The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-05-17

ton Of Spanish OF
the Oregon-SampsOn's supply of
Ammunition.
washington Post.)
Two squadrons of the American nav
are on the seas ready 70 give battle to
the Spanish feet. The enemy has
been sighted. 1T ds too close to our
shores for comfort. It be de-
stroyed at any cost. AS long as 1t re-
mains above water it is a formidable
menace to our ships.
All the military operations Of the
government were suddenly paralyzed
yesterday. The immediate invasion Of
Cuba was abandoned. The navy de-
partment, on the other hand, was in a
state of feverish anxiety and uncertain
ty throughout the day. The drama Of
the war had been shifted from land to
sea, and a great naval battle may come
at any moment. The Spanish fleet,
last seen disappearing westward from
the island of Martinique, in the West
Indies, is now blowing ahead with
deadly purpose Admiral Sampson is
supposed to he still standing guard near
the Notifications of San Juan hoping
that the enemy will seek shelter there.
off the Atlantic coast, Commodore
Schley is hurrying southwark, with
the prOWS of his noble ships throwing
the white spray for hundreds Of feet
on either side. He is bound for Ha-
vana, to head off the Spanish fleet
from gaining an entrance into that
port. Somewhere down the coast he will
stop for a few moments i'm a onven
lent port to receive dispatches. and if
there have been no new developments
he will continue on his mission. Moth
ing will please him better than a
chance to aim some of his magnificent
guns upon the ships of the yellow flag.
He has been aching for a fight, He will
have it before long.
UNCERTAINTY ABOUT SPANISH
INTENTIONS.
AS a matter of fact the S~paniards
have the best of the situation in the
mystery that attaches to them. From
the very day that the fleet left the Cape
Verde Stands until it was heard from
yesterday morning it has kept the
naval authorities her guessing as 10 its
whereabouts. Suddenly it emerged
out of the unknown, appearing at
Martinique, n then it sped away, e
ing NO indication of it's destination or
purpose. The news of it's presence in
West Indian waters created great eX-
element at the navy department. The
experts had take it for granted, al
though the belief was coupled with
some reservation, that he fleet was at
CadiZ, and on this suppositiOn the plans
for an immediate campaign in Cuba
We're being vigorously pushed. A
c~ablegram from Martinique, sent by
Ncro1 n n oInr Cation Of thn II ~ III
n of the sea scouts, told of the pres
ence of the enemy, and from consider
ing theories of it's whereabouts the ma
val authorities turned their attention
to the discussion of actual facts. I'm
fortunately, however, the latter were
not sufficiently numerous to be salts
factory.
Once more the board of naval
strategy is guessing. 1t knows that he
things. These are:
Return to Spain.
Attack the ~gunbOats and cruisers now
on on the southern coast of
Cuba, and enter the Gulf of Mexico.
Seek an entrance into the beleag-
uered harbor of Havana.
MAY GO TO SAN JUAN.
The first is considered to be out Of
the question. 1t would be possible but
not probable. 1t is known that AID
miral Villamil learned-two facts when
he put into the harbor of Martinique.
He was undoubtedly informed Of the
disaster at Manila, and he was also
told of the bonn bardment of San Juan.
There is evidence which makes this
absolutely certain. He could have
started back to Spain, but the last in
formation of the fleet shows 1t to have
been proceeding westward, just as the
1ast sight of it outside Of the Cape
Verde islands revealed it moving in
the same direc tion. Admiral Villamil
has some business On hand, and it is
not a return to Spain.
Will he attempt to find Admiral
Sampson at a Juan? Until the re-
ceipt or dispatches last night. there
was no reason to believe that Sampson
had sailed far away from Porto Rico.
He is aware of the proximity Of the
Spanish fleet because the information
has been carried to him. by the St.
Louis. The navy department also sue
ceeded yesterday, after great struggle,
in getting word to him through the
cable station at st. Thomas. 1t Is the
height of absurdity to talk of his push
ing hastily out to sea to seek h Span
ish fleet. In the first place, the speed
of his squadron is limited by the two
monitors he has with him, and in the
journey from Havana to Porto Rico
the average speed was five miles an
hour. He could not make much head
way at this rate. If he desired to
make more speed he would be forced
to divide his fleet, and leave the m
tors to themselvs, a contingency which
is deemed improbable. Neither does
he need to go in search Of the enemy.
The latter is either coming toward
him-for Martinique is 400 miles to the
east of Porto Rico-or else is travelling
to the south. and it out of the range
of junction. In the opinion of naval
experts, there is nothing for Admiral
Sampson to do except to stay on guard
just where he is at present-oh the Is
land of Porto Rico. If Admiral Villa
is to attempt to recapture San
Juan, he will be at that point in forty
eight hours.
NO FEAR OF THE RESULT.
No fear is felt for the American ad-
nniral, wherever the engagement takes
place. The Spanish fleet is amply coal
ed, for it ~replenished its SUPPLIES at