The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-14
SPANISH FLEET DOOMED
(ConcIuded from Firnt Page.l


We're given, the department officials in
ferred that the damage was not extensive.
Capt. O'Niel, chief of the Bureau of Ord
nance was with Secretary Long several
times during the day. giving him informa-
ton as to the amount of ammunition Ad-
mral Sampson has on board. 1t is the opn-
ion of the bureau officials that the bonn
bardment of San Juan did not materially de-
plete Simpsons stock of powder shot and
shell. There is no doubt. however that it
made considerable inroad upon it, it is
said that continuous fire for three hours
that the ships were III action would have
completely exhausted the entire stock.
There is no possibility, however of such
continuous fire, and the officials feel salts
fled that Sampson has at least half of his
ammunition and perhaps more still on
board. Every ship in his fleet was stocked
to It's fullest capacity with powder shot
and she'll The division which shelled San
Juan had sixty rounds of the large size pro-
jectiles for the twelve and thirteen-inch
guns, and about five hundred rounds for the
FIVE and sx-inch guns, In case the fleet
would have to be sent from Key West
where the Navy Department has a large
stock in reserve. Thus far. however. there
has been no thought of drawing on the re-
serve stock.
DONS HAVE LEFT MARTINIQUE
The Navy Department was all excitement
this morning on the receipt of the news that
Admiral Simpsons squadron had lombard
ed San Juan and fuel was added to the
flames when the news came that the Span
ish flying squadron had been sighted off
Martinique, giving promise of heavy fight
ing to come The fact that the admiral
gave notice of his intention to lombard San
Juan, as is reported from st. Thomas. is
an indication that the movement upon San
Juan was not suddenly conceived project,
out part of Well-matured plan. A state
ment given out at the Navy Department
that the Spanish squadron is now hull down
TO the westward of Martinique could not
inf 4
as to the time the dispatch was sent but
II is supposed the squadron was seen yes
terddy. Sampson already knows of it's
movements for the United States scout
Harvard, which put in to Martinique yes
terday is said to have found there one of
the torpedo boat destroyers composing the
Spanish fleet. and certainly would report
the fact to Sampson via ST. Thomas if pos
sVer to ba 90 t fo 1 liners : suspicion how
treated in perfect fairness in the matter of
the use of the cable from Martinique and
such. for instance. as those reporting the
movements of the Spanish ships have been
delayed an inconceivable length of time to
the great embarrassment of our forces. The
subject is one that will be investigated in
the future as well as other facts connected
With the treatment of the Spanish ships in
West Indian ports. which are nominally op-
Grating strictly under the neutrality laws
1t is suggested the Spanish squadron has
been lying in wait for the Oregon. which,
with the Marietta and Nictheroy, sailed on
the 18th from Bahia to join Sampson, and
the reported activity of the Spanish torpedo
boat destroyers in running in and out of
Martinique seems to show that they are
being used as scouts to give the rest of
the squadron notice of the approach of the
American battle ship. If SO. the mission
will be fruitless, for. having discovered the
whereabouts of the Spanish force Admiral
Sampson will carry out his orders to de-
stroy their ships if he can reach them The
fact that the Spaniards were headed yester-
day towards the westward, on the surface
would indicate that they are bound for the
south coast of Cuba, but war ships, in these
circumstances, try to mislead observers
ashore.
Senator Chandler formerly secretary of
the navy. was among Secretary Longs call
ers to-day. When asked if the appearance
of the Spanish squadron at Martinique did
not indicate that the Spanish authorities at
Cadz had succeeded in misleading us he
said: Not very much. 1t has succeeded
only in having Sampson throw away some
of his ammunition