Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-05-29
SCHLEY THE STOPPER
That Corks Up the Spanish
!. Fleet.
ARMY READY TO MOVE
Admiral Sampson Again Notified That
/" Troops VIII BE Transported to
Cuba. No Arms for Blauco
at4savana.

i
atlsavana.
| Copyright, 1898, by Associated Press }
KEY WEST. FLA. May 2S.-It is
Schley has the Spanish fleet bottled up
| the harbor Of Santiago de Cuba
There is SO little doubt about this
that the naval campaign is proceeding
upon the assumption that Admiral Ger
vera is incapable. of doing any harm.
Within few days. the exact condl-
tons at Santiago de Cuba will be
known without q shadow OF a doubt.
In spite of assertions to the contrary,
Commodore Schley was not absolutely
sure of his game when he last COM
municated with Rear-Admiral Samp-
son. and the commodore will not take
[ active steps to block up the entrance of
| Santiago harbor until he is perfectly
| certain that Admiral Cervera's ships
are inside. .... i..
However. he may have done this al
ready as Commodore Schley's last com
munication, forwarded on Thursday
only reached Rcar-Adniral Sampson
yesterday.
| The commodore stayed three days at
Clenfuegos. He signalled to his ships
Il believe the Spanish fleet is in the
| harbor.' On this belief a message was
sent TO the American admiral. The de-
tails of how Commodore Schley found
out that he was mistaken are not yet
| known. AT any rate. acting on the adj
| miraIs instructions, the commodore
| then moved east. arriving outside San
| tiago de Cuba on Wednesday morning,
| May 25
The topography Of Cienruegos and
Santiago de Cuba is almost identical.
Both harbors are about six miles long.
with narrow entrances about 200 yards
| wide and protected by highland A
whole fleet could lie in the harbor OF
either place and be invisible from the
outside. After his experience at Glen
fuegos, it is probable that Commodore
Schcy was very conservative in decid-
ing whether or not he had caught Ad-
miral Cervera- From the tone Of the
dispatches it is evident that the com
modnre soon gained4much secondhand
and external evidence which pointed
to Admiral Cervera's presence in the
inner harbor. The evidence was appa-
rently strong enough to make the com
lnodore feel certainsthe object OF his
trip had been accomplished. but in
View Of his previous experience. he
would not risk a decisive statement
until after ascertaining the fact for
himself. .,. ~
Before this dispatch IS published, It
is likely that Commodore Sch1ey has
sent some vessel into the entrance OF
the harbor of Santiago de Cuba. or has
obtained from reliable source ashore in
formation as to the exact number and
names Of the Spanish warships shell
tered by the hills about that place.
Contrary to the generally expressed
opinion, the harbor OF Santioga de Gu
ba is poorly protected. Like Havana
and San Juan de Porto Rico. it has Its
MORO Castle which is even a better
target than those at Havana and San
Juan. The only danger to be feared Is
from the mines which have been laid
in the channel OF Santiago since the
war was declared But, countermining
would probably render these mines
harmless should 1t prove desirable for
Commodore Schley's ships to enter the
harbor. Such a step. however. is I'M
likely.
that since commencement of the naval
operations, the moral effect of the
mines has been great. This condition
promises to continue and will probably
mark the naval operations to q greater
extent than ever imagined In the past.
The blockade of northern Cuba con-
tinues uneventful and is apparently
successful. The measures of precaution
which Rear-Admiral Sampson adopted
up to yesterday to guard the eastern
and western passages did not detract
from the efficacy OF the blockade.
regarding the Spanish ships where
abouts is almost entirely removed. the
ships which were solely occupied in
Watching for the spaniards have be-
come an additional force for the block
ade. and without any inconvenient
change OF position. Commodore schiey
has been reinforced but his position
was clearly SO strong that the REIN
forcement which he received made no
difference to the strong fleet in northern
Cuban waters.
The rumors OF the sailing of a sec
ond Spanish squadron did not worry
Rear Admiral Sampson in the slightest
degree. His feelings on this subject
were aptly expressed recently when ne
SAID:
II am perfectly satisfied that we have
bagged those fellows" (referring to
Admiral Ceryera's ships.
For the second time since war was
declared the admiral has been notified
that the army is ready to move. This
is good news to all the naval officers.
BY great good fortune, no accident
has occurred of sufficient Importance to
render any OF our ships utterly help
less or beyond the aid OF towing dur
ing the fleets cruising of the past
month Such accidents, however. are
quite within the bounds OF possibility.
During the weeks cruise of the flag
ship New York from Matanzas toward
the eastern end Of Cuba and back,
there were few accidents Of interest.
Everything centered in the news from
Commodore Schley and disappointment
was visible in every face when 1t be-
came generally known that the Com
modore was mistaken In thinking he
had Admiral Cervcra bottled up at CT
enfuegos, but this feeling soon gave
way to the renewed enthusiasm when
| news was received from Santiago de
Cuba This really was more accepta-
BILE than the reports from Cienfuesos
for had Admiral Cervera succeeded in
effecting landing at Cienfuegos he
would most likely have been enabled tC
transport his alleged cargo of arms
and ammunition to Havana, while from
Santiago de Cuba it will be almost i'm
possible for him to do So
| The sharpest kind Of a lookout was
kept. On Thursday and Friday the
euuad cruise was made in bette,
weather than during the first part OF
| the week. The moon. too, lightenec
1 al csy,, v,t1 r,ie