Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-05-27
NOW WHERE Is sCHLEY,
About as Hard to Hear Prom ms Was Ger
worms EIeet.

Washington. May 26.-Secretary Long
said, at the close of Office hours today,
that no word had come from any of the
scouting vessels so numerous In West
Indian waters concerning the spanish
flying squadron, wherefore he CON-
cluded that Cervera was still In Santi-
ago harbor. Supposedly, Schley is ly-
Ing outside watching the entrance to
prevent the egress of the Spanish YES
sells, but, while there Ia evidence of q
certain kind on that fact, there has
been no official confirmation of 1t. This
is n little remarkable, in view of the
fact that 1t is onlwy a days run for one
OF Schley's swift torpedo boats from
Santiago to u cable port in Haiti
There is also curious lack of In
formation from newspaper boats on
this point. II was supposed that the
rensors might have excised from the
dispatches of the newspaper men any
reference to the fleets, but this would
apply, according to the statement of
.he naval department officials here,
only to that part OF the dispatches that
might relate to the movements ana
where abouts of the United States
forces, and the censors' rules would not
exclude reference to the Spanish squad
ron.
Notwithstanding the officials profess
mistaken confidence in their original
belief that the Spanish squadron is Sc
there is no concealment by them of an
Intense desire to secure some absolutely
Trustworthy Information on that point.
It Is not to be doubted that with the
question still open. the beginning of tht
military operations Is retarded or as
long as there exists possibility OF the
Spanish naval force being at large,
there is an indisposition to start the
troop transports for Cuba.
Probably II was this uncertain state
of affairs that induced the President to
call a consultation at the White House
today between Secretaries Long and
Alger. General Miles and the mem
beers of the naval war board, Admiral
Sicard, Capt. Crowniinshield and Capt.
Mahan.
As stated by one of the members of
the conference, the purpose was to go
over the whole situation. from the
Philippines to Cuba and Porto Rico
and decide Just how far the plans al
ready laid should he modified to meet
existing conditions. This involved a
discussion of such important points as
the propriety of the Immediate ad-
vance Of the military forces upon
Cuba the credibility of the advices so
far had touching the location of the
Spanish squadron: the policy of pre-
cedlng the Cuban expedition, or ac-
companying It, with one directed
against Porto Rico and finally the ex-
tent of the military assistance to be
sent to Admiral Dewey Mt Manila.
As already indicated, the proceed
ings were rather in the nature of a
consultation than Of. n war. council,
whereas full decision is demanded at
once, so 1t Is not probable all of these
important questions were disposed of
at the council. None of the members
OF the conference felt authorized to tell
what had taken place. but there are
Tnnllcht a tnlI Hat,a s,f e.,
decision to embark military expedi-
lions In the course of the next few
days. whether for Cuba or Porto Rico
can only be eonjectured.
There was a lack of news today from
Admiral Dewey. and this convinced the
naval authorities that there could be
little credence placed in the Madrid
report of an accident to the Baltimore.
Key West, Fla, May 26.-Tonight ma
val men say that Commodore Schley
Is probably lying off Santiago de Cuba
harbor WI the Spanish fleet impris-
oned inside. 1t is known that the Span
isn ieet have war supplies for Haya-
ma; and that that city is the objective
point. Every movement of Admiral
cervera has shown this. While 1t would
ne Improper to analyze the composition
OF the fleets, Il may be said that Com
Inodore Sshley's squadron Is still fast
moving one and 1t is believed to be
SPEEDY enough to overtale the Span
Iarus IN race. in view of the present
conditions of their fotilla and that the
american scouting boats patrol the
seas anu would never permit the Span
ia,us TO get out of sight again.
imprisonment of Spain's fleet would
pactically end SPANS naval efforts
anu most of the American vessels could
We detailed for operations against the
,and defenses. The blockade OF Havana
nus not been weakened by reason of
,ni,ussihs so many vessels in two great
heets; Indeed, these fleets are so
handled that they are still blockading
havana effectually.