The record-union., 1898-05-11
SPANISH
WARSHIPS
RETREAT.
The Flying Squadron Puts
Back to Cadiz.
May hecesSitate Our Fleet
Going to SPANS Coast.
Enemy's Navy Must Be Destroyed
Before Peace Can Be Assured.
Causes a Change in Plans of War Depart
ment-TrOOps to Immediately Move
for an Invasion of
Cuba.

WASHINGTON, May 10.-The State
Department gives out the follow
ing: Official information has been re-
ceived that four Spanish cruisers, one
torpedo boat and three topedo boat
destroyers have returned to Cadiz.
WASHINGTON. May lot is hard
TO tell whether the naval officers were
relieved or disappointed by the news
that came late this afternoon to both
the Navy and State Departments to
the effect that the Spanish flying
squadron had arrived at Cadiz, Spain.
The safety 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 communica-
ton cut off. On the other hand, it is
believed that no enduring peace can
been destroyed, and it now appears
that to do this our sailors must make
up their minds to go after the Span
ish, a task very much more difficult
than that of meeting them near our
own shores.
1t was suggested by some of the
members of the War Board that there
was just possibility that the Spanish
squadron might take a quick passage
into the Pacific through the Suez Ca
nal and attack Dewey at Manila. 1t
is said that, contrary to the common
understanding, the Suez Canal is open
to the warships of belligerent powers,
so that if the Spanish choose to take
this course they would have long
start of any pursuing fleet from our
side of the Atlantic. 1t is scarcely be-
Heved, however, that the Spanish are
willing to take the great risk of ex-
posing to our attack their own home
ports by the withdrawal of so consider
able a proportion of their naval
strength as would be required to over
match Dewey.
Nothing was heard from Sampson to-
day, but there is a confident expecta-
ton that interesting news will be COM
ing from his squadron within the next
twenty-four hours. Whether this
means an attack on Porto Rico or not
cannot be learned
One effect of the retreat of the Span
ism fleet has been to hasten even more
the preparations 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 oppor-
tunity to indulge in extensive drilling
and practice maneuvering. The regu-
lar army troops do not need these, and
are to be thrown at once into the fray.
Many of the regiments of the National
Guard which are entering the volunteer
service are felt to be sufficiently train
ed from military point of view to fol-
low the regulars Immediately, and the
War Department indicated its purpose
to-day of dispatching these volunteer
troops directly to the Gulf Coast fo1
shipment. instead of sending them tC
Chickamauga.
This disposition was shown by the
changes in the new orders issued to the
troops. although there yet may be q
return to the original programme OF
concentration if the plans show signs
of weakness as they develop. The
Quartermaster-G General has already
gotten under charter twentysever
merchant steamers for the Transports
ton of troops, and. roughly speaking
these should carry about 10000 men
Others are being procured as rapidly
as possible.
The plan of the War Department is
to have these vessels assemble at the
different Gulf ports, Tampa, Mobile
New Orleans and Galveston, to take or
troops which will be sent there. The
Navy Department is expected to fur
nish conveys to the transports, which
would be absolutely helpless against
Spanish attack. AT this point there are
signs of friction. First, the transports
will be obliged to await Admiral Samp-
sons return. in order to secure proper
convoy, and, secondly, the navy OBJ
jeets very decidedly to undertaking the
task of conveying a number of trans
ports. 1t insists that to assure the
safety of the convoy of the troops al
the transports should be gathered In