The times., 1898-05-16
TRYING TO EVADE SAMPSON.
Spanish Admiral Again Runs From
the American Squadron


New York. May l5.-The arrival of th-
Cape Verde SQUADRON at The island of
Curacao-so often miscalled Curacao
shows. in the opinion of a naval exper;.
that the Spanish admiral is for the mo-
ment at least. seeking to avoid battle
with Admiral Simpsons squadron.
The island lies little to the south ana
west Of Martinique and is distant about
four hundred and thirty miles from that
colony. 1t is located in the region of the
steady trade winds which at this season
blow from east-uOrtheast to east. and is
swept by westerly current which sets
along the Spanish main at a fairly uni
form rate Of two knots
These conditions Of wind and current
favor vessels coming from the Windward
Islands and in the existing circum-
stances, which a careful tacticiau must
consider enable a composite squadron 10
transfer its smaller vessels. like torpedo
deStrOyers to a new base with q minimum
chance OF damage 10 huh and machinery
The probable Intentions of the Spanish
admiral in taking this course would there
fore be apparent and not difficult to
gauge were ii not for the halt called at
Curacao. BY skirting the coast Of Vene-
zuela he avoided all danger of intercep-
zion by SIMPSONS squadron, for in reck-
Oning the probabilities he must have con-
sidered the chances that our vessels
would after abandoning San Juan. steam
along the north coast of Puerto Rico and
then, swinging through the Mona Pas
sage seek 10 engage him in the Caribbean
Sea
This also would explain to some degree
why he might be willing to surrender
those advantages of surprise and of Sc
cret movement which hitherto have aided
him so much The puzzle is why he
should come to an anchor in port which
has cable communication with the world
and is distinctly friendly TO US.
Curacao is, however. under 500 miles
from San Juan. and ii is not impossible
that the Spanish admiral may in his va
riations Of the clever game of hide and
seek he is playing, simply be waiting in
the hope that Simpsons squadron may
hurry westward. thus unmasking the port
Of San Juan, and leaving it open for his
ships
Should he however. venture to seek the
southern coast Of Cuba he will, when he
considers his course clear, make some Sc
cure point in the Caribbean, haul TO the
northward and westward. and then, pass
ing at a safe distance from the Island Of
Jamaica, order a spirited dash for San
tiago or Cienfuegos, or possibly for Ha-
vana- The distance from Curacao to Glen
fuegOs is, for example 920 miles, and with
the speed maintained on his run from
Martinique he ought to reach this port in
four and a half days.
In the meantime what will our strategy
be? If Admiral Sampson has shaped a
direct course from San Juan to Cienfue-
gOs leaving his monitors behind-which
would seem to be a bad policy-he would
arrive off his port in four days: if his
monitors go with him he would be six
days in reaching this same point il wind
and weather are fair.
The squadron of Commodore Schlev
should on the other hand. reach tbs
northern coast Of Cuba in four days, in
Cluding the detention off Charleston for
orders; Cienfuegos is about five hundred
miles distant from Havana, and this
ought to be reached in two days easily
or in six days after leaving the Virginia
Capes. This fits in neatly for it will en-
able both armored squadrons to be con-
centrated and array an irresistible force
Much alarm has been expressed for the
safety Of the small cruisers gunboats and
patrol vessels blockading the southern
coast, This should be needless. for un-
doubtedly warning has been sent them
by Commodore Watson and should an
early departure of the Cape de Verde
squadron threaten them, they ought Il
escape a surprise without extraordinary
eNertions or especial luck
The new phase of affairs lightens the
Governments anxiety as to the Oregon
and her consorts. Curacao lies nearly
600 miles to the westward of the north
eastern knuckle of South America.
around which. a greater or lesser dis.
tance, these American ships will have to
wheel before they can haul up northwest
TO join the other vessels operating in
Cuban waters.
1t is extremely improbable that the
Cape de Verde vessels would await them
and surely there are no other enemies in
these waters which need give Capt. Clark
and his colleagues a moments uneasf-
ness.