The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-11
Many People, However, Are SkepticaI,
and Think the Spanish Ships May
Appear Soon In Our Waters.
SAMPSON NEAR PORTO RICO
AND MAY SOON BE IN POSSESSION OF
THE PORT OF SAN JUAN.
Little Fear that the Spaniards Will
The Oregon and Marietta.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON, May 1O-There has been
no change in the general military situation
to-day. Stated briefly, the proposed i'm
mediate invasion of Cuba depends largely on
the result of the impending naval battle be-
tween Admiral Sampson and the Spanish
fleet which is supposed to be confronting
him off Porto Rico. The report that the
Spanish war ships, which sailed west from
the Cape Verde islands nearly two
weeks ago, have appeared at Cadiz, is not
generally believed in Washington. The tip
may be true. but the prevailing opinion is
that the ships which have arrived there are
from the fotilla which sailed north from
st. Vincent at the same time the other for
nation split off and moved towards Porto
Rico or Brazil If 1t should transpire that
there is no fleet of consequence in the West
Indies for Sampson to sink then the inva-
sion will proceed as though he had achieved
a sweeping victory. At the Navy Depart
ment to-day the statement was made that
there could have been no fighting to-day
off Porto Rico, for the reason that the
American fleet is not scheduled to arrive
there until tomorrow.
1t is hard to tell, the Associated Press
says whether the naval officials were re-
lieved or disappointed by the news that
came late this afternoon to both the Navy
and State Departments to the effect that
Cadiz, Spain. The State Department gave
out the following: Official information has
been received that four Spanish cruisers
and three torpedo boat destroyers have re-
turned to Cadiz Secretary Long has re-
ceived dispatch from the naval attache
at London confirming the State Depart
ment's cable that the Spanish Cape Verde
feet is at Cadiz'
The safety of the Oregon from attack is
now completely assured and the way is
clear for military operations in Cuba with
out running the risk of having the occupy
ing army's line of communication cut off,
On the other hand, 1t is believed that no
enduring peace can be secured until the
Spanish navy has been destroyed, and it
now appears that to do this our sailors
must make up their minds to go after the
Spaniards, task very much more difficult
than that of meeting them near our own
shores. 1t was suggested by some of the
members of the war board that there was
just possibility that the Spanish squadron
might make quick passage into the Pa
cific through the Suez canal and attack
Dewey at Manila. 1t is said that, contrary
to the common understanding, the Suez
canal is open to the war ships of belliger-
ent powers, so that If the Spanish choose
to take this course they would have long
start of any pursuing fleet from our side
of the Atlantic. 1t is scarcely believed, how
ever, that the Spanish are willing to take
the great risk of exposing to our attack
their own home ports by the withdrawal of
SO considerable proportion of their naval
strength as would be required to overmatch
Dewey.
Nothing was heard from Sampson TODAY
but there is a confident expectation that in
teresting news will be coming from his
squadron within the next twenty-four
hours. Whether this means an attack on
Porto Rico or not cannot be learned Now
that there is no fears of a Spanish fleet to
fight, save those smaller craft in Cuban
waters, the Oregon is free to make a juno
ture with SIMPSONS fleet.
Secretaries Long ands Day had a large
number Of callers before they went to the
Cabinet meeting. General Woodford, our
late minister at Madrid, spent some time
with Mr.. Long. Afterward he was asked
TO break the strict reticence he has main
tanned by giving his views of Commodore
Deweys achievements at Manila, to which
he replied: THAT would be gliding refined
gold"
A party of prominent New Workers, in
a n Sch,
and Charles A. Moore, had a talk with Mr..
Long for the purpose. it is understood, of
making a gift of considerable Importance
to the government. 1t probably will be in
the line of ship. although whether yacht
or larger craft was not disclosed. Sem
ator Tillman offered the services of a num-
ber of expert electricians. now students at
Clemson College, South Carolina.
The Cabinet meeting to-day was shorter
than usual. and the business transacted was
not of an important character Published
reports that the President is considering
the appointment of militay governor for
the Philippines when our forces shall have
taken possession is denied by members of
the Cabinet. The question of a government
of the islands is regarded as a serious one,
and no action will be taken regarding it
until the matter has received much consid-
Grafton.
The Navy Department to-day advertised
for bids for armor for the battle ships IlIi-
nois. Alabama and Wisconsin Seven thou
sand seven hundred tons. at a price not
exceeding .s400 per ton, are called for. The
bids are to be opened the ed inst. The
s400 limit is according TO the figure fixed by
the recent naval appropriation act
The report from Shanghai that the Chi
nese authorities have requested that the