The herald., 1898-05-29
CRUISERS Off CUBA
oATISFIED WITH SITUATION
OF AFFAIRS
WITH CERvERA AT SANTIAGO
Early Movement Of Army and Navy
Is Confidently Expected By Of
Acers and Men
Associated Press Special Wire

Associated Press Special Wire
KEY WEST, Fla, May 2S.-The blockade
Of northern Cuba continues uneventful and
is apparently successful.
Now that the element of uncertainty re-
garding the Spanish ships whereabouts Is
almost entirely removed ships which were
solely occupied in watching for the Span
iards have become an additional force for
the blockade and without any inconven-
lent change of position.
Commodore Schley has been reinforced,
but his position was clearly so strong that
the reinforcements which he received made
no difference to the strength of the fleet
In northern Cuban waters.
The rumors of the sailing of second
Spanish squadron did not worry Rear Ad-
miral Sampson to the slightest degree. His
feelings on the subject were aptly ex-
pressed recently, when he said:
II am perfectly satisfied that we have
bagged those fellows" (referring to Admir-
al Cervera's fleet.
Rear Admiral Sampson does not cross
his bridges until he comes to them, and
when that time comes his unconquerab!e
patience and strategic ability can be relied
upon to see him safely across.
For the second time since war was de-
clared, the Admiral has been notified that
the army Is ready to move. This is good
news to all the naval officers. The two
branches of the service have been playing
game OF wait; the army resting until the
navy disposed of the Spanish fleet and the
navy unable to occupy much needed bases
until the troops were ready for embarka-
ton. In view of the fact that the Spanish
fleet was far faster than the American
heet and that the former has no desire for
an engagement, this policy of inaction
however far-sighted 1t may be, temporarily
produced much natural irritation among
the naval officers.
All appearances now point to the passing
away of this feeling, and hearty, active CO.
operation between the army and navy may
be anticipated. By great good fortune, no
accident has occurred of sufficient import
ance to render any Of our ships utterly help
less. or beyond the aid of towing, during
the fleets cruising for the past month.
Such accidents, however, are quite within
the bounds of possibility. With such ten
der machines as torpedo boats doing hard
duty in all kinds of weather, accidents even
come into the list of probabilities which
naval commanders have to count upon.
With base in the enemy's territory, with
. harbor of refuge and a coaling station
within twenty miles of the cruising
grounds, Rear Admiral SIMPSONS task.
arduous at Its best, will be made a very
great deal easier. But such a base can only
be obtained through cooperation with the
army, as the force of marines at the dis
posal of the Admiral is not large enough to
cope with the possible strength that Cap
tain-General Blanco could concentrate on
short notice. Then, while the army of the
United States is operating on shore, It Is
safe to say the naval gunners will not be
idle.
During the weeks cruise of the flagship
New York from Matanzas towards the
eastern end of Cuba and back, there were
many incidents Of interest. Everything
centered in the news from Commodore
Schley, and disappointment was visible in
every face when it became known that the
Commodore was mistaken in thinking he
had Admiral Cervera bottled up at Cien-
fuegos, but this feeling of disappointment
soon gave way to renewed enthusiasm
when news was received from Santiago de
Cuba. This really was more acceptable
than the reports from Cienfuegos, for had
Admiral Cerveras succeeded in effecting a
landing at Cienfuegos he would most likely
have been able to transport his alleged
cargo of arms and send ammunition to Ha-
vana, while from Santiago de Cuba it will
be almost impossible for him to do so
During the first few days out from Key
West there was heavy sea, which made
life miserable for the torpedo boats Rogers
and Foote, and which made the monitors
roll very heavily.
The sharpest kind of a lookout was kept
a
tie formation owing to over-anxiety upon
the part of some man on the lookout in the
tops, who thought he saw the smoke of Ave
Spanish warships on the horizon Abso-
lutely no lights were shown at night and
signals were constantly exchanged between
the hagships and the scouts. The latter
generally We're the New Orleans, May
flower and Machias.
The latter, which started miles ahead, or
were on the fianks, or astern of the fleet,
were always busy. Their location was
learned every few hours by the faint gleam
of their private signal light. They had
special signals to display in case the Spanish
fleet was sighted.
The eagerness with which the blue jackets
In the tops looked and prayed for that par
ticuiar colored light was delightful ex-
nlDltlOn OIL the spirit WHICH prevails through
the fleet There have been no wild ex-
hibtions of patriotism but there has been
quiet healthy evidence of real love of
country and grim determination to ami
hilate the enemy If possible. Officers and
men alike seemed fully to realize that naval
warfare nowadays is almost entirely a mat
ter Of science and knowledge.
A steady hand and clear eye now do the
work at four thousand yards. 1t does
that which in olden days was done when
ships grappled together, by slashing cut
lasses, pistols, axes and pixies in the hands
Of almost frenzied men. So when once or
twice during the week 1t was thought that
the Spaniards were in sight the crews of the
United States were a pretty cool lot, with
telescope sights to adjust, delicate ammu-
milton. hoisting machinery to watch score
of levers to look after, and everything de-
pending upon the perfection of technical
detail.
- 1t has been observed by those who have
been In action this month that the gunner's
mate and his crew have no time to wave
their hats and utter patriotic shouts.
x On Thursday and yesterday the squadron
cruise was made in better weather The
after the Spaniards, and chase last night
was the only event worth recording
The New York had left the fleet far be.
hind, and was speeding toward Key West
with the Vesuvius as consort. AS the sur
was going down sail was sighted Incl
dentally the New York has a habit of get