The herald., 1898-05-14
AT THE CAPITAL
Speculation a. to Admiral sampson's
Next STEM

ment was all excitement this morniAI
upon the receipt Of the news that Admiral
SIMPSONS squadron had begun the bonn.
bardment of San Juan de Porto Rico, anc
fuel was added to the flames when the news
came later that the Spanish nying squad
ron had been sighted on Martinique, CIV
ing promise Of heavy fighting to come
The fact that the Admiral gave notice OF
his intention to lombard San Juan, as il
reported from st. Thomas, is an indication
that the movement upon San Juan was not
q suddenly conceived project. but part Of
a well-matured plan. Whether or not the
orders to the Admiral included lombard
ment IL not disclosed at the Navy Depart
ment. Indeed, there Is nothing in Samp-
sons report to indicate that he really did
lombard the place.
He merely attacked the forts at the en-
trance of the harbor. and II any shells
stray shots. 1t Is surmised that Admiral
SIMPSONS object in making the attack In
this fashion, without landing force of
troops in reserve to occupy the town II 1t
were captured. was to destroy the fortifica-
lions and make the harbor useless to the
Spanish flying squadron as a place OF
refuge. The reports SO far received show
that he did not complete that undertaking
yesterday, and the question now is whether
he will resume his work today or will be
diverted from 1t by the report of the pres
ence of the Spanish flying squadron in the
neighborhood Of Martinique. The state
ment given out at the Navy Department
that ''the Spanish squadron is now hull
down to the westward of Martinique"
could not be supplemented by additional
information as to the time the dispatch
was sent. but It is supposed that the squad
ron was seen yesterday.
Sampson already knows of its move
ments, for the United States scout Har-
ward. which put into Martinique yesterday,
is said to have found there one Of the tor
pedo destroyers composing the Spanish
fleet, and certainly would report the fact
to Sampson via st. Thomas II possible to
do so.
There is a suspicion, however, that the
United States has not been treated with
perfect fairness in the matter of the use
of cable from Martinique and that mes
sages Of the utmost Importance, SUCH for
instance, as those reporting the move
ments Of the Spanish ships have been de-
ldy6u al uuEcdSOu6Dlc iCHS Ia VI tlAio, "
the great embarrassment of our forces.
The subject Is one that will be investi-
gated in the future as well as other facts
connected with the treatment Of the Span
ish ships in West Indian ports, which are
nominally operating strictly under the
neutrality laws. It is said that the Span
ish squadron has been lying in wait for the
Oregon, which. with the Marietta and
Nictheroy, sailed on the 18th from Bahia
to join Sampson, and the reported activity
Of the Spanish torpedo boat destroyers in
running In and out Of Martinique seems to
show that they are being used as scouts
to give the rest of the squadron notice of
the approach of the American battleships.
If SO, the mission will be fruitless, for,
having discovered the whereabouts of the
Spanish force. Admiral Sampson will carry
out his orders to destroy their ships If he
| can reach them. The fact that the Span
iards were headed yesterday towards thu
westward on the surface would indicate
that they were bound for the south coast
of Cuba, but warships in these circum.
stances try to mislead observers ASHORE
As they stand now the two fleets are about
five hundred miles apart. The sailing OF
one fleet would bring them together in two
days. II the other remained stationary.
The Spanish squadron is made up of
seven first-class ships, of which four are
armored cruisers and three destroyers
This is as near the exact strength as can
be stated. for the reports from Cape Verde
have caused much doubt.
The fleet consists of the following YES
sells, as far as known here:
Arvoopod nyu,icoro Vi1coyo Alrofro ~ e
Oquendo. Infanta Maria Teresa. Crist-
obal Colon; torpedo destroyers, Terror
Furor and Asturo.