The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1898-05-18
SPA|NS SQUADRON DISCOVERED.
PREPARED TO FIGHT.
The Army Of Invasion Halted at Tampa u
Await the Outcome Of the
Great Naval Battle-

Friday the long looked for and much
discussed Spanish fleet wa discovered
ut Martinique. 500 miles from Porto
Rico. and 1000 miles from Havana.
The invasion into Cuba, the plans for
which were well under way. was i'm
mediateiy reconsidered.
II was not thought advisable to per-
nit the American army to approach
Cuba with SIMPSONS fleet hundreds
Of miles away and the Spanish ships
likely preparing for dash into Cuban
waters.
The Spanish fleet is made UP of
ffrst-class ships OF which four are
Five vessels of Commodore Schley's
flying squadron, led by the flagship
Brooklyn. steamed out of Hampton
Roads Friday afternoon. and after
passing the Virginia capes took a
souther1y course. going, II is said, to
augment Admiral Sampson's feet now
In the vicinity of Porto Rico.
Sunday the Spanish fleet was locat-
ed at Curacao Island. off the coast OF
Venezuela. Two OF the cruisers were
taking on coal. Admiral SIMPSONS
fleet at the time was on the northern
coast of Haiti.
The Spanish torpedo boat Terror
was disabled at Fort de France. Mar
Unique. Considering that the American
cruiser Yale Is also at Martinique
making repairs. IL Is believed the Ter
ror Is lying In wait for the American,
and will make an attack as she leaves
port.
The one source Of serious danger IL
that the Spanish fleet may take a sud-
den dash north under forced draught
for Cienfugos. gaining that port before
II can be engaged by either OF our
fleets and inhlcting much damage on
rOh nf axia
blockading Southern Cuba as may
come in its way.
Admiral Sampson was kept informed
by the Navy Department OF the loca-
ton Of the Spanish fleet. Admiral
Sampson. by going through the Wind
ward passage, can head off the Span
iards and close In on them off the Vene-
zueian coast. II the fleet should change
Its course and go back to Martin
ique or proceed north to Puerto Rico
via the Mona passage Rear Admiral
SIMPSONS scouts, which have stationed
at the north entrance Of the passage
and Off the coast OF Martinique, will
sail for the fleet with the information
and Admiral Sampson will follow
them.
The cruiser Yale Is watching for the
enemy off st. Pierre and the St Louis
5 on the lookout at the entrance ~
the Mona passage. There is no other
course for the Cape Verde fleet to take
In order to avoid meeting Sampson
the Spaniards may put back out OF
range, and In that event II may be a
week before the opposing fleets en-
gage in battle
Major General Brooke, commanding
the United States troops at Chicka-
mauga Purk, received orders from tn,
war department to send all dRvalry
and Infantry troops In camp at Chicka-
mauga- about 5000 In all, to Tampa,
Fla. without delay.
The order is accompanied with IN
structions TO provide the men with n
full supply Of ammunition for 80 days.
On receipt OF the order General Brooke
At once issued an order to the division
commanders instructing them to not!-
sy the regiment commanders to pre-
pare at once for departure.
Orders have been given for 10000
hammocks, to be furnished Immediate
ly for the use Of the army. Experts
have reported that a hammock Is an
absolute necessity in a Cuban cam
paign. II is the only means to escape
the fatal dampness Of the soil.
Concerning the strength of the Gu
ban forces In the field the Cuban repre-
sentatives hero say that the recent
advices fully bear out all that the Gu
ban authorities have claimed. namely,
that there are In all about 10000 men
either under arms or ready TO take
arms as soon as guns and ammunition
are at hand. OF this number 1t Is said
that about 1900 lack arms and equip
ment, leaving about $4,000 now in the
field and reasonably equipped, al
though additional ammunition and
supplies would be most advantageous
IN thaSa latter