The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-10
No Official Advices Expected mt Wash
ingtOn from the Admiral for
Two or Three Days.
DONS KEEPING SECRETS WELL
WHEREABOUTS OF THEIR ARMADA
UNKNOWN IN THIS COUNTRY.
Arrival of the Alfonso XIII and Isabel
prise-AnOther Cable Cut.

WASHINGTON, May 9.-There is the best
authority for the statement that to-day hav
ing passed without a report from Admiral
Sampson the Navy Department does not ex-
pect to hear from him within several days.
The authority for this statement is fully
acquainted with Admiral Simpsons plans
and the remark would seem to indicate that
the admiral having failed to find the enemy
at the place expected, had turned his at
tention to the alternative project. What this
is cannot be ascertained. 1t is evident, how
ever, that the department is under no ap-
prehension as to the safety of the Ameri-
can fleet nor of any vessel of the fleet.
1t is now officially admitted that Admiral
Sampson yesterday was with his fleet near
Cape HaitieIl, on the north coast of San
Domingo and distant about days run from
Porto Rico. SO far no reports have come
to the department of any of the lurid en-
gagements that are said to have taken
place in those waters, but it is believed at
the department that if there was gun fir
ing yesterday and the day before, as re-
ported by merchant vessels, it probably
was caused by some of the United States
vessels chasing either prizes or the small
Spanish gunboats that are believed to be
cruising around in those waters. 1t is not
believed that there has been any engage
ment between Admiral Simpsons forces
and the Spanish ironclad flying squadron,
else reports would have been received al
ready at the department. From the expec-
tation so plainly manifested at the Navy
Department that something important is to
happen very 3Oon, it is surmised that If
Sampson does not strike the Spanish fly
ing squadron he may strike blow at Porto
Rico itself. 1t is a curious fact that thus
far the Navy Department does not know
positively where the Spanish fleet is and
it is just possible that the vessels may be
away over on the other side of the At
lantic or at CadiZ, instead of being in
SIMPSONS neighborhood in the West In
dies. That such thing can happen is
plainly shown by the report from st.
Thomas that the Spanish cruiser Alphonse
XIII arrived at Porto Rico yesterday or the
day before. This is formidable protected
cruiser of modern type and it has been
supposed all along that she was at Cadiz,
Spain, forming part of the home defense
squadron. The fact that she has arrived at
Porto Rico without knowledge of ner de-
parture having leaked out is an evidence
that the Spanish authorities are able to
guard the secrecy of their naval movements
much better than our own people are able
to do
Word came to the Navy Department to-
day that the cable had been cut between
Montevideo and Rio Grande do Sui, thus
cutting off all communication along the
east coast of South America below the first
and last-named point, in the south of
Brazil. If this were not an accident it
would be hard to guess at the purpose, the
Oregon having passed far north of the
break. 1t is just possible that Spanish
emissaries have cut the cable to conceal
some naval demonstration or movements Of
Spanish ships in that quarter Of the world.