New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-28
FAMPSON NEAR HAVANA.
AN ACCOUNT OF THE ADMIRALs LATEST
CRUISE

sCHIEY ON THURSDAY NIGHT
Copyright, 1885, The Associated Pr-s-)
on the Northern Coast Of Cuba May q. =
a. m. via Key West Fla-At 10 o'clock last
night the Dolphin ran alongside the flagship
New-York Her lights showed that she bore
dispatches for Rear-Admiral Sampson. The
commander Of the Dolphin shouted through his
megaphone:
IT have dispatches from Commodore Schiey TO
the commander chief"
cheer went up from the crowded decks oi
the New-York Commodore Schey's dispatches
were dated off Cienfuegos.
Absolutely nothing definite can be said, was
the reply which Captain Chadwick. Of the New
York made to a question as to what had hap
pened.
Since he heard Of Admiral Cervera's arrival
at Curacao Rear-Admral Sampson has repeat
edly said he believed the Spaniards would go
to Cienfuegos or Santiago de Cuba To prove
that he was almost sure the Spaniards would
be caught the following may be divulged With
GU. a breach Of confidence: When the ships OF
Commodore Schley's division were sailing out
OF Key West under Rear-Admiral SIMPSONS
orders. the Admiral set this signal to Captain
Philip. Of the Texas:
You are going to nab the spanards. and
good luck to you
OBJECT OF THE CRUISE.
Since then the Rear-Admral has been cruis-
ing around as a purely precautionary measure
He thoroughly believed Commodore Schley would
bottle up the Spaniards, either In Cienfuegos or
Santiago de Cuba. but he took all steps to guard
against q possible evasion OF Commodore Schiey
by the enemy and an attempt OF the Spanards
to make Havana through the eastern or western
passage. There Is little doubt that the Commo-
dore had he met the Spanish ships. could have
defeated them
There Is good reason to believe tnat from
strategic point OF view more can he gained by
the Spanards being bottled up In Santiago de
Cuba than from an engagement. which. though
Il would result In victory for the Americans.
might result IN some damage 10 the American
ships In the harbor Of Santiago de Cuba the
Spanish feet will be helpless
II Commodore Schley has accomplished MS
object. there now seems nothing to prevent ac-
tive operations on the part of the Army. Ihat
10 the idea OF the best naval authorities Inc
climate in Cuba Is not what 1t was month aso'
hut II IL much better than it will be month
later and before another Spanish fleet can
reach these waters the naval authorities hope
70 see American troops in possession OF oase
OF operations in Cuba. The Navy woud De
able to cover the landings Of the troops ano
ena BILE the military forces TO get ashore without
hindrance
AS GOOD AS VICTORY.
Intense enthusiasm reigns tonight among the
officers and men over the news. even though II Is
not absolutely certain Of the success OF the
work OF the last month The days have passed
slowly and YEARLY and no persons have chafed
more over the delay and inactivity than those
who have been cruising IN Cuban waters since
the war began. But II Commodore Schley mas
really got the Spanish fleet at Santiago oe CuDa
II Is almost complete a victory as couio nave
been expected from naval engagement Inc
Spaniard policy was to avoid an encounter
and IL would have been difficult for any division
of ar-Admiral SIMPSONS fleet to have over
hauled captured them.
Since Simpsons squadron lett Key West an
intensely close watch has been kept Tor the
Spanish feet, in spite Of the belief that II was
TO the south Of Cuba Several false alarms nave
been given the men on the lookout In the tops
being 80 anxious to catch sight OF the Spanlaros
that they would see five columns or smoke
where there was really only one, and that the
smoke OF one OF Simpsons own boats The ten
sion was naturally great. This was not caused by
any feeling of doubt as to the result OF naval
engagement. for the Spaniards would have been
completely annihilated II they had courted a
fight. The feet, at present constituted. with
out Commodore Schleys command and without
the ships actually engaged In the blockade.
forms the most powerful squadron ever gain
cred together by the United States Navy.
Commodore Schleys ships are fully able TO
defeat the Spanish force under Admiral Ger
vera even under conditions favorable TO the
enemy-a state Of things which is thought TO ex-
ist at Santiago de Cuba. 1t would be mere
pastime for the Massachusetts. the Texas ana
the Iowa TO sink the Vizcaya. the Alm.rante
Ouuendo the Cristobal Colon and the Maria
Teresa IL they attempted to file out OF the
harhor