The herald., 1898-06-03
SAMPSON IN COMMAND
OF THE FLEET CONCENTRATED
OFF SANTIAGO
BATTLESHTP OREGON ON HAND
Troops Already on the Way to Invest
the City and Attack Cervera
in the Rear
Associated Press Special Wire

Associated Press Special Wire
NEW YORK, June IA dispatch to the
Herald from Washington says:
Rear Admiral Sampson has arrived off
Santiago de Cuba and according to his in
structions he has relieved Commodore
Schley in command of the entire force of
vessels operating against Santiago de Cuba
and the Spanish fleet, assigning that officer
to the command of a division comprising
the ships formerly attached to the Flying
Squadron.
Fifteen warships are at Admiral Samp-
sons disposal to pit against the six men,
of-war flying the Spanish flag. They in
clude the first-class battleships Iowa. Ore
gon and Massachusetts,, second-class bat
tleship Texas, armored cruisers New York
and Brooklyn, protected cruisers New Or
leans, Marblehead and Minneapolis, gun
boat Nashville, torpedo destroyer Scorpion,
dynamite cruiser Vesuvius, torpedo boat
Porter, auxiliary cruisers Harvard and
Yale, and auxiliary gunboat Eagle. With
such force blockadng Santiago de Cuba
naval experts, who have heretofore con-
tended that Admiral Cervera had fighting
chance to escape, now concede that his po-
sition is absolutely hopeless.
Concentration of such a formidable force
at Santiago Is regarded in some circles as
naturally presaging important and imme-
date action by the American fleet. Care
full inquiry, however, developed the fact
that Rear Admiral Sampson, before he left
Key West was notified of the program
adopted by the government to send troops
to assist the naval vessels in the capture or
destruction of the fleet, and confident that
the army will be able to arrive at its desti-
nation in due season, there is no reason to
believe that the officials have given Rear
Admiral Sampson any further discretion
than was accorded to Commodore Schley.
By this 1t is not meant that the Naval
War Board has directed Rear Admiral
Sampson not to lombard the Notifications
or enter the channel. but he has been ad-
vised against such action, and knowing the
cautiousness of the man, It is not believed
he will cast this advice aside unless he has
reason to believe the adoption Of another
course Is preferable.
1t is frankly admitted by naval officials
that the object of the collection of such a
formidable force off Santiago and of the
advice given to naval commanders is their
desire to prevent any of our ships from re-
ceiving irreparable injury.
General Skaters troops cannot possibly
come to the assistance Of Rear Admiral
Sampson before the beginning of next
week, so that operations against the Span
ish feet may not be expected before that
time, unless Admiral Cervera should deter
mine to attempt to run the gauntlet of the
American armorclads.
The Oregon Arrives
Copyrighted, 1893, by the Associated Press.
ON BOARD THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
DISPATCH BOAT DAUNTLESS, May
20, via Key West, June 2, lao a. m.-The
United States battleship Oregon Joined the
fleet this morning, finishing the most re-
markable long-distance cruise in the his
tory Of modern ironclads. Her reception
by the fleet was worthy of her achieve
ments. Coming along at 15-knot speed
she swept in a majestic semi-circle through
the fleet to a point opposite the flagship,
manning the sides of each vessel as she
passed.
The first news of the Oregon's arrival at
Key West was brought to the squadron by
the Associated Press dispatch boat soon
out and when at almost noon there doomed
up gray hulk on the horizon there was
great wigwagging from ship to ship.
Marine glasses showed the ponderous
outlines of the navy's crack heavyweight,
and showed that she carried "a bone in
her teeth,' as she piled up the white water
on each side of her bow.
Fifteen knots If it's mile" was the YER
dict as she raced in on the homestretch of
her long journey, and watches held on her
as she approached confirmed it. She had
a decided list to port from hastily filled
bunkers. that there had been no time to
trim since dashing into Key West for fuel
and out again. But her short stay there
spoke volumes for the mechanism of a
Pacific-built ship, which could do q 13,O0O-
mile run. throw in fresh coal and steam out