The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-05-27
'SCHLEY ON GUARD.
The Commodore Will Attend to
Y Admiral Cervera's Case.
v Y>S-
SIMPSONS FLEET READY.
Can Respond Quickly Should Schley
S+'-- Need His Aid.
THE COMING INVASION OF CUBA.

It Is Delayed While Awaiting Definite Re.
ports Of the Spanish Fleet and by the
Fact That Our v olunteers Are Not Prop.
erly Equipped-An Effort to Bring Up
the Question Of Privateering in the Span.
ish Senate Is Choked Of-The Defeat Of
Cervera's Fleet Will Cause an Uprising
in Spain.
Key West, May 27.-Definite news
from the American squadrons opera
ting in Cuban waters has been received
here fully confirming the general sit
uation outlined in these dispatches
yesterday. Commodore Schley is be-
Iieved to be off Santiago de Cuba, and
definite information as to the exact
situation in so far as it affects Admiral
Cervera's squadron may be expected
at any hour. Rear Admiral Sampson
is in a position to proceed quickly to
the assistance Of Commodore Schley,
with any or all of his ships. on receipt
Of definite word from Schley, and at
the same time he remains within
striking distance Of Havana.
If, however. Commodore Schley re-
ports that Admiral Cervera is bottled
up at Santiago de Cuba the naval view
is that Schley will be permitted to
finish the business at that point with
the ships now under his direct COM
mond.
After the sailing of Rear Admiral
Simpsons squadron, Commodore
Schley's squadron having gone to tho
south of Cuba day or two before,
there were left at Key West II ves-
sells of war, these consisting entirely
of converted tugs and auxiliary gun
boats of small size, but considerable
Fighting power.
A few changes are expected to take
place in the Key West complement in
a day or so, and the battleship Oregon
Is confidently expected to arrive before
the end of the week. She will prove
a great addition to the vessels in the
harbor, though she will probably be
ordered to Havana very soon after her
arrival.
Far back in the harbor are the cap.
tured Spanish vessels, swinging at
their anchors and affordins the sailor
man happy prospects of large prize
fund. The prize vessels constitute
feet almost as formidable as that now
waiting at Port Tampa to carry the
troops to Cuba, and In view of the fact
that those 27 transports can only ac-
commodate $4,000 to 10000 troops
army men are wondering If the Span
ish steamers might not be made avail
able for the purpose.
, The great problem now both at Key
West and Tampa is that relating to
the movement of troops. At Tampa
there are now about 5000 regulars
and many thousands of volunteers.
There are daily arrivals Of troops at
Tampa, Port Tampa and Lakeland, but
some Of the volunteer regiments havo
not yet received their complete ac-
lhouBh tAC AutlSl WILL
soon be forthcoming.
The southern portion of Florida is
beginning to realize how difficult
matter 1t is to supply this great army
of new residents with necessaries and
comforts. Here at Key West after
dry season of FIVE months the rain
has come at last and renewed the
drinking water supply. This at least
was an opportune visitation of Provi-
dence, and with 1t all the soldiers arc
making merry.
At Tampa they are tenting in the
sand hills about the town, strictly
disciplined, kept closely to regulation
hot much amusement, anXiously
waiting for the order to move on
Cuba. This, it is generally believed
by army men, will not be received at
an early date. for there is, first of all,
the state of Florida expedition" to be
heard from, an expedition to supply
General Maxine Gomez with arms and
ammunition.