The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-05-19
PLANS A SECRET.
sampson and schisy Hunting for Csrvsra
and His Fleet.

ana Sch1ey Hunting for Cervera
and His Fleet.
New York. May 1s.-A Times special
says: Every effort will be made to in
form Admira Sampson Of the where
abouts Of h Spanish squadron and
every ~precaution has been taken to pre-
vent the American feet from falling
into the hands Of the Spanish. The re-
strictions imposed by the United States,
however. make communication more
difficult than II would be otherwise.
Only a few naval officers could be found
who dared to talk about the affairs In
hich everybody Is interested. One Of
these officers. q man of excellent judg-
ment on war matters. expressed the
opinion that the discovery of the order
to put the monitors on guard before
Havan pointed very clearly to the de-
termination of the secretary Of the navy
and war board to relieve the fleet OF
Admiral Sampson of the slowest yes
sells so as to enable him to move with
greater rapdity in search OF Admiral
Cervera and his ships. Fol the same
sumed, will not be detained on blockade
service while the Spanish fleet Is less
than 500 miles away from Admiral
Sampson n Commodore Schley is
about twice as far away. For all that
is definitely known here. Admiral Samp-
son may be much nearer to Admiral
Cervera than is supposed. 1t Is still felt
that II the Spanish fleet wished to IL
could get out OF the Caribbean sea
without fighting.
This plan. as suggested by one navy
officer, lacks some element Of security.
1T IL all right" he said, III the Span
ish admiral is prepared to stand and
meet our feet. 1t is all right IL the
Spanish fleet Is so short OF coal as to be
- a.
age. The mere fact that coa was pur-
chased at Curacao does not surely in
dictate that Admiral Cervera was out of
coal or that he was short Of Il. He
may have sough TO give the impression
that he Is short so as to urg Admiral
Sampson TO look for him at the most
distant point from the United States.
What our war board is not forgetting is
that having urged Sampson and Schley
away from u b and Key West. leav-
ing the coast OF the United States ex-
posed. the Spanish admiral may start
his ships under forced draft. reach
some city. say New York or Boston. i'm
four or five days and be able to do
considerable damage or collect some
large indemnity as h price Of Austen
ton from damage and then have coal
/ do not say this to create alarm. There
have been intimations from the Span
ish press to Justify the belief that some
such enterprise In contemplated"
Only little Importance Is now attrib-
uted to the report that the Spanish fleet
is lurking" for the oregon and her con
sorts. the Marietta and Buffalo. The
American was informed that the ves-
sells were not likely to disturb him. Pro-
ceeding at the pace at which the three
vessels have been travelling IL may be
a week before the Spanish fleet will be
able TO meet them. Before that time il
Is hoped that Admiral Sampson will
nav forced Admiral Cervera to fight
or quilt N premises. Then IL he pro-
ceeds southwark in search of the Ore
gon he may be followed and be obliged
at last to fight Admiral SIMPSONS fleet.
reinforced by the Oregon, Marietta and
Buffalo.
II appears that the president was well
Informed that the chief difficulty OF the
Spanish commander now Is to reach a
Cuban port and land ammunition for
Blanco's use. The source OF the infor-
nation obtained by the administration
Is not divulged. but IL is believed to have
been sent from Havana and by some
one i'm that city who was possessed of
valuable information from within the
Spanish lines. A small stock of ammu-
milton was on hand but IL was believed
to be essential TO the Effectiveness of
some very good ordnance in the de-
lenses OF Havana that the supplies of
ammunition mould be augmented at
once. Admiral Cevera. IL Is asserted
with great positiveness. brings much of
this essential ammunition and will run
some risks to reach a port where with
his powerful fleet he can break the
blockade.