New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-21
READY TO MOVE ON HAVANA.
CAPTAIN SIMPSONS FLEET AT KEY
WEST Still. AWAITS THE WORD.
READING BULLETINS FROM WASHINGTON AND
KEEPING UP TARGET PRACTICE-IN DOUBT
AS TO THE NATURE OF THE


fBY TELEGRAPH TRIBuNE.1
Key West, April 20-Reading bulletins from
Washington and target practice still occupy
the time Of the the fleet to the
exclusion Of active movement. The Iowa has
been practising with heavy guns. Two vessels
are now sent out night patrol duty while
the torpedo boats are kept employed 1t makes
no difference whether orders come to move on
Havana Saturday night Sunday afternoon.
the squadron Is ready. Every ship has been
stripped so bare of everything except fighting
tackle that nothing remains to be stripped.
The arrival of the May1ower to-day was
notable addition to the auxiliary cruisers. The
officers Of the feet did not know she was so
well provided with means of warfare.
During the remainder Of the week half
dozen additional vessels are expected. including
two or three Revenue cutters. The monitors
Puritan, Terror and Amrhtrite have not yet
been moved out beyond the reefs. They lie close
70 the docks. Captain Sampson has not yet let
the people Of Key West know whether the moni-
tors to remain for the defence of the har-
Dor II the Spanish fleet near Cuban
waters or were close enough to Florida TO make
a dash all OF the monitors might be left at Key
West. In the existing circumstances the I'M
preston is that at least one Of them possibly
the Puritan. will form part Of the fleet which
moves for Havana. The monitors Will be useful
there.
The certainty that the cable which lands at
Key West was cut last week is causing in
creased precautions to protect the line between
here and the mainland There is safe means
OF keeping up a connection between Havana
and Key West II the Spanish officials carry out
their avowed purpose OF cutting the line off the
Cuban coast They have nothing TO gain by this
action but as a cable passing through Amer
ican territory will be useless them during the
war they intend to break the connections as
soon as they are satisfied the squadron is GER
tain to move They would then be dependent
for communication with Madrid on the cable
which lands at Santiago on the eastern end or
the island. via Jamaica. Presumably one OF
the American warships will that this means
OF communication is not kept open after the war
begins The insurgents themselves may inter-
rupt tho lines between Havana and Santiago.
The naval commanders as yet have no indi-
cation Of the nature Of the blockade which the
fleet will be called on TO enforce. They are OF
the impression. however. that the Spanish au-
thorities may settle the doubt by opening fire
at long range from the shore batteries. II that
is done the question will he quickly settled by
testing the efficiency of the guns Of the Iowa
and other vessels Of the fleet.
THE CINCINNATI LEAVES THE FLEET.
WENT OFT on PATROL AND DID NOT RETURN
SPECULATION As T) HER MOVEMENTS
Key West. April 2O.-The cruiser Cincinnati
Is missing from her squadron of sister ships
Tonight, hut there is no occasion TO fear that
disaster or accident has befallen her. With the
Marblehcad she went or. patrol duty last night
Hitherto this duty has taken the acting ships
eight or ten miles out IN the waters OF the CUR.
and thcy have usually returned early next
morning Last night. for the first time. two
cruisers were assigned instead Of one.
This morning the Marblehead returned as
usual hut MT the Cincinnati. which had not
been sighted up TO nightfall Her absence was
noted only by a few. inquiry developed the
fact that message signalled her from the
naeship early this morning. Its import has not
been ascertained on shore. bu. the answer was
waved back:
still nine miles out Will follow orders
What these orders were are known only to the
commanding officers of the fleet and the Cincin-
matt The probability is that no alarming Sig
nincance attaches 10 the incident. as the Cn-
c,nnoti was most likely sent further out to gain
Greater command OF the entrance 10 these
waters from the Cuban side.
.s this was the first occasion when the guard
was kept on duty all night and the following
dav II indicates that as the climax OF the
international drama approaches Captain Samp-
sor is resolved TO allow no loophole for surprise
Chaplain Chdwick. who was ashore today
said. The Cincinnati went on patrol last night
and is not back yet
Others not connected with the ship say she
NAV have gone to the Tortugas FOR coal.