Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1898-06-04
COMMODORE SCHLEY
IS HEARD FROM
Reports to Sampson but Dispatch
Is Dated Before Reaching
Santiago.
SOUGHT CERvERA AT CiENFUEG0S
Was Much Disappointed in Not
Finding Him There and
Moved on,
SOUGHT CERvERA AT CiENFUEG0S
HE IS NOW OFF SANTIAGO
Thought That Cervcra IL There But
Even at Ibis Late Day No
Onc Seems Absolutely
Sure.

dant reason TO believe that the naval
officials late last night received dis
patches from Admiral Sampson, al
though at 1880 p. IN. no bulletins had
been made public. The Associated
Press has already announced that at .
o'clock yesterday the dispatch boat
Dolphin, of Commodore Schley's
squadron, ran alongside the flagship
New York, which was then of Havana,
and Informed her that she bore dis.
patches for Admiral Sampson from,
Commodore Schley. 1t is considered
probable that these dispatches con.
tanned information OF the precise
whereabouts of the Cape Verde squad
ron, and quite naturally the informa.
ton would be sent 20 the naval authOri-
ties here as soon as fast boats and telc'
graph wires could carry it. That the
naval officers have received this infor,
nation is not doubted, but as yet they
have neither given the long expected
news TO the public nor have they even
admitted that dispatches from Samp'
son have been received.
invasion Expected at Once.
If Commodore Schley has successful
ly accomplished his object, there now
seems nothing to prevent active opera
tons upon the part of the army. That
is the idea OF the best naval authorities.
The climate in Cuba is not what il was
4 month ago, but it is much better than
it. will be in Il month hence, and before
another Spanish feet can reach these
waters, the naval authorities hope to
s,, ann, moons Ia, t,ngGaSAinn nf "A base
Of operations in Cuba. The navy would
be able to cover the landings of the
troops in possession of Il base of operas
tons in Cuba. The navy would be able
to cover the landings of the troops and
enable the military forces 10 get ashore
without hindrance.
Intense enthusiasm relgned last
night among the officers and men over
the news, even though it is not aDso-
lutely certain, of the success OF the
work of the last month. The days have
passed slowly and YEARLY, and no per-
sons have chafed more over the delay
aud inactivity than those who have
been cruising in Cuban waters since
the war began. But if Commodore
Schley really has the Spanish fleet at
Santiago de Cuba il is almost as COM
plete Il victory as could have been eX-
pccted from a naval engagement. Inc
Spaniard'S policy was 10 avoid an en-
counter, and it would have been dlff-
cult for any division of Rear Admira
SIMPSONS feet to have oyerhauled or
captured them. But if they are not
bottled up in Santiago de Cuba, bafiied
At their own game, the future seems
bright, and all that is now waited for
is the order to prepare to protect the
landing of our military forces in Cuba.
Since Rear Admiral Simpsons
squadron left Key West an intensely
close watch has been kept for theSpan-
ISL feet, in spite of the belief that 1T
was at the south of Cuba. Several false
alarms have been given, the men on the
lookouts i'm the tops being so anxious to
catch sight Of the Spaniards that they
would see five columns of smoke where
only one was really discernible, and
that the smoke of one Of Rear Admlra
SIMPSONS w boats.
The tension was naturally great.
rhis was not caused by any feeling OF
doubt as to the result of the naval en-
gaaement, for Admiral SIMPSONS fleet
has been so active since it left Key
West that the SpaniarDs would have
oeen completely annihilated if they had
,ourted a fight. The feet as at pres
ent constituted, without Commodore
Schley's command and without the
,hips actually engaged in the blockade
forms the most powerful squadron
ever gotten together by the United
States navy. Then again, Commodore
Schley's ships are fully able to defeat
the Spanish force under Admiral Ger
vera, even under conditions favorable
to the enemy, a state of things which
is not thought to exist at Santiago de
Cuba. 1t would be mere pastime for
ahe Massachusetts,, Texas and Iowa to
sink the Viscaya, Almirante, Oquendo,
Cristobal Colon and Maria Teresa II
hey attempted to file out Of the harbor.
Blanco's Messages to Madrid.
Madrid, May 30.-A dispatch from
Havana says Captain General Blanco
has received news that nearly thirty
American vessels were yesterday seen
in front of Cardenas.
General Blanco cables from Havana
that the torpedo boat destroyer Ter
ror, from Martinique, has arrived at
Fajardo, on the east coast of Puerto
Rico. She intended to go to San Juan.
but found four American warships
cruising in front of the harbor and
changed her direction for FQjardo.
General Blanco's dispatch says that
Admiral Cervera's squadron is still at
Santiago de Cuba; that the bulk Of
Admiral Simpsons squadron is block
aiding that port; that Commodore
Schley's squadron is watching the Iu-
catan passage; that the American yes
sells have left Cienfuegos and that the
American fleet of blockaders remain
In sight of Havana.
General Blanco says that he ordered
the departure Of the French steamer
Lafayette with a cargo of coal, as the
coal was required for Spanish war
ships.
Story or Two RcconcentradOs.
Tnudop Max, 9O-A dispatcb IN the