Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-05-15
No naval BATTLE soon
Spanish Fleet Steals a March
on Sampson, g..
POSITION OF THE SQUADROIg
Enemy's Warships Now Near
Curacao. @".
OURS AT PUERTO PLANCA
or Vital Importance That the Where
abouts and Destination OF the Amcri-
can Vessels Shall BE I'm
known for the Next -.
Few Days. ....
OURS AT PUERTO PLANCi
Ry Telegraph.)

10Y 4SlSS Tdpn.)
WASHINGTON, May 14.-Tonight Of
I Hcial information reached the officials
mere that the Spanish squadron had
been sighted off the Island of Curacao.
one Of the Dutch West Indies, lying off
the north coast Of Venezuela. This
Information was regarded as Of vital
Importance. az it is not only fixed the
position OF the enemy. but disclosed
the purpose OF the Spanish admiral
to eiude Admiral SIMPSONS fleet and
make his way through the caribbean
sea. probably to Cuba The Island of
Curacao was originally Spanish and is
peopled mainly by descendants OF
Spaniards. though it is now one ,f tho
Dutch possessions.
Inc Spanish admiral's course was al
50 confirmed by the fact that the
french cable, starting from Caracas.
venezuela. touches the island Of Cura..
Goa, thence proceeding northward
through the Caribbean sea to Hayti
With spurs running east and west to
Porto Rico and Cuba, respectively.
he Is thus enabled to get in touch
from Curacao with the Spanish au-
thorities in Cuba and Porto Rico, ana
ehroush them directly with the Spanish
admiralty at Madrid No Immediate
battle with SIMPSONS fleet is now ex-
tected, as the Spaniards it seems like
~. have succeeded in pa ssing south OF
the American fleet: aad .Ssznew we'll to
the west Of it. AS the enemy is in
reach of the cable the Navy Depart
ment regards it as the most vital con-
Germ that the exact whereabouts of the
American ships should not be made
known during the next few days Thus
tar they have felt handicapped by the
fact that the Spanish admiral knew the
WI hn, me- e11t,
in state Of doubt as to the location
OF his. The officials here regard it as
essential during the next few days to
reverse this condition SO that the Span
ish admiral will be moving in the dark
while our officers will be posted as to
the movements through the Caribbean
The Department is doubtless inform
ed as to the Whereabouts of Admiral
Simpsons squadron, but it does not see
lit to give any information on the sub
ject. and the same silence prevails as
to the whereabouts and destination OF
Commodore Schley's flying squadron.
The game has reached such a critical
stage that premature information as
to the position Of our ships may cause
great loss and failure of plans. The
manoeuvre Of the Spanish admiral is
satisfactory In one respect. as it en-
sures the safety Of the battleship Ore
son, which Is somewhere in the neigh
borhood Of Martinique. Had the Span
ish squadron remained at that point
there would have been danger that the
Oregon would have been intercepted;
now. however. she is Well out of the
way OF the Spaniards so long as she
follows the usual routes.
It Is not to be supposed that the
Navy Department. with knowledge of
the Whereabouts Of the Spanish fleet
worked little cruisers and gunboats en-
gagged in blockade duty on the Cuban
coast to fail victims of the huge Span
ish ironclads. Their commanders will
be promptly advised of the position of
the Spaniards. and it may be set down
as sure that unless the department Is
assured that Sampson or Schley can
head off and crush the Spaniards the
American blockade vessels will proba-
bly, be given permission to take care Of
themselves and get out OF harms way
The attack made by the Marblehead
running seaward from Cienfuegos
shows that the government finds it
necessary to cut al! communication
between General Blanco at Havana and
Spain by cable.
The government has ordered elddi-
tional contracts for heavy armor pierre
ing shells, such as are used by heavy
coast batteries, which would indicate
that the government does not antici-
pate q speedy end to the present hos
tilities.
Some Of the troops which. are to go
on the expedition to the Philippine is
lands are already on the way to San
Francisco. and others have been ord :
cred to proceed there as rapidly as pos
sible.
1t is not believed by the officials here.
however, that these troops will be mo-
Billed in less than week.
The distance from Puerto Plata to
Curacao is about 600 miles, and this is
| the distance that now separates the
American and Spanish fleets. The
| Spanish fleet Is now. approximately.
| based on straight line calculation,
about ,20G miles from Havana. to reach
| which. however, she would have to &c
through the Windward Passages and
risk a battle with SIMPSONS fleet.