Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1898-06-04
Reports to Sampson but Dispatch
Is Dated Before Reaching
Santiago.
SOUGHT CeRveRA AT ClENFUEG0S
Was Much Disappointed in Not
Finding Him There and
Moved on,
HE is NOW OFF SANTIAGO
Thought That Cervcra IL There But
Even at Ibis Late Day No
One Seems Absolutely
Sure.

Washington, May 30.-There is album
dant reason to believe that the nava
officials late last night received dis
patches from Admiral Sampson, al
though at 1880 p. m. no bulletins hat
been made public. The Associated
Press has already announced that at {
o'clock yesterday the dispatch boa
Dolphin, OF Commodore Schley''
squadron, ran alongside the flagship
New York, which was then off Havana
and informed her that she bore dis
patches for Admiral Sampson from
Commodore Schley. IL is considered
probable that these dispatches con
tanned information Of the precise
whereabouts Of the Cape Verde squad.
ron, and quite naturally the informa'
ton would be sent 10 the naval authori.
ties here ms soon as fast boats and tclc'
graph wires could carry it,. That the
naval officers have received this infor'
nation is not doubted, but as yet they
have neither given the long expected
news TO the public nor have they even
admitted that dispatches from Samp'
son have been received.
invasion Expected AT Once.
If Commodore Schlcy has successful
~ accomplished his object, there now
seems nothing to prevent active opera
tons upon the part Of the army. Ihat
Is the idea OF the best naval authorities.
The climate in Cuba is not what il was
a month ago, but il is much better than
it, will be in 4 month hence, and before
another Spanish fleet can reach these
waters, the naval authorities hope to
see our troops in possession OF a base
Of operations in Cuba. The navy would
be able to cover the landings of the
troops in possession of "A base Of opera
tons in Cuba. The navy would be able
to cover the landings Of the troops aud
enable the military forces TO get ashore
without hindranCc.
Intense enthusiasm rcigncd last
night among the officers and men over
the news, even though it is not abSo.
lutely certain, of the success OF the
work Of the last month. The days have
passed slowly and YEARLY, and no per-
sons have chafed more over the delay
and inactivity than those who have
been cruising in Cuban waters since
the war began. But If Commodore
Schlcy really has the Spanish fieet at
Santiago dc Cuba it is almost ms COM
plctc Il victory as could have been cX-
pccted from a naval engagement. The
Spaniard's policy was TO avoid an en-
counter, and it would have been dlfl-
cult for any division Of Rear Admiral
SIMPSONS fleet to have overhaulcd or
captured them. But if they are not
bottled up in Santiago de Cuba, baflied
at their own game, the future seems
bright, and all that is now waited FOR
is the order to prepare to protect u
landing of our military forces in Cuba
Since Rear Admiral SIMPSONS
squadron left Key West an intensely
close watch has been kept for theSpan-
ish feet, i'm spite of the belief thai IL
vas at the south Of Cuba. Several false
alarms have been given, the men on the
lookouts in the tops being so anxious TO
catch sight of the Spaniards that they
would see five columns of smoke where
only one was really discernible, and
that the smoke Of one of Rear Admlral
SIMPSONS own boats.
The tension was naturally great.
This was not caused by any feeling OF
doubt as to the result of the naval en-
gagement, for Admiral SIMPSONS fleet
has been so active since it left Key
West that the Spaniar,s would have
been completely annihilated il they had
,ourted n fight. The feet as at pres
ent constituted, without Commodore
Schley's command and without the
,hips actually engaged in the blockade
forms the most powerful squadron
ever gotten together by the United
States navy. Then again, Commodore
Schley's ships are fully able to defeat
he Spanish force under Admiral Ger
'era, even under conditions favorable
10 the enemy, n state OF things which
IS not thought to exist at Santiago de
Cuba. 1t would be mere pastime for
he Massachusetts, Texas and Iowa to
sink the Niscaya, Almirante, Oquendo,
Iristobal Colon and Maria Teresa if
hey attempted to file out of the harbor.
Rianco's Messages to Madrid.
Madrid, May 30.--A dispatch from
Havana says Captain General Blanco
received news that nearly thirty
american vessels were yesterday seen
II front of Cardenas.
General Blanco cables from Havana
hat the torpedo boat destroyer Ter
from Martinique, has arrived AT
on the east coast of Puerto
rico. She intended to go to San Juan,
nut found four American warships
ruising in front of the harbor and
hanged her direction for F%aiardo.
General Blanco's dispatch says that
Cervera's squadron is still ut
,antiago de Cuba; that the bulk of
SIMPSONS squadron is block
ding that port; that Commodore
chley's squadron is watching the lu-
passage; that the American YES
els have left Cienfuegos and that the
american fleet of blockaders remain
! sight of Havana.
General Blanco says that he ordered
departure of the French steamer
lafayette with a cargo of coal, as the
pal was required for Spanish war
hips.
story OF Two Rcconccntrados.
London, May 30.-A dispatch to the