The record-union., 1898-05-27
WHERE is
SPANISH
SQUADRON?
The Question Agitating
Naval Circles.
While the Department Believes
II Is at Santiago,
II Lacks Absolutely Trustworthy
Information on That Point.
Mill taU Operations Retarded So Long as
There is Possibility of Admiral Ger
TeTa'S Fleet Being Still
at Large.

WASHINGTON, May 2G.-Secretary
Long said at the close of office hours
to-day that no word had come from
any Of the scouting vessels so num-
erous in West Indian waters concerning
the Spanish flying squadron, wherefore
ne concluded that Cervera was still III
Santiago harbor Supposedly, Schley
is lying outside watching the entrance
TO prevent the egress of the Spanish
vessels, but while there is evidence Of
a certain kind on that fact, there has
been no official confirmation of it. This
is a little remarkable, in view of the
fact that it is only days run for one
Of Schleys swift torpedo boats from
Santiago to a cable port in Hayti.
There is also a curious lack of infOrma-
tion from newspaper boats on this
point. 1t was supposed that the cen
sors might have excluded from the dis
patches of the newspaper men any re-
ference to the. fleets, but this would ap-
ply according to. the statement of the
Neyy Department officials here. only to
that part of the dispatches that might
relate to the movements and where
abouts of the United States forces. and
the censors' rules would not exclude
reference. to the Spanish squadron.
Notwithstanding the officials profess
unshaken confidence in their original
belief that the Spanish squadron is
securely bottled up in Santiago har-
Dor. there is no concealment by them
of an intense desire to secure some alb
solutely trustworthy informationo on that
point It is not to be doubted that
with the question still open, the begin
ming of the military operations is re-
tarded, or as long as there exists a
possibility of the Spanish naval force
being at large, there is an indisposition
to start the troops and transports for
Cuba
Probably it was this uncertain state
of affairs that induced the President
TO call a consultation at the White
House to-day between Secretaries Long
and Alger, General Miles and the mem
bers of the Navar War BoarG: Admiral
Sicard. Captain CrowinshieId and Cap
tain Mahan As stated by one of the
members of the conference, the purpose
was to go over the whole situation,
from the Philippines to Cuba and Porto
Rico, and decide just how far the plans
already laid should be modified to meet
existing conditions This involved a
discussion of such important points as
the propriety of the immediate advance
of the military forces upon Cuba; the
credfbility of the advices so far had
touching the location of the Spanish
squadron; the policy of preceding the
Cuban expedition, or accompanying it,
with one directed against Porto Rico,
and, finally, the extent of the military
assistance to be sent to Admiral Dewey
at Manila
AS already indicated, the proceedings
were rather in the nature of a con-
sultation than of a war council where
as a full decision is demanded at once,
so it is not probable all of these i'm
portant questions We're disposed of at
the council None of the members of
the conference felt authorized to tell
what had taken place, but there are
thought to be patent indications of a
decision to embark military expeditions
in the course of the next few days,
whether for Cuba or Porto Rico can
only be conjectured.
There was a lack of news to-day
from Admiral Dewey, and this con-
vineed the naval authorities that there
could be little credence placed in the
Madrid report of an accident TO the
Baltimore.
In the rush of military preparations
the war officers have not been able to
give much attention to the regulations
for the procurement of the 10000 addi-
tional volunteers called for yesterday
by the President 1t is still uncertain
aust how far the national authorities
VIII go towards recruiting these forces
themselves. for it is positively known
tAat independent organizations. COM
panies, battalions and regiments raised
by individuals will be accepted en-
bloc, if by doing so the department IS
required to accept the officers with
the men. Indeed, it is now questioned
whether, under the law, the depart
ment could, if it would, accept services
OF officers under such conditions, as