Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-05-12
FOR DEWEY'S FLEET
Vessels Secured to Take Supplies to
the Victorious Commodore.
ClESFUECOS REPORTED SHELLED.
Batteries Of the Cuban City Silenced and
Havoc Played with BuildlnEs-Im.
p0rtant Moves Probable by Samp.
sons and Schley's Fieeta.

WASHINGTON, May 1.-THE navy de.
partment has now secured two vessels
in San Francisco, the Australia and
the City Of Pekin, which will be loaded
with coal and supplies and rushed of
to join Commodore Dewey's feet.
Whether or not they will carry troops
will be determined positively when
the commodore is heard from upon
this matter. The navy department is
hurrying together an exceptionally
large stock Of ammunition to 60 for
ward by the City Of Pekin to recruit
the ammunition of Commodore
Dcwey's fleet. Should it be decd-
ed finally by the president to
send troops to assist Commodore Dewey
to hold Manila the war department
officials say that the small number Of
regular soldiers available are ready to
move. 1t is thought, however, that If
troops are sent they will be made up
largely from the volunteer forces that
could be concentrated at San Fran
cisco from various states west OF the
Rocky mountains. 1t is believed, how.
ever, that the officials would be disin-
clined to part with the artillery, as it
may be needed for the defense of the
Pacific coast, and they do not think 1t
at all likely cavalry would be sent be-
cause Of the great expense detailed in
the shipment of the horses and the
lack Of transportation facilities.
Conflicting reports were in circula.
ton here last night regarding rumor
that Commodore Dewey had been Off
cially heard from. 1t was positively
asserted that Dewey's report of the
battle of Manila had been cabled to
this country from Hong Kong and
that it had been transmitted to the
president. The statement was alleged
to have emanated from one Of the
leading members Of the committee on
foreign affairs in the house and to
have been confirmed from other
sources. Secretary Long, Of the navy
department. however, denied 1t. What
makes the story appear less probable
is the circumstance that 1T is claimed
that the report conveys the informa-
ton that the American flag is waving
over Manila. 1t hardly seems prob.
able that dispatch boat could have
had time to bring this information
unless the surrender of Manila had
followed Immediately after the naval
battle, which the last dispatches re-
ceived before the cable was cut plainly
showed was not the case.
ClENFuEGos sHELLED.
New YORK, May IA special to the
Press from Key West, says: Cienfuegos
has been bombarded. Not only did
the Marblehead silence the batteries
of the town on the afternoon of April
30, but shelled the town itself, playing
havoc with the buildings and driving
thousands to the interior The shoot
ing at the forts was at 1000 yards. As
soon as the forts were disabled Capt.
McCalla ordered that the five-inch guns
be given an elevation to reach the 5000
yards. Firing began with the star.
board batteries, followed by the port.
SIMPSONS FLEET TO MOVE
KEY WEST, Fla, May 5.-Indications
here point to an important move by
part of the North Atlantic squadron
at an early day. Rear Admiral Samp.
sons fleet, including the flagship New
York, the Indiana, the Iowa, the
Cincinnati, the Detroit, the May
flower and the Marblehead came
here to coal and sailed yesterday.
1t seems unlikely that SO few vessels
would have been left to maintain
blockade, were it not desired to have
the strongest boats in condition to re-
main for some time away from the
base Of supplies.
MAY ENGAGE THE CAPE VERDE FLEET
LONDON, May 5.-A dispatch to the
Daily Mail from Key West, sent by
way of Tampa, in order to escape cen.
sorship, asserts Of positive knowledge
that Rear Admiral SIMPSONS feet will
steam at full speed to Porto Rico,
either to destroy or to occupy the coal
ing station as naval base before the
Spanish squadron arrives and then put
to sea and try to engage the Cape
Verde feet.
THE FLYING SQUADRON.
Old POINT COMFORT, Va, May Sit
is the general expectation here that
the flying squadron will go to sea
within "a hours, or as soon as the
cruiser New Orleans arrives. Commo.
dore Schley has been notified that the
cruiser Columbia has been detached