The record-union., 1898-05-28

among the officers and the men over
the news, although it is not absolutely
certain.
Since Rear-Admiral SIMPSONS
squadron left Key West an intensely
close watch has been kept for the
Spanish fleet, in spite of the belief that
1t was at the south of Cuba. Several
false alarms have been given. the men
on the lookout in the tops being so
anxious to catch sight Of the Span.
iards that they would see five columns
of smoke when only one was really dis
cernible, and that the smoke of one of
Rear-Admiral SIMPSONS own boats.
The fleet as at present constituted
without Commodore Schley's command
and without the ships actually engaged
IN the blockade, forms the most power
ful squadron ever assembled by the
United States navy. Then, again. Com
modore Schley's ships are fully able to
defeat the Spanish force under Admiral
Cervera, even under conditions favor
able to the enemy, a state of things
which is not thought to exist at San
tlago de Cuba. 1t would be mere pas
time for the Massachusetts, Texas and
Iowa to sink the Vizcaya, Almirante
Oquendo, CristObal Colon and Maria
Teresa if they attempt to file out of
the harbor
SPECULATION AS TO POSSIBLE
RESULT.
NEW YORK, May PA dispatch to
the Herald" from Paris says:
Now that the presence of Admiral
CerVera's squadron in the Bay of San
tiagO is established naval experts are
70 20
will be the probable result in case he is
attacked.
In general Cervera is thought to have
scored a point, and to have acted both
prudentIy and nationally in shutting
himself up in the bay. Marc Landry,
in the Figaro" may be taken as re-
porting the opinions of the most of the
naval officers here. He says this:
SPANS only policy is to prolong the
war, without giving a chance for a de-
cisive battle until the odds for victory
are all in her favor BY taking refuge
in the Bay of Santiago, out of reach of
the enemy's cannon, Admiral Cervera
has carried out a policy that circum-
stances have rendered it imperative for
his country to follow, seeing that by
gaining time he enables a junction to be
effected with him by the reserve squad
ron now being fitted out at Cadiz.
by entering the bay Cervera i'm
mobolizes part of the American squad
ron. He is completely sheltered in a
magnificent harbor, where he can pro-
vision his ships, rest his crews and put
the boilers of his engines in good order.
He compels his adversary to maintain
a strict blockade, that is to say to be
continually on the alert in all weathers,
to use his coal and wear out his en-
gines and boilers. Finally, he gives
Admiral Camara time to cross the At
lantic aid to join forces with him or at
tack another point, in which case part
of the forces blOckading Santiago will
have to be called away"
M Landry considers the possibility OF
the Americans trying to cut out Ger
vera but thinks the operation so dan
gerous a one that it is hardly likely it
will be attempted. The sum total of
his opinion is that Spain has no reason
to be downcast over the turn taken in
the conduct of the war.
The "Gaulois," on the other hand,
thinks Cervera is in a dangerous posi-
ton He is, it says, shut up until the
day he chooses to give battle. This
cannot be long postponed, as his pres
ence at Havana will become a neces-
sity to prevent disembarkment of the
American expedition. In any case vic
tory will not be so easily won as Dew
ey's was Cervera's forces are about
equal TO the American forces. Besides
this, he is supported by good forts and
batteries. Cervera's success then will
depend upon his skill and the marks
manship of his artillerymen.