The evening times., 1898-05-16
A Caribbean Puzzle.

Beyond the fact that the naval au-
thorities know where the Cape Verde
fleet was yesterday, and the belief thai
it has a supply Of eight thousand tons
of coal taken from supply vessels in
the Gulf of Maracaibo, the situation in
the Caribbean remains unchanged,
save for one possibly serious develop
ment. Admiral Villamil, whose tor
pedo division was supposed to
form the advance of Cervera's
uadron, is reported at Martin
ique, and from the number of
vessels advised it is suspected that he
may have been Joined by the cruisers
Cardinal Cisneros, Calaluna and Prin-
cess de Asturias. If that theory be cor
rect the strategical problem is further
complicated.
1t is matter for modification that,
owing to the past niggardliness of
Congress, our docking facilities are so
inadequate that most vessels of our
fleet are more or less foul from marine
growth, and their speed is consequent
ly much reduced. The admission must
be made that the Spanish squadrons of
Cervera and Villamil, fresh as they
are from the dry dock, can outsteam US
at any and all times.
This is particularly annoying, since
it is almost certain that the Spanish
admiral commanding is determined 10
avoid a pitched battle with the Ameri-
can Navy, and to accomplish two def
mite and vital purposes. He has sup
plies for Blanco which it is of the last
importance he should be able to land at
a point in Cuba in communication with
Havana. 1t is plainly his intention to
dodge and race around our fleet, until
the factor of time and distance shall
afford him chance to descend sud-
denly upon point like Cienfuegos and
land the provisions and military stores
which he is conveying for the relief of
Havana.
His second object undoubtedly is 10
surprise small divisions of our block
aiding squadron and destroy them, as
he unquestionably could do if he could
catch them unsupported by either the
fighting or flying squadron. With any
thing like an encouraging prospect of
success, it is believed that Cervera
would make straight for Havana, get
inside of its mined and fortified har-
Dor and harry our battleships and
cruisers at night with his torpedo
boats
Although there are elements of some
discouragement in this diagnosis, as
far as the hope of an early and decisive
engagement is concerned our naval au-
thorities seem confident that their
strategy will defeat the Spanish tac-
tics, and that Cervera and Villamil will
be cleaned up during the week.
No information as to the movements
of our squadrons is being made public
by the department. We know that
Commodore Schley passed Charleston
yesterday, stopping only half an hour
to receive instructions and commune
cate with Washington. 1t is practical
ly certain that Admiral Sampson has
sailed west and today is well toward
the south end of the Windward Pas
sage, where he will watch for a Span
ish rush toward the Cuban coast. AL
though it is probably true that Cervera
could not coal and leave the Gulf of
Maracaibo before tonight or tomorrow
morning, there is some apprehension
that he might be able to strike Glen
fuegos, supposing that to be his imme-
diate objective, before Commodore
Schley could head him of at that point
The course from Charleston to Cien-
fuegos, rounding the west end of Cuba,
is. roughly speaking, in the neighbor-
hood OF fourteen hundred miles, while
that from the Gulf of Maracaibo is only
nine hundred and fifty. Any encounter.
then. possible before Cervera could