Evening journal., 1898-05-26
sAMPsoN orr HAVANA.
lie WIZ Lead Naval Operations There
While schley Looks After Cervera.

While schley Looks After Cervera.
WASHINGTON May 26-Rear Ad-
miral Sampson, with a strong naval
| force. is lying of the northern coast Of
Cuba, prepared TO lombard Havana the
moment the military invasion begins.
While the ships attached to CommO-
dore Schleys squadron are subject to
/ the orders of Rear Admiral Sampson, Il
Is understood that the latter officer as
signed TO the commander Of the flying
squadron the duty of preventing the
departure OF the Spanish fleet from the
harbor Of Santiago de Cuba while he
directed the operations against Hava-
ma and gave protection to the blockad-
ing men-of-war and the Atlantic and
gulf coasts Of the United States.
II was pointed out by n naval expert
yesterday that had both fleets gone to
the south Of Cuba and the Spanish fleet
had slipped by them nothing but the
northern patrol squadron could have
prevented the bombardment OF one Of
the coast cities by Cervera's men-of-
war
by keeping Admiral Sampson with n
strong force on the northern coast Of
Cuba. he stated, this danger was TO
great extent obviated and the pro-
lection Of the seaports had been assur-
Cd. Furthermore, familiar as Rear Ad-
miral Sampson Is with blockading duty,
with the character OF the forthcations
OF Havana and with the peculiarties Of
the Cuban coast in that vicinity, he
was considered the best available off,
Ger for directing the naval operations
against Cuba's capital when the mill
tary invasion begins
Volumnous instructions have been
sent to Admiral Sampson in care OF
Commodore Remey, at Key West, but
their purport is n secret which the ma
val war board declines 10 share with
any one other than the president and
Secretary Long. As has been stated
Secretary Long has distributed the ma
val ships which viii be employed to
convoy the troopships 10 Cuba, and up
on their arrival at the point selected
they will assist vessels equipped with
heavier guns TO pave the way for the
Decentralization OF the troops.
An that can be said with dehniteness
concerning the point selected as the
landing place of the army IS that It
o. in the immediate vicinity of Havana.
General Blanco's military activity has
caused him to stretch telegraph wires
all along the-coast and his signal sys-
tenn Is expected to inform him at once
OF any attempt TO land troops. 1t is
therefore expected that II General Blan-
co learns the destination OF the army Of
invasion he will Immediately concen-
trate troops at that point
The authorities have not neglected
the perfection Of their programme,
which contemplates drawing General
Blanco off on false scent and Admiral
Sampson will be intrusted with the du-
ty Of carrying this into effect He Will
also. OF course, be charged with the pro-
toctlon of the troops while going ashore.
and furthermore, will be required TO
commence the bombardment OF Havana
as soon as the forward movement
against that city by the American
troops commences.
IL Is known that the four monitors are
off the northwestern coast Of Cuba, and
the flagship New York is cruising in
the same waters. but as to the position
Of the battleships Indiana and Iowa the
greatest secrecy n observed. The bat
tleship oregon is expected TO arrive at
Key West this afternoon.
With such a force, therefore, there
Will be no difficulty in so distributing
the ships that a sufficient number will
be at hand for Rear Admiral Sampson
to carry out the several features Of the
plan OF operations which the naval war
board has carefully prepared.