Evening star., 1898-05-30
Has Seen the Spanish Vessels at
Santiago.
QUALIFICATION OF SECRETARY LONG
Effect on the Coming invasion of
Cuba.
AT THE WAR DEPARTMENT


patch from Commodore Schley shortly af-
ter midnight announcing definitely that he
had located Admiral Cerveras Cape Verde
squadron in the Bay OF Santiago de Cuba
The commodore stated that he had seen
and recognized the vessels of the Spanish
fleet.
While the naval officials have been NOR
ally certain for several days that Cervera's
squadron was in the harbor of Santiago
the omcial announcement from Commodore
Schley was received by the officers on duty
at the department with intense satisfaction
Assurance is now doubly sure that the
Spanish fleet is bottled up and that the
cork is in the bottle
1t Is not believed that Admiral Cervera
will attempt to escape from the predica-
ment In which he finds himself. as such a
course would surely result in the destruc-
ton of his vessels and the loss of many
IVes precious to Spain. The suggestion is
made, however, that the Spaniard may
blow up his ships rather than have them
fall into the hands of Schley, as they will
II they remain in the harbor.
The defniteness of Commodore Schley's
olspatch would indicate that he has ef-
Iected landing near Santiago and made
personal investigation of the harbor. 1t
the bay definitely to see and recognize the
Spanish vessels, but by effecting landing at
some point on either side of the entrance a
vantage point could be gained very likely
from which the entire harbor could be ex-
amined. In all probability Commodore
Schley or one of his trusted officers has
successfully performed this hazardous un-
dertaking in order to obtain the valuable
Information contained in his dispatch
Eject ON Cuban Invasion.
what effect the certainty that Cervera
Is practically helpless Will have upon the
pians Oh the administration with reference
to the invasion of Cuba can only be con-
Jsctdred. The transportation of land
forces to the island, it is understood, was
delayed because of the uncertainty con-
eerntns the location of the Spanish squad
ron. II that understanding is correct, the
probability of an early invasion of Cuba
Is strong. 1t is not unlikely that the move
ment Of troops, which has been DELAYED
from time to time, will begin shortly. and
that before many days the United States
forces will have obtained a Substantial
foothold upon Cuban soil. In calculating
upon keeping the Spaniards penned I'M in
thls 1ashlon the officials have taken into
account the possibility of the dispersion
OF the American blockading fleet by one of
lne tropical cyclones that are almost due
at this season. The American fleet in
such case would be obliged to cut and run
Tor some net tral port to make it's way
py force into one of the Cuban ports for
sheiter. In either case there might be an
opportunity for the Spanish fleet to make
us escape, providing the commanding Off
GERS are wiling to take the desperate
chance Of going out in weather heavy
enough to compel the big American iron
ciads TO seek shelter, unless we block the
harbor by scuttiing barges in the channel
On her way to this country the Vizcaya
passed through scme very severe weather.
almost approaching the cyclonic, and prov
ed that vessels of her class are able to
Withstand such storms with perfect safety.
Qualification of Secretary Long.
1t was with the deepest qualification that
the Secretary of the Navy last night re-
ccived the message from Commodore
Schley that finally removed from the field
of conjecture aEy question as to the loca-
lion OF Cervera's Spanish flying squadron.
The commodore telegraphed briefly, but to
the point. He wasted no time in phrase
making, but set out in a few short SEN
tences the situation at Santiago. The text
of his dispatch has not been given out, but
the substance has been made public. The
commodore said that he had sighted the
Spanish fleet in Santiago harbor. The de-
partment construed his words to mean that
the officer himself, with his own eyes, had
seen Cerveras fleet, and, as near as can
be learned, this gratifying spectacle was
beheld by Schley yesterday morning. He
expressed the belief that the whole fleet
was within Santiago harbor, but it appears
that he did not actually see two of the
big cruisers-the Vizcaya and the Oquendo.
Like the commodore, the naval officers
here are confident that these two cruisers
are also in the harbor, for they say 1t
would be very bad policy for an admiral in
Cerveras position to divide his fleet. Even
if it should prove to be true, however, that
the Vizcaya and Oquendo are at large,
they can do little harm, unless their COM
manders have arrived at that desperate
state of mind when they are willing to
submit their ships to certain destruction
for the sake Of inflicting some small injury
on some of the unprotected vessels of the
American navy or for the glory of rum
ming the blockade.
The Navy Department has taken note of
the reported arrival Of the torpedo boat
destroyer Terror at San Juan. They say
she has made her last cruise under the
Spanish flag, whence it is inferred that
one Of the American cruisers Is already
on her way to bottle her UP in San Juan
harbor.
1t is believed that Sampson confident of
Schley's ability to hold the Spaniards in
Santiago harbor, is now rapidly preparing
to convoy the military expeditions, the
starting of which cannot be much longer
deferred. Sampson has reinforced Schley's
fleet with some of the best ironclads, the
Iowa. for instance, so that there is no
question of his overwhelming the Span
iards in point of force. The Cienfuegos
blockade, which was not abandoned. bur
was temporarily weakened to insure the
safety of some of the blockading vessels
from attack by the Spanish flying squad
ron, will now be re-established in all, of
its Old rfkor.
The Cuban Invasion.
There appears to be no reason now why
the military invasion OF Cuba should not
begin as soon as a sufficient number of
troops can be equipped for the campaign.
No one who can speak authoritatiyely
will say when the military expeditions will
start. Secretary Alger when asked the