The record-union., 1898-05-15
SPANISH
SQUADRON
LOCATED.
Sighted OF the Coast Of
Venezuela.
Navy Department Officially No
titled of the Fact.
Nc Immediate Battle With Simpsons
Fleet Expected.
The Oregon Said to be in the keighhorhold
Of Mdrtinique-War Preparations
Nc Immediate Battle With Sampson'S
Fleet Expected.
The Oregon Said to be in the KsighhOrhold
Of Mdrtinique-War Preparations
Indicate an Early Move
on Cuba.

WASHINGTON, May 14.-Definite
official information reached the author
tiles here late this afternoon that the
Spanish squadron has been sighted off
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 position of the enemy, but
disclosed the purpose of the Spanish
Admiral to elude Admiral Simpsons
fleet, and make his way through the
Caribbean, probably to Cuba. The ISL
and of Curacao was originally Spanish,
and is peopled mainly by descendants
of Spaniards, though it is now one of
the Dutch possessions. The Spanish
Admirals course was also Influenced
by the fact that the French cable start
ing from Caracas, Venezuela, touches
at the Island of Curacao, thence pro-
ceeds northwestward through the Car
ibbean to Hayti, with spurs running
east and west to Porto Rico and Cuba.
respectively He is thus enabled to get
in touch from Curacao with the Spanish
authorities in Cuba and Porto Rico. anu
through them directly with the Spanish
Admiralty at Madrid
No immediate battle with Admiral
Simpsons fleet is expected, and the
Spaniards, as seems likely, have sue
ceeded in passing south of the Ameri
can fleet and are now we'll to the west
ward of it. AS the enemy is in reach
of the cable the Navy Department re-
CARDS it as of the most vital concern
that the whereabouts of the American
ships should not be made known during
the next few days. Thus far they have
felt handicapped by the fact that the
Spanish Admiral knew the whereabouts
of our ships, while we were in doubt
as to the locality of his ships. The Off
cials here regard it as essential during
the netx few days to reverse this condi-
ton, so that the Spanish Admiral will
be moving in the dark, while our off,
GERS will be posted as to his movements
through the Caribbean.
The department doubtless is inform
ed as to the whereabouts of Admiral
Simpsons squadron, but it does not see
fit to give any information on the sub
ject, and the same rigid silence pre-
walls as to the whereabouts and des-
tination of Commodore Schley's fly
ing squadron. The game has reached
such a critical stage that premature
publication as to the whereabouts of
our ships might cause inestimable loss
and failure of the present plans.
In one respect the maneuver of the
Spanish fleet is a relief to the naval
officials here. as it tends to show the
safety of the battleship Oregon. She
is proceeding from the north coast of
South America to join SIMPSONS fleet,
and is somewhere in the neighborhood
of Martinique. Had the Spanish squad
ron remain I'd at that point there would
have been serious danger that the Ore
gon would have been intercepted. Now,
however, she is well out of the way of
the Spaniards, so long as she follows
the usual route.
1t is not to be supposed that the
Navy Department, with a knowledge of
the whereabouts of the Spanish fleet,
is going to allow any of its hard worked
little cruisers and gunboats engaged in
blockading duty on the Cuban coast
to fall victims TO the huge Spanish
ironclads. Their commanders will be
promptly advised of the approach of
the Spanards, and it may be set down
that unless the department is satisfied
that Sampson or Schley can head off
and crush the Spanish fleet. the Cuban
blockade vessels will be given permis-
sion to take care of themselves and get
out of harms way.
The determined attack made by the
Marblehead and other vessels on the
ocean cable running seaward from
Cienfuegos shows that the Government
finds it necessary to cut off all commu-
nication between Captain General
Blanco at Havana and Spain by cable.
That the effort was not wholly success
full was owing to the appearance OF
a superior force of cavalry, aided py
machine guns. which appeared TO have
taken the American sailors in the boats
engaged in cable-cutfing by surprise
They were prepared to risk few rifle
shots. but not the murderous hre
of the Maxinns However, Captain
McCalla. who is noted for determine