The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-05-23

sible to take on more than enough coal
for temporary uses.
neutrality prevented the Spanish ships
from getting more than enough coal 10
carry them TO the next port, which would
he Soe TO 400 tons at most. At Curacao
the amount of coal secured dl not exceed
700 tons. AT Santiago there Is no coal ull-
less Golfers have brought II there recehl-
ly, which is not believed to have Necurreu-
AS against these small supplies, the
Spanish ships have been consuming mucn
coal on their elusive runs. There are no
other coaling depots in the West lndlan
islands open TO the Spanish ships, except
for their most temporary needs me
British islands, jamaica, Barbados and
others, are closed against them by the de-
cree making coal contraband OF war.
The Dutch islands will give tthem NO
further coal relief, as a result of neg0t1a-
tions with the Dutch authorities follow
ing the coaling Of the Spanish SHIPS "a az
Thomas is similarly closed against them.
Guadaloupe and other French islands
have the same restrictions as Martinique
Haytian ports are closed to them by
strict treaty provision between Hayti
and the United States, which the Haytian
authorities will see is not waived IN the
present case. Santo Domingo ports are
similarly protected against the chance
of a recoaling by Admiral Cervera's
fleet
Spanish admiral is now inside the Carib-
bean sea with his original stock of coal
used up. with scant additions already ex-
hausted, and with no depots IN signt for
a complete recoaling. This, in naval
parlance, would starve the ships before
long.
Gus condition is a juncture with golfers
from the other side. A good collier car
ries from eco to 1900 tons of coal, and
two or three of them could completely re-
coal Admiral Cervera'S fleet Whether
the Spanish will succeed in accomplishing
this is still in doubt, and it is a doubt
on which large results depend. There
have been unofficial reports stating that
Unique. and also off the Venezuelan coast,
and reports from London have stated that
Spain took the precaution of buying and
shipping large quantities OF BRUSH coal
before the declarati tion of war.
But there has been no official contirma-
ton that these scolliers made juncture
with Admiral Cervera's fleet, and the
naval authorities are inclined to the be-
lief that the Spanish Commander is dan
gerouSly near coal famine. II this con-
dition exists, or is likely to arise in the
near futre, Admiral Cerevera's position
will be critical, even though he does not
meet the American ships.
He will be much in the position of Com
modore Dewey after being warned away
from Hongkong and before e his successtuii g 6 ~
will be in the Caribbean Sea. but he will
be unable to get out of it. Not less than
4.000 tons of cca1 would be required to
take him safely back to Spain or to the
Cape Verde Islands.
A prominent naval official said today
that naval strategy consisted mainly in
knowing lust the condition of the enemy 3
tioI Of the coal supply on the Spanish
ships Is looked upon as VITAL not only
in foreshadoNlng any aggressive tactics
Admiral Cervera may be embcldened to
adopt but also in disclosing his chances
Of escaping from this side of the water
now that he has got there.