Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1898-05-20
SPANS Sly Methods.

everywhere at the same time, which
involves the antithc>i- of being no
where when We want to meet them
All SIMPSONS >chcming has beer
thwartcd and the War Department
plans changed 10y the risky antics o
the Spanish fleet, which, like Paddy:
flea. when you attempt to put YOU
finger on him, is not there.
The other day when our larger war
ships We're di>cngagcd from blockad,
duty t" 90 out and meet the enemy Il,
Puerto Plata, the Spanish fleet turned
up II Cadiz. Then it was announced
that it had let for the Philippines t.
r'".Hpturc Manila, and the work of re-.
iniorcing Admiral Dewey was mani
testify accelerated. Now it seems that
Cervera, having secured communities
ton with Cuba and the home govern
mcnt, by calling at Martinique, on
the island of Curacao, a Dutch posses
sion on the coast of Venezuela, has
done or said something which leads
our government to believe that the
Spanish Admiral designs to eludc
SIMPSONS fleet and make his way
through the Caribbean Sea, probably
to Cuba. This view is strengthened
by the late reports that flash lights
are being continually sent out from
Moro Castle since Wednesday night,
designed doubtless as signal for the
Spanish fleet, to guide it into the har-
Dor. A Cuban scout, who communi-
Gated with the blockading fleet in n
rowboat, said that Blanco had received
some assurance from Madrid which
had greatly encouraged the soldiery.
and it had been given out that pow
erful fleet, with reinforcements and
supplies had eluded the American fleet
and was approaching Havana.
Whatever of doubt and uncertainty
may envelope the situation, it is quite
certain that the Philippine question is
for the time relegated to obsurity, and
the safety of the steamer Oregon,
which has been for so many days an
object of such extreme solicitude. is
assured, for it is announced that she
dropped in at Martinique, after the
Spanish feet had sailed, and she is,
therefore, we'll out of its way so long
as she follows the usual routes of voy-
age.
1t now seems probable that a deci-
sive naval battle will soon be fought,
unless the usual tactics of our ad-
versaries are maintained, of doing the
most unexpected of things. 1t might
be possible that, with such sly OPP
ponent, the present indications are but
strategic moves to cover some other
and totally dissimilar plan of action.
Deception must be expected at every
point in dealing with the civilized
savages of Spain.
GEN. Miles wants to change the color
Of the U. S. soldiers uniforms from
blue to brown. 1t is proposition
that will not be received with favor
unless some very good reason is shown
for it. The blue is enshrined in many
glorious memories. 1t is the color of
the sky, that beautiful curtain of azure
which shields mortal eyes from the
ineffable glories of heaven. 1t is the
symbol of truth, the corner stone of hui
man character. 1t is the hue in which
Nature has lavishly dipped her brush
to tint many of the most cherished
objects OF her handiwork. 1t surely
cannot be discarded for q color which
is associated with the scar hues that
mark the decline and retrogression OF
Natures forces, even though, as Oily
says, "Brown is easier to keep clean
than blue!
A Little exercise of "Imperial