Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-05-19
FOUND
AT LAST.
Spanish Fleet Sighted Off
Coast of Vene=
Zuela.
No Immediate Engage
ment Now Seems
Probable.
We Cut Enemy's Cable
From Cuba to
Madrid.

eial information reached the author
tiles here late Saturday that the Span
ish squadron had been sighted Oft the
island of Curacao, one of the Dutch
West Indies, lying off the coast OF
Venezuela. This information was re-
garded as of vital Importance,
as it not only fixed the po-
sition of the enemy but dis
closed the purpose of the Spanish
admiral to elude Admiral Simpsons
feet and make his way through the
Caribbean sea, probably to Cuba.
The Spanish admiral's course was also
Influenced by the fact that the French
cable, starting from Caracas, Vene-
zuela, touches at the island of Curacao
and thence proceeds northward
through the Caribbean sea to Hayti,
with spurs running east and west to
Porto Rico and Cuba respectively.
He was thus enabled to get in touch
from Curacao with the Spanish author
tiles in Cuba and Porto Rico and
through them directly with the Span
ish admiralty at Madrid. No immed
late battle with Admiral SIMPSONS
feet is now expected, as the Spaniards,
it seems likely, have succeed
ed in passing south of the
American feet and are now we'll to the
westward of it. AS the enemy is in
reach of a cable, the navy department
regards it as of the most vital concern
that the exact whereabouts of the
American ships should not be made
known during the next few days. The
department is doubtless informed as
to the whereabouts of SIMPSONS
squadron but does not see fit to give
any information on the subject and
the same rigid silence prevails as to
the whereabouts and destination of
Commodore Schley's flying squadron.
In one respect, the Vancouver of the
Spanish fleet is a relief to the naval
officials here as it seems to assure the
safety of the battleship Oregon. She
is proceeding from the north coast of
South America to join Admiral Samp-
sons fleet and is somewhere in the
neighborhood of Martinique, we'll out
Of the way of the Spaniards so long as
she follows the usual routes.
1t is not to be supposed that the
navy department with the knowledge
of the whereabouts of the Spanish
feet, is going to allow any of it's hard
worked little cruisers and gunboats
engaged in blockade duty on the Cuban
scoast to fall victims to the huge Span
ish iron-clads. Their commanders
will be promptly advised of the prog
ress of the Spaniards.
The determined attack made by the
Marblehead and other vessels on the
ocean cables running seward from
Cienfuegos shows that the government
hnds it necessary to cut off all COM
munlcation between Captain General
Blanco at Havana and Spain by cable
That effort was not wholly successful
owing to the appearance of a superior
force of infantry aided by machine
guns, which appear to have taken the
american sailors in boats engaged in
The cable cutting by surprise. They
were prepared TO risk a few rifle shots
out not the murderous fire of maxim
guns. However, Captain McCalla. who
is noted for determination and courao 90
III Tor any quality, will not abandon
Inc task until he succeeds. Con-
slderlng the great strategic value of
sach move the loss sustained by the
american vessels was insignificant and
the venture was certainly warranted
by the results.
The war department shows no signs
OF relaxation in war preparations, but
appears to be making ready for HOSTILE
ties on the theory that they may last a
long time. Thus bids were opened Sat
urday for supplying the government
with a large number of armor-pierc-
ing shells of the largest calibres such
as are used almost entirely by coast
defense guns in attacking or repelling
heavily iron-clad ships. Another trans
port was chartered Saturday at New
York, indicating that the movement OF
the army in force upon Cuba is not
to be long delayed, else the govern
ment would not go to the expense of
chartering boat Immediately. Two
OF the big tugs bought by the navy
from private parties were christened
the Hortense becoming the Tacoma.
and the William H. Brown becoming
the Piscataqua
Official information has been received
that Spain filed a protest at the for
eign office in Paris against the permits
sion given by the French authorities
at Martinique to the United States aux
iliary cruiser Harvard to remain in
the harbor st. Pierre at Martinique
seven days to make repairs. The
French government took speedy action
on the protest and insisted that the
cruiser being disabled has full right