The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1898-05-15
THE srANlAnns LocArnp-


Washington Mby n Definite orlclnl I'M
formation reached here late this after.
noon that the Spanish squadron had been
sighted IN tho island ~ Curacao. one ot
the Dutch West lndlra. N the coast az
Venezuela This Information vas ~.
gardcd nn n vital Importance, as II not
only nXrd tho position ~ the enemy hut
disclosed the purpose ot the spanish ad-
mlrl to cludc Admiral sampson and
make his way through the caribbean sea,
probably 10 cuba.
Tho island ~ Curacao was originally
Spanish and IL pcoplcd mainly by descend
ants NJ Aphniards. though D, in now onc
ot the Dutch possessions.
Tho spanish admlrals course was also
Influenced by the fact that tho French
cable starting from Caracas. Venezuela,
touches at tho island Of Curacao ana
thence proceeds northward through tho
caribbean nca to iinyti with spurs run
ming east and west to Porto Rico and
cuba respectively. Ito IL thus enabled to
bo In touch from Cutncoa with the span
lsh authorities IN cuba ana Porto Rico
and through them direct with the Spon'
! lHh admiralty nt Madrid.
M immediate battle is expected and
| the Spanlnrda IL seems llkvly have Huc'
cccdcd In passing south of the American
! fleet and uro now well to wcstwnrd ol
| IT, As the enemy is now reached 10y tn,
cable. the navy department regards II a'
nr the most vital concern that the cNnc'
whereabouts " tho American ships should
not hc made known during tho next te"
days. Thus far they have felt hnndl'
capped by the fact that the Spanish nd
mIrnl knew the whereabouts ot our ships
whnc We were In doubt ns 10 the locality
of his ships Tho officials here regard Il
us essential during tho next few days t'
reverse those conditions 80 that the Span
lsh admiral win be In the dark
Tho department doubtless IL informed
us to the Whereabouts OF Admiral Samp
sons squadron, hut II does not see nj u
glvo amy information, and the SANS
rigid silence prevails MS to tho where
abouts aud destination Of Commodore
Schlcy's dying squadron
The game has reached such a crlllca
state that premature publication os Il
the whereabouts Of our ships might cnus
Incstmnble loss and tpc failure of pres
cnt plans
In one respect the m0ncuvcr of lh
Spanish fleet N q relief to navy oillclal
here, as II tends to show the safety
the baltlcshlp oregon. She Ia proceed
= Ing from the north coast Of South Amer
lea to Join SIMPSONS fleet and Is som'
where In the neIghborhood Of Martinique
J Had the Spanish squadron remained q
that point there would have been sorlol
danger that the oregon would be nte
copted Now however, she Is wei OF
Of the way of the Spanlnrds 80 long
she follows the usual route, II Is not
L be supposed that the navy departme'
with the knowledge OF the whercnbou
- of the Spanish fleet Is going to allow ~
y OF It's little cruisers and gunbonts In blocl
III nde duty on the Cuban coast to fall VI
Tins to the huge Spanish lronclads the
u commanders viii be promptly notified
/ the approach Of the SpanIards and 1t mi
be set down that unless tho dopartme
Is satisfied that Schley or sampson c'
head them off and crush the Spanish Tic
r. the Cuban blockade vessels Will be CIV