Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-05-19
TWO Big
EVENTS
SIMPSONS Fight and
Spanish Fleet at
Martinique
Change Offensive Plans
of the Govern
inent.
Schiey Puts to Sea on
a Mysterious
ErranQ.

plans OF our gov rnmenL. Inc receipt
Of the news of Symptoms attack on
the forts at San Juan and the news of
the actual pre- ence Of the Spanish
squadron off Martinique caused the
dispatch Of the flying squadron under
Schley and a delay Of the army of in
vasion Of Cuba. 1t is to the navy that
the government is again looking for
battle that may end the conflict. The
news Of tie Spanish feet revealed at
once the possibility of quick move on
the part of the Spanish fleet that would
put an end to communication by water
between Cuba and Key West, thus ex-
posing to great peril any American
landing force that might be caught
between the superior Spanish army in
Cuba and a sea patrolled by Spanish
cruisers. 1t became necessary, there
fore, to defer the departure of the mil
itary expedition until the Spanish fleet
Is met and crushed or driven from
West Indian waters. Orders flew quick
and fast rom b,th he war and navy
departments. The first checked the
moTem ent 10 Florida, setting in from
all parts Of the gentry, and diverted
the Troops owards the concentration
camp al Chickamauga. The navy de-
partmect wired s mpson information
Ct the app oach Of the Spanish fleet
and di &c {: what to do. And an
ether Or~er was flashed to Schley to
move with lis vessels at The earliest
possible moment. Schley sailed at 3:45
p m. What Is expected of him can
10 be disclosed at the navy depart
ment, and naturally is purely matter
OF conjecture. SIMPSONS fleet is
strong enough unaided to overcome
the Spanish flying squadron if he can
catch it ut Of 1ea h Of the fortified
tio@s. His feet, h wayer, ID lacking
IN speed as compared with the Spanish
vessels, and cooperation on the part
Ct our flying squadron would add very
much 10 the cha &c of crushing the
Spaniards and forcing the fight which
is believed to be necessary to the sue
cess Of the Cuban campaign as now
planned. Some one suggested to the
~, ho& ;-l,
when last heard from was at a point
not very much more distant from the
great cities of the Atlantic seaport
than from Havana; bit if the S. anish
admiral con. emplates a movement in
the former direction he probably
will run full into SchIey,
who will have his scouts well out in
advance when he moves southwark
Much regret is expires sed among the
naval officers at the detIy experienced
in communicating with Sampson, and
it is net learned yet at the navy de
partment whether the admiral has
actually received up to this moment
the important adyices as to the move
ments of the Spanish fleet that have
been dispatched to him. Doubt on this
score is founded on the experience the
department has ad already with ca
bles received YESTERDAY from the West
Indies. 1t was stated positively at the
close of office hours that no word had
come during the y from Sampson
save the one telegram sent in the
morning regarding the attack on the
forts at San Juan. It can be stated
that there is good ground for the be-
lief that the admiral has achieved all
that was expected OF him or that was
necessary to carry out the plans of the
strategy board. The purpose was to
destroy San Juan as a fortified base
that might form a harbor of refuge for
the Spanish fleet and, according to the
admiral's report, that has been prac-
tlcally accomplished. 1t is neither
necessary nor material that San Juan
itself be occupied all that is essential
being that a Spanish fleet should find
no more protection there than it
would in any harbOr, substantial with
out defences, and if the flying squad
ron should have the temerity now to
enter San Juan harbor ii will fall an
easy victim to Simpsons fleet.
Captain O'Niell, chief or the bureau
Of ordnance, yesterday informed
Secretary Long of the amount of am
munition SIMPSONS feet had when il
sailed. He said that every ship was
stocked to its fullest capacity. 1t is
the opinion of the bureau officials
that, although the bombardment made
considerable inroads on SIMPSONS
stock Of powder, shot and shell. it did
not materially deplete it. In case the
feet should require additional ammu-
milton it would have to be sent from
Key West where the navy department
has large stock in reserve.
Schley Sails.
Old FONT Cent )rt, Va, May IA
The flying squadron under Commodore
Schley put to sea at 3:45 under sealed
orders. The squadron consists of the
flagship Brooklyn, the frst-class bat
tleship Massachusetts, the second
class bat.leship Texas, the protected
yacht Scorpion and the collier Sterling.
Schley received orders from Washing