Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1898-05-27
SPAIN 5 PHANTOM FLEET.
It Leaves Santiago de Cuba Ha,bor
and Its Destination Is at
Present Unknown.
WHEREABOUTS OF our BOATS 4 SECRET

strong Belief That a Battle Will Soon
Take Place-The Situation Summed
Up--Invasion of Cuba to begin at
Once Other War News OF In
terest.
Washington, May 23.-The Spanish
feet which arrived at Santiago de Cuba
last week has again put to sea, the des-
tination being unknown. Admira!
Sampson is supposed to be pressing
down from the eastward, with Commo-
dore Schley approaching from the west
ward along the southern coast OF Cuba.
Under such conditions there would still
remain chance for Cervera to escape
between them to the southwark, unless
he is outfanked. A strong belief exists,
however, that he will be forced to bat
tie. Both sides of the island are now
patrolled by United States warships,
and the naval authorities will not adj
init the possibility of Cervera's escape
without the most desperate conflict in
the history of naval warfare.
/ Sums Up the Situation.
A member of the administration said
yesterday:
1.-The impatience for news OF what is be-
ing done naturally makes the public impa-
tient with the whole situation, as it ap-
pears from the outside. Men who watch
the newspapers and the bulletin boards are
like those who watch the pot which Is de-
sired to boil. We are all listening for the
click Of the telegraph that will tell what
Sampson and Schley are doing, but We
;v ~
manders and their squadrons. Sampson
cannot carry the end Of a telegraph wire
with him to report every movement ne
makes, and we must all wait, just as the
people everywhere have always waited, for
the news of naval battles.
when you come to look over the whole
situation this war Is moving rapidly and we
are hurrying troops to the points OF en-
barkation for Cuba and the Philippines
more rapidly than we can secure trans
ports A war between two nations cannot
be fought In a day, especially When one
nation shows no disposition to fight for
anything except delay
To Invade Cuba.
Washington, May 23.-1ti is learned on
good authority that the Cuban invasion
will begin at once. 1t is understood that
the first detachment left Tampa on
transports Saturday, and the other
boats will leave on each succeeding day
until $4,000 men are landed. The war
department is prepared to transport
Is, 900 troops in SO hours.
There will be two landing spots, one
10 the east of Havana and one to the
west They will be accompanied by the
battalion of marines which went to Key
West on the Panther from New York a
month ago.
The landing parties will be covered
by gunboats, which will batter down
any Notifications that may exist, shell
the woods and underbrush thoroughly
and thus make way for an unimpeded
idebarkation.
Over 100, 0O0 Volunteers.
Reports received by Adjt. Gen. Corbin
mp to II o'clock Sunday night indicate
that lo6, 900 volunteers have been mus.
tered. It was expected that the muster
ing would be completed by this time.
but delay has been caused by the in
adequacy Of the militia, both in mum,
bers and in equipment in several of the
states. Gen. Corbin IL Of opinion that
the quota called for will be filled dur.
ing the present week, within 80 days
from the time the orders were sent out
TO the governors.
No Fears for Dewey.
Washington, May 2a.-There is no un
easiness at the white house over thu
lsituation at Manila. The dispatches
from Madrid daily report that the Cadi;
fleet and transports are about to sail fol
Manila, but they have not yet sailed
On the other hand, the Charleston ha
sailed from San Francisco to joi1
Dewey's squadron and the monito
Monterey has been ordered to proceed
at once to Manila for the same purpose
they can both get to Manila before an,
feet from Cadiz, and thus REINFORCED
Admiral Dewey can, it is confidently be
lieved, resist any power Spain can SEM
against him.
Gen. Merritt on the Way.
Maj. Gen. Merritt is on his way to Sal
Francisco and from $4,000 to 5000
troops will be sent as rapidly as trans
ports can be secured to carry them, t
take possession of the Philippine is
lands. Gen. Merritt has his instruction
as military governor, and no doubt i
felt by the administration that he vii
make complete Dewey's victory on
within few weeks have the America
flag floating over Manila.
Will Continue the War.
Madrid, May 23.-M. Capdepon, mir
lister of the interior, has denied in til
course of an interview that the chang
in the constitution of the ministr
would involve any alteration in the for
eign policy of Spain, all the new minis
tiers being in favor Of prosecuting tn
war to the end with the utmost energy
Damaging Rains.
Kankakee, ILL.,, May 23.-The heavies
rainfall for two years was experience