Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-06-01
SCHLEY IS NOW ON GUARD
Has Cervera Cornered in Santi-
ago Bay.
SPANIARDS IN A TRAP
SchIey Thought He Had Them Few
Days Before at Cienfuegos,
but was Mistaken.

steamer New York, arrived here this
morning after having left the American
fleet at noon yesterday.
Twelve American Warships are now
outside the harbor of Santiago de Cuba
and Admiral CerFera and the Spanish
fleet are almost certainly inside, but moth
ing certain is known as to the commune
cation which Commodore Schley has had
with the shore, or as to the number of
Spanish fighting vessels which are bot
tied up in the harbor of Santiago de
Cuba.
1t is to be presumed that the Harvard
has important dispatches for the naval
authorities at Washington.
Key West, Fla. May 2S.-S:52 a. H.
1t is now almost certain that Commodore
Schley has the Spanish fleet bottled up in
the harbor of Santiago de Cuba
There is SO little doubt about this that
the naval campaign is proceeding upon the
assumption that Admiral Ceryera is in
capable Of doing any harm Within a
few days the exact conditions at Santiago
de Cuba will be known without Il shadow
of doubt.
In spite of assertions to the contrary,
Commodore Schley was not absolutely
sure of his game when he last communi-
Gated with Rear-Admiral Sampson, and
the commodore viii not take active steps
10 block up the entrance of Santiago de
Cuba harbOr until he is perfectly certain
that Admiral Ceryera's ships are inside
However he may have done this already,
as Commodore Schley's last cOmmunica-
ton, forwarded on Thursday, only reached
Rear-Admiral Sampson yesterday.
Thought They Were at Cienfuegos.
The commodore stayed three days at
C;Cnfuegos. He signaled to his ships Il
believe the Spanish fleet is in the har-
boz" On this belief Il message was sent
70 10 ,I,,,; L
how Commodore Schley found out that
he was mistaken are not yet known. At
any rate, acting or the admirals in
Gtructions, the commodore then moved
east, arriving outside Santiago de Cuba
On Wednesday morning, May p.
The topography of Cienfuegos and San
tiago de Cuba is almost identical. Both
harbors are about six miles long, with
marrow entrances about 300 yards wide
and protected by high land. A whole feet
could be in the harbor of either place and
be invisible from the outside.
After his experience at CieHfuegOs, it is
probablye that Commodore Schley was
very conservative in deciding whether or
not he had caught Admiral Cereyra. From
the tone of his dispatches, it is evident
that the commodore soon gained much
secondhand and external evidence which
pointed to Admiral Cervera's presence in
the harbor. This evidence was apparent
~ strong enough to make the commodore
feel certain the object of his trip had been
accomplished. but ii view of his previous
experience, he would not risk Il decisive
statement until after ascertaining the fact
for himself.
Before this dispatch is published, it is
likely that Commodore Schley has sent
some vessel into the entrance of the har-
Dor of Santiago de Cuba, or has obtained
from reliable source ashore information
as TO the exact and number and the
names of the Spanish warships sheltered
by the hills about that place.
Santiago Poorly Protected
Contrary to the generally-eXpressed
opinion, the harbOr of Santiago de Cuba
is poorly protected. Like Havana and
San Juan, it has its Moro castle, which
Is even 4 better target than those of
Havana and San Juan. The only danger
to be feared is from the mines which
have been laid in the channel of Santiago
since war was declared. But counter
mining would probably render sthese
mines harmless, should it prove desira BILE
for Commodore Schleys ships to enter
the harbor. Such a step, however, is
unlikely.
In this connection it may be noted that
since the commencement of the naval OD-
erat;ons the moral effect of the mines |
has been great. This condition promises
to continue and will probably mark the |
naval operations to greater extent than
A prominent naval authority said to
the correspondent of the Associated
press: The moral effect of torpedoes
and mines will prove far superior to their
actual effect. In fact SO great is their
moral force that [ doubt whether their
powers of execution will have an oppor-
tunity to BE judged in this war"
Blockade Peaceful and Uneventfu1.
: The blockade of Northern Cuba contin- |
4c,,l
full. The measures of precautiOn which |
Rear-AdmiraF Sampson adopted up to
yesSerday-to guard the eastern and |
western passages-did not detract from
the efficacy of the blockade.
= Now that the element of uncertainty |
regarding the Spanish ships whereabouts |
IS almost entirely removed, the ships |
which were solely occupied in watching |
for the Spaniards form an additional force |
for the blockade and without any incon-
yenient change of position. Commodore |
Schiey has been reinforced. but his posi-
ton was clearly so strong that reinforce. |
ment which he received made no differ |
crce to the strong fleet in Northern Cuban |
wa ters
The rumors of the sailing of a second |
Sp~.4ish squadron did not worry Rear
Admiral Sampson in the slightest degree |
His feelings on the subject were apparent
ly expressed recently when he said: Il am
perfectly satisfied that we have bagged |
those fellows" (referring to Admiral Ger
vCra'S ships).
Rear-Adm;ral Sampson does not cross
his bridges until he comes to them, and |
when that time comes his unconquerabie |
patience and strategic ability can be re- !
lied upon to see him safely across.
Army Reported Ready to Move.
The second time since war has been de-
cllred the admiral has been notified that
the army is ready to move. This is good
news to all the naval officers. The two
branches of the service have been playing
a game of wait; the army resting until the
navy disposed of the Spanish fleet and
the navy unable to occupy much needed
bases until the troops were ready. All
appearances now point TO the passing
away cf any feeling between the two
branches of the service and hearty active
cooperation between the army and navy
may be anticipated.
BY great good fortune, no accident has
occurred of sufficient Importance to render
any of our ships utterly helpless or be-
nj Of DIN vi bo HantS'