The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1898-06-04
SCHLEY SIGHTED HIS PREY
CERvERA is AT SANTIG0.
The Commodore States That He
Himself Has Recognized the Yes
sells of the Spanish Fleet-Ofbciai
Announcement of the Fact Made.

Washington, May 3O.-At 1890 o'clock
this Monday morning the navy depart
ment received a dispatch from Commo-
dore Schley announcing definitely that he
had located Admiral Cervera's Cape Verde
squadron in the bay of Santiago de Cuba.
The commodore states that he himself
had recognized the vessels oil the Spanish
fleet.
While naval officials have been moder-
ately certain for several days that Ger
vera's squadron was in the harbor of San
tiago, the official announcement from
Commodore Schley was received by the Of
fieers on duty at the department with in
tense satisfaction. Assurance is now
doubly sure that the Spanish fleet is bot
tied up and the cork is in the bottle. 1t
is not believed that Cervera will attempt
to escape from the predrament in which
he now finds himself, as such a course
would surely result in the destruction of
his vessels and the loss of many lives
precious to Spain. The suggestion is
made, however, that the Spaniards may
blow up the ships rather than have them
fall into the hands of Schley, as they GER
tainly will if they remain in the harbor.
The defniteness of Commodore Schley's
dispatch would seem to indicate that he
has effected a landing near Santiago and
made personal investigation of the har-
Dor. 1t would be impossible, from the en-
trance of the bay, definitely to see and
recognize the Spanish vessels, but by eff
fecting landing at some point on either
side of the entrance vantage point could
be gained from which the entire harbor,
it is believed, could be examined. In all
probability Commodore Schley or one of
his trusted officers has succeeded in per-
forming this hazardous undertaking IN
order to obtain the valuable information
contained in his dispatch.
1t is impossible, owing to the lateness of
the hour, to obtain any official expression
upon the news from Commodore Schley
What effect the certainty that Cervera is
practically helpless will have on the plans
of the naval station with reference to the
invasion of Cuba can only be conjectured.
The transportation of land forces to the
island, it is thought, was delayed because
of uncertainty concerning the location of
the Spanish squadron. If tnat under
standing is correct, the probability of an
early invasion of Cuba is strong. 1t is not
unlikely that the movement of troops,
which has been delayed from time to
time, will begin this week, and that be-
fore the end of the week the United States
forces will have obtained substantial
| foo+hnI1 ,,poY, (,,bo n soil
VIII schley Go In.
Official advices received tonight from
Commodore Schley contain no informa-
ton such as is reported from Madrid, al
though it is known that they We're writ
ten after the battle was said to have oc-
CURED. The advices from Commodore
Schley indicate that he is now ON sta
ton for several days guarding the en-
trance to the bay of Santiago de Cuba.
Commodore Schley has not only his own
squadron, but two or three vessels besides
at his command and it is not believed to
be possible for the Spanish admiral to es-
cape with his fleet.
No information is obtaina BILE as to the
intentions of Commodore Schley. Wheth-
er he will endeavor to force an entrance
to the bay and seek battle with the
Spanish squadron is not known, but such
r course at present is not regarded as
) likely. 1t would be better, in the opin-
ion of some naval officials to keep Ger
vera and his vessels safely in the har-
c Dor, where they are as absolutely useless
| as they would be at the bottom of the