The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-05-25
SENSATIONAL RUM0RS
Not Verified by Dispatches to the
Navy Department. ..sas*s
gPANIARDS' NAVAL ACTIVITY.

1t May Dc Ruse to Divert Attention
From Cervera-The Oregon Again
Reported Safe, and Probably Coop
Grating with Our Fleets.
Washington, May 25.-There was a
lapse into sensational war rumors in
Washington yesterday after a week of
comparative quietude. The rumors
ranged all the way from the capture
of the little Mangrove with crew of
13 men to the reported destruction OF
the entire Spanish fleet by Simpsons
and Schley's combined forces At the
close of the day, however. 1t was
announced in the most positive man.
ner that the navy department had no
information to warrant the report Of
any sort Of engagement in the Wind
ward passage. This did not specifical-
ly cover the waters of the West Indies,
but in view of the fact that the de-
partment has almost pledged itself to
let the public know of anything in the
nature of a general engagement, pcs
sibly the bulletin announcement Is suf-
ficient to cover the case.
When Secretary Long started for
he stated to a group of newspaper men
that the department had received no
information of Importance. In re-
sponse to an inquiry as to where the
Spanish fleet was located Mr.. Long re-
piled that his belief was that 1t was
still at Santiago de Cuba.
The Spaniards appear to be making;
ready for something more than a 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. The navy department now
has, through its own reliable sources,
reports Of the greatest activity in the
Spanish navy yards and of the prepa-
ration for sea and for q long voyage
of two of the torpedo boat destroyers.
1t is given out that they are to join
Cervcra Immediately when his squad
ron enters Cadiz harbor Possibly this
statement Is made with deliberate
purpose Of misleading American sail
ors into the belief that Cervera hes
taken his way homeward.
Inquiries as to the whereabouts of
the Oregon brought the reply to the ef-
feet that the battleshiD was safe.
Nothing could be learned Of her loca.
ton. 1t Is probable that the tolegrama
said TO have emanated from the vessel
really were filed at Key West, but were
brought to that port on some dispatch
boat from the Oregon, which Is c.
operating with our fleets
The cutting Of the cables at Santiago
and at San Juan de Porto Rico was
military move of the first Importance.
Blanco has yet one link left of COM
raunicatiOn with the outer world, but
the Spanish commander at San Juan
now finds himself totally in the dark
as to the conditions in Spain or in
Cuba, while the value of that port as
place of refuge for the Spanish flying
squadron is materially diminished. 1t
is safe to say that the remaining cable
to Santiago will socn be cut. like tie
others, so that IL Cervera is misguided
enough to have entered Santiago har-
Dor he will be completely out of touch
with his home government on the one
hand and equally unable to communi-
cate with Blanco at the other end CT
the island.
The Philippines expedition Is now OF,
In dead earnest. The sending of these
ships will affect the Hawaiian question
vitally. Like the Charleston, tho trans
ports must stop at Hawaii to replenish
their coal bunkers from the great heaps
of coal that Consul General Hayward
has been piling up for months past.
The taking of coal by the American
ships at Hawaii to make an extensive
campaign against the Spanish posses
sions. it Is believed here, will result IL
compelling the United States either II
assume a protector2te over the islands
or to annex them.