Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1898-04-27

BULLETINS.
Elsew here in his issue appears st sum
mary Of war operations from the begin
ming of hostilities on Thursday last, up
to yesterday. Tint summary is merely a
record of facts, and ne space is given to
rumnr, or speculation as to the future
movements. But in order that readers Of
THE AMERICAN may be prepared for flu
ture developments, it may be well to state
briefly the present situation, and advance
a few conjectures.
As yet Spain has made no decisive move
| Woodford his passports, which action
marked the beginning of war.
The Spanish naval fleet is divided. AT
Cadiz is fleet of cruisers and battles hips
which occupies something the same posi-
tion as the U. s. flying squadron at
Hampton Roads. At St. Vincent, in the
Cape Verde islands, is another fleet of
battleshps, torpedo boats and torpedo
boat destroyers. At the Philippine
| Islands, in the Pacific, is a smaller fleet.
The U. S. navy is similarly divided.
The largest fleet is engaged in the Cuban
blockade, the flying squadron is at
Hampton Roads, and the Pacific squadron
is at Chinese port awaiting the word to
move on the Philippine Islands, where he
first naval battle may occur. Our Pacific
squadron, it is believed, is more than
match for the Spanish fleet at the Philip
pines.
l
| This, in brief, is the situation of the op-
| posing navies, and it is to these that at
tention is directed for immediate devel-
| opments in the war. The time for land
! operations has not yet arrived.
Interest centers at present in the ques-
! ton: What do the two Spanish fleets
/ in the Atlantic propose to do? The re-
! port that the Spanish fleet has been or
dered to leave st. Vincent under procla-
nation of neutrality by Portugal is not
confirmed. Yesterday the fleet was still
there, but being put in readiness to sail,
and presumably for a long voyage.
1t is conjectured that Spain viii send
her Cadiz fleet against New York, Boston,
i or some of the coast towns. for the ur-
pose OF drawing some of the American
fleet from Cuba and establishing COM
muuication with the army in Cuba. 70
meet such move the fast cruiser, Min
nearols" Erd COiGIlbla ,.e.o been 81 at
out from the flying squadron presuma bly,
for scouting duty along the North Attain
! tic coast. The Minneapolis" is said to
have passed Mt. Desert island bound east !,
/ pre- -umahiy on scout duty, and incident
Z
+ ship "Psri-' which has been reported
captured by the Spaniard~, but is believed
to have escaped and is now Well on her
way across the Atlantic.
In the meantime the United States is
rushing work of fitting out auxiliary
vessels for blockade duty, thereby reliev
ing the armored vessels for service to
better meet such an attack as outlined
above.
Another conjecture is that Spain Will
send part of her fleet from Cape Verde
around the Horn to the Philippines or to
attack the Pacific coast. Such move,
though possible, seems too remote for
/ consideration. If it is made, the United
States nay send some of its Atlantic fleet
/
or order the Pacific squadron to abandon
any move on the Philippines and sail for
/ nome waters.
The removal of the Pacific fleet from
Hong Kong, an English port, was neces-
STATED by the proclamation of neutrality.
The fleet is now Mt a Chinese port.
China has not yet declared neutrality
When she does it viii necessitate another
move on the part of the fleet, and may
hasten an attack on the Philippines, for
it Will be necessary for our fleet to estab-
lish base of supplies.
The insurgents in the Philippines Will
act in concert with the [. 5. fleet. 1t is
said they are now massng about Maulila,
ready for descent upon the Spanish
army there.
As to land operations it is not likely
that the United States viii send an iu-
vading force into Cuba until after the
wet season A force of 5 0C9 men may be
landed to establish communication with
the insurgents, Who VIII be supplied
with arms and ammunition and operate
il conjunction with cur naval forces.
As yet no authentic reports have been
received of the capture of American YES
sells by Spain. The Bath schooner "Shen-
andoah" reported captured, has since
been sighted and is expected to arrive in
Liverpool in few days.