jamaica, tc Reuters Telegram Co,
yesterday evening said nothing was known
there Of the reported battle in the Wind
ward Passage, adding that no American
or Spanish warships have visited jamaican
ports since the beginning of tho war.
i, the London newspapers take it for
granted that the ships reported yesterday
by Lloyd's ut Para, Brazil, as having ar.
rived there a. o clock on Monday morn
ing from Rio Janeiro, ere the Oregon the
Marietta and the Nichthofoy.
Washington, May 81 II o'clock The
Navy Department insists that no news of
anaval engagement has reached it.
Key West, May GA dispatch boat ar
rived hero this morning, but what news it
brought could not he learned. AS the hos
pitfalls were immediately made ready for
the reception Of a largo number of woun0
cd there are rumors that q naval battle
has.occurred.
- Kingston, Jamaica, May 2t-lt is
reported hers that the auxiliary cruiser st.
louis and the Wampatuck, acting under
orders from Admiral Sampson, went to
Santiago de Cuba last week to cut the Ca
BILE lines.
When the vessels reached there the Span
ish Notifications opened fire on them. In
sp,te of tho attack, thor mission was ac-
oompishcd. One of he cables leading out
of Santiago was cut.
The two vessels then went to Guanta-
namo and Gu. the cable there.
BlanCo is now believed to be isolated
from tho home government.
st. Thomas, West Indies, May 2i,--Thc
auxiliary cruiser St. Louis and the tug
Wompatuck, of tho United States Navy.
cut the cable ut Santiago last Thursday,
and with their combined batteries of foui
Bix-poundcrs and on, FOUNDER, al
most completely silenced Moro Castle al
Santiago de Cuba and two sand batteries
A topmas, backstay on the ST. Loui:
was sho. away, n few splnters were knock
cd off the Wompatuck's pilot house and {
sailor on the st. Louis got finger broker
by flying fragment of shell.
Acting under orders from Admira
Sampson, tho st. Lruis and the tug wen
to Santiago to cut tho cable. They saileC
up under Morro's guns and graphing tht
cable hauled it mp on the st. Louis whore
twas cut.
The Spaniards opened fire from MORE
and two sand batteries at thu foot of thu
bluff. The cable cutters returned the fire
and by the time the cutting was completes
tho two boats had 5ilenccd al but two Of
three of tine Spanish guns. The gunnery
of the SpaniardI was nbsurdy bad.
After destroying Gen, Blanco's Santiago
cable, the St. Louis and Wompatuck Ell
tsred the Bay of Guantanamo, twent.
miles to the eastward, and cut the cablt
there The batteries opened on then
feebly, and two wclI-placcI shots from
the St Louis queted them, and in a sng
day two Of the five Cuban cables were cut
Washington, May H-Thc War Admin
istration is in Il S ate Of rcprcs5cd jublatlOi
and although lit is denied that any of
fetal news has been received from Admira