The times., 1898-05-23
Naval Critics Say Caryera Now
Controls the Situation.
Has ELUDED OUR WHOLENAVY
The Spanish ADMIRAL Has the Speed
and There Is No Reason Why He
whit for Sampson To Destroy HIM
No Hint of Our own Fleets.

the logic Of the present situation points
10 no fight The arguments that these
people use are convincing, though there
are possibly some gaps in the chain.
Cervera, it is said. did not come over
the Atlantic TO fight a futile battle with
a superior force and be destroyed without
gaining any advantage. This is not like
Spain. The fact is very well indicated by
the circumstance that he has been within
a few miles Of the enemy for great
many days now and has not offered bat
tie. II he had been modern Don Quixote
intent only on lighting for honor when he
knew he must have lost, the Spanish fleet
would have disappeared several days ago
from among the things that are.
There are only two other things that he
could have come for He had provisions
and ammunition on board his ships and
the -Spaniards in Cuba are suffering for
food for themselves and their guns He
came to deliver these goods 10 Blanco be-
yond all reasonable doubt The only 9TH
er possible object Of his visit to these ex-
tremely Unfriendly waters is a co-opera-
tion In some way with the remainder Of
the Spanish navy. He may be intending
10 wait south Of Cuba until ne can be
Joined by the Cadiz feet, or he may be in
structed TO concentrate the attention of
the Americans on himself while the
other fleet is making ready and executing
some other movement to the north of him.
Elnded the Whole Navy.
It seems very probable that both of
these matters are engaging his attention
Nothing points to any intention on his
ff-B,r- a.a-r-+Hsy.r doc F~,asca .l,-
other thing. He has succeeded in getting
the entire American navy around him in
the southern waters and in causing it TO
leave the North American coast unpro-
tected as far as warships are concerned.
While all the American vessels have been
Ground him and the entire strength of the
American navy has been attempting to
catch him. he has evaded battle and skill
fully made port, or very likely two ports,
on the Cuban coast. He has consumed
without being caught all these days dur
ing which. If he IS waiting for re-enforce-
meEcs or 10 help the Cadiz feet TO strike
a blow the latter feet has been getting
ready or actually coming across the At
lantic. Thus up 10 the present time ne
has made a magnificent success, if these
are his objects
The people who suggest this line Of rea-
sontng about Cervera and his feet 20
further. There has been much suggestion
that he is now at Santiago de Cuba wait
ing for the American feet to come and at
tack him The reasons why this is not
likely are plain. IL is one or the first
principles Of naval strategy, as well as
OF strategy on land, not TO put yourself
into a cul de sac. once inside the mar
row mOuthed harbor Of Santiago de Cuba
Cervera could never get out when the
enemy appeared except by fighting his
way against immensely superior forces
He would be caught in a Trap absolutely
The chief and indeed only strength Of
Cervera is his speed. if his apparent skill
al strategy is left out Of the count /
would be preposteraus for him TO give up
this one advantage utterly and put him
helf in q position where he would have to
meet the enemy Al its best He is not a
tghter first, but a flyer. II he has gone
into the harbOr Of Santiago he has put
himself where he cannot fly. If he has
stayed outside he is still able to fight or
fly as he sees III.
Another reason why he has probably
left this haTbor is that Cienfuegos IS a
far better place 70 land provisions and
ammunition for Blauco. There has been
no reason why he should not 20 from
the one port TO the other No American
ships have been about to molest him. He
has probably known this very we'll II
has happened all along that what the
American newspapers and the American
Administration could not learn, Spain has
learned very fully. When he went into
Santiago and learned the situation by
cabling TO Madrid and to Blanco he
probably put 10 sea again Immediately
and sailed for Cienfuegos
May Do ms He PIeases
This the navy people who criticise the
Administration are saying is undoubt-
edly the condition Of things at the present
time. Cienfu'gos has probably been
reached, though this one step in the pro-
gram may not have been taken. The
cargo that Cervera had for Blanco has
been delivered. If there were any Ameri-
can ships IN the harbor or blockading il
they have either fed or been captured
There was none Of any strength at that
point
Cervera may now do either of two
things, according as his plans indicate
If his work is now finished for the time
he may get back TO Spain for another
cargo. If he is TO wait for re-enforce-
nents or to divert the American ships
from the coast Of America, he may con-
tinue TO cruise around the Gulf and the
Caribbean Sea. Everything in the record
OF the past weeks would seem TO indicate
that he VIII have no trouble whatever in
doing this successfully without being
caught
No hint as TO the whereabouts of the
American ships Is given out at the Navy
Department or can be learned from any OF
the newspaper dispatches. They may be
stil at Key West. They may have beer
gone two days and now be south of Cuba
Perhaps (and certainly II the critics ar,
correct in their estimate of the situation
Il does not matter where Sampson is now
Whether he Is south or nor-h Of Cuba h
is too late to catch Cervera. The Spanisl
admiral l. off on other business more i'm
portant than being captured by Samp
son.
The question rs 10 the possibility of
Spanish feet attacking the coast cities
OF the United States is certainly one to b.
considered. There was two weeks ago a
Cadiz a powerful feet. Several warshipi
IN addition. among the most formidable IL
the Spanish navy. were cruising in thu
waters near Spain and within quick CABLE
connection with Madrid. Since that tim
the United States has heard nothing o
either Of these sqUadrons. They may b,
still on the other side or they may be OF
the point Of striking blow on this side
There are now few If any American ship!
Of formidable size on the North Atlanti,
coast.
WHAT DO THE CHILDREN DRINK
Don't give them tea or coffee. Have you