Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 69, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 May 1898 — PLANS OF SAMPSON. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

PLANS OF SAMPSON.

Part of His Fleet Said to Have Left Key West — * i -OBJECT All ATTACK OK PIIERTO KICO. 1 After Redaction ot Defense* There It 'Will Try to Intercept and Engage the Spanish Fleet from _ Cape Verde. New York, May 5. —In a roundabout way it is learned that Bear Admiral Sampson’s fleet has already been divided, that a part of it has sailed for Key West, probably for Puerto Rico, and that the other division, consisting of the smaller craft, has been left behind to maintain the blockade of Cuba. The Spanish fleet coming west consists of four cruisers, two torpedo boat destroyers and three torpedo boats. The plan of the American campaign is to have the nhvai depot at Puerto Rico, the coal station and the fortifications either destroyed or occupied by our 'men before the Spanish fleet arrives. It is designed to have the ships leave here one by one and then meet at some given point at sea. After destroying the base of supplies the flotilla will . then put to sea and try to engage the Spanish fleet, which by that time ought to be in the vicinity of Puerto Rico. Partially Confirmed. London, May 5. —A dispatch to the Daily Mail from Key West, sent by way of Tampa in order to escape censorship, asserts of positive knowledge that Rear Admiral Sampson’s fleet will steam at full speed to Puerto Rico, either to destroy or to occupy the coaling station as a naval base befbre the Spanish

squadron arrives and then put to sea and try to engage the Cape Verde fleet. To Begin a Desperate Campaign. Washington, May 5. the navy department Wednesday morning that several cruisers had been sent to meSt the Oregon, Marietta and Nictheroy, as it is understood that the Cape Verde fleet will begin its desperate campaign by attempting the capture of those ships. This may locate the scene of the next naval battle below the West Indies, off South America. In Matansas the Goals Key West, Fla., May 5. —The vessels comprising Admiral Sampson’s fleet have sailed for Matanzas. Every effort has been made to keep their destination a secret, but it leaked out. This is the first move in the invasion of Cuba. Admiral Sampson’s orders are to bombard Matanzas, to raze the fortifications, and to seize and hold the city so that it can be used as a landing place for American troops. These will be loaded on transports that are now lying at Tampa. The minute Admiral Sampson reports that he is in possession of the city they will be hurried to Cuban soil as fast as steam can carry them. Gen. Maximo Gomez is now close to Matanzas, and the moment the troops land he will open communication with them. Arms, ammunition. and food will be furnished him for all the men he can raise, and an active campaign against the Spanish army in Havana will be at once begun and pushed with vigor until that city is taken. ' Max Be Delayed. Tampa, Fla., May s.—lt appears to be almost a settled belief among army officers here that no movement of United States troops toward Cuba wUI take place until after the meeting of the Spanish flotilla with Hear Admiral Sampson’s squadron, which is now believed tb be inevitable. Nevertheless everything possible is being done to put the United States troops in readiness for immediate shipment.' Preparations for the landing of a large force of native Cubans at some point in Cuba within convenient reach of Gen. Gomez’ army are being pushed as fast as possible. How large a force there will be is as yet uncertain. The Cuban recruiting offices that have been opened here are fairly overwhelmed with applications for enlistment, and it Is very probable that close to 1,500 men will be armed and ready for service under the banners of Gomez before the end of the week. Most of the Cubans who are now in the West Tampa camp have already had considerable

military training. Their number is being constantly increased by arrivals from New York, Jacksonville and other recruiting points. Between 30 and 40 young Cubans arrived here Wednesday from New York and will be followed by about 150 more from there, all enlisted at the junta headquarters. Two or three United States navai officers thoroughly,, familiar with the Cuban coast are now in Tampa for the purpose cf escorting the Cuban expedition to Cuba and will remain with it until the juncture with Gomez is effected. Glesluegoi Bombarded. New York, May 5. —A 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 29, hut shelled the town itself, playing havoc with the buildings and driving thousands of the inhabitants to the interior. The shooting at the forts was at 4,000 yards. As soon as the forts were disabled Capt. McCalla ordered that the five-inch guns be given an elevation to reach the 8,000 yards. Firing began with the starboard batteries, followed by the ports.

THE NEW STRONG MAN.