Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-05-11
Spanish FLEET AICAD|Z
The Battleship Oregon Nov
Safe from Attack.
NEW PROGRAM ARRANGED
Way Now Clear for. Military
Operations in Cuba.
TROOPS TO LEAVE SOON
No Enduring Peace Until the spanisl, Navy
Has Been Destroyed. Catliz Squad
ron May Go to Manila
w.Y and Attack D.,vey's
TROOPS TO LEAVE SOON
(By Telegraph.l

WASHINGTON, May 1O.-The State
Department gives out the following:
Official information has been re-
ceived that four Spanish cruisers and
three torpedo boat destroyers have re-
turned to Cadiz"
WASHINGTON, May lott is hard
TO tell whether the naval officers We're
relieved or disappointed by the news
that came late this afternoon to both
the navy and state departments to the.
erect that the Spanish flying squadron
had arrived at Cadiz. Spain. The safe
~ OF the Oregon from attack is now
completely assured and the way is
clear for military operations in Cuba
without running the risk of having the
occupying army's line of communion
ton cut off. On the other hand it IS
believed that no enduring peace can be
secured until the Spanish navy has
been destroyed, and it now appears
that to do this our sailors must make
up their minds to go after the Span
iards, a task very much more difficult
than that of meeting them near our
own shores. 1t Is suggested by some
Of the members Of the war board that
there was just possibility that the
Spanish squadron might make a quick
passage into the Pacific through thu.
Suez canal and attack Dewey at Ma
Mia. 1t is said that contrary to the
cOlIIISIl UNDERSTANDING, Inc suck canal
IS open to the warships ofs<,elligerenr
powers, SO that if the Spanish choose to
take this course they would have a long
start Of any pursuing fleet from our
side of the Atlantic.
1t is scarcely believed however
that the Spanish are willing to take
the great risk of exposing to our attack
their own home ports by the withdraw
al of so considerable a portion of their
naval strength as would be required to
over-match Dewey.
Nothing was heard from Sampson
today. but there is a confident eXpec-
tatlon that interesting news will be
coming from his squadron within the
next twenty-four hours. Whether this
means an attack on Porto Rico or not
cannot be learned. m
One effect of the retreat Of the Span
ish fleet has been to hasten prepara-
lions already under full Roadway for
the dispatching of military expeditions
to Cuba 1t also has caused a complete
change in the concentration plans.
Time is now believed to be the great
factor. There is no longer opportunity
to indulge in drilling and practice ma
nOeuvring. The regular army troops do
not need these and are to be thrown at
once into the fray. Many Of the COM
panies Of the national guards are con-
sidered sufficiently trained for immedi-
ate service, and the department indi-
Gated its purpose today of dispatching
these volunteer troops directly to the
gulf coast for shipment, instead of
sending them to Chickarnauga. This
disposition was shown by the changes
in the new orders issued to troops, al
though there yet may be return to
the original program of concentration
If the plans show signs Of weakness RS
they develop.
The quartermaster general has al
ready gotten under charter twenty-sev-
en- merchant steamers for the trans
pcrtation of troops. and roughly speak
ing. these should carry about 10000
men, Others are being procured as
rapidly as possible. The plan of the
War Department is to have these yes
sells assemble at the different gulf ports,
Tampa, Mobile. New Orleans and Gal
weston. to take troops which will be
sent there.
The navy department Is expected to
furnish conveys for these troops. which
would be absolutely helpless against
Spanish attack.
At this point there are signs of fric-
ton. First the troops would be obliged
to await Admiral SIMPSONS return to
obtain proper convoy, and secondly the
Navy Department insists that to as
sure safety of the troops all OF the
transports should be gathered in one
fleet to start from Tampa. and the navy
is likely to prevail in this.
Now that Major General Sewell has
been assigned to command the troops
at Falls Church. preparations are being
rushed there to put the grounds In
shape to receive the volunteers.