Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-05-21
CERVERA'SSQU
authentic Information Of lis Where
abOHtS at Last.
SANTIAGO HARBOR A TRAP.
One American nOnitOf Could Bottle Up
The Whole Spanish Fleet Therein.
l. PHILIPPINE EXPEDITION
Advance Guard Expected to Leave
san Francisco To-Day--PoIaria Not
Going 10 Habann--No Ncwfound-
land spanish CoRiing station.

WASHINGTON. ID. c.. May @.-An of
fhe news that was given out to-day at the
Navy Department was comprised in one
short bulletin. posted at the close Of the
elv. stating that the department had in
formation. believed TO be authentic. that
Admiral Cervera, with his Spanish flying
s-usdron. was at Santiago de Cuba.
This went 10 confirm the newspaper re-
norris. and also the Madrid cablegram
,uhrshcd this morning. the latter a
rather unusual circumstance. for the
s,au.sh bulletins have been notably de-
csntivo ever since the flying squadron left
Caaz. Accepting this statement as cor
rect. a. indicates that there is little proba-
iUifv Of a hostile meeting between Samp-
son or Sca,ey and Ceryera, Immediately.
Looking over the charts of the Santiago
Iarbor. thc experts soon discovered that
tle place would be veritable rat-trap for
the spanisrds. with it's narrow entrance,
an which a single American monitor could
bottle up the whole Spanish fleet.
WAR BOARD VACANCY.
The Naval Strategy Board. named, of
late the War Board, is TO lose one of its
most valuable members in the person of
CAPTAIN Barker. He leaves Washington
tomorrow for Hampton Roads, TO take
command OF the fine protected cruiser
Newark. which has just been extensively
repaired at the Norfolk navy-yard. 1t
s expected that the Newark will join
SIMPSONS squadron in the West Indies
a. soon as she can get there.
It has not been determined who will
succeed Captain Barker as member of
iae War Board. 1t may be that the va
caucy will not be filled at present, though
there has been favorable mention of the
name of Admiral Ramsay, retired, in that
connection.
PHILIPPINE EXPEDITION.
Preparations go on steadily for the Phil
ipplue military expedition General Mer-
Itt who will command. stopped in Wash
is,on this morning. on his way westward
from New York. and spent most of the
cay in consultation with the officials of
tls department. arranging the details of
tle expedition.
Another transport was secured to-day, |
Hud the department is showing a disposi- |
ton 10 treat General Merritt with the ut |
most Mberality in the equipment Of his |
force.
1t is expected that the advance guard,
ou one vessel under the command Of
General Otis, will sail out of the Golden
Gate Tomorrow, bound for the Philip-
pines.
SHOES FOR VOLUNTEERS.
The complaints of the shoes for the
just brought into the army, |
are serious. as the department has placed |
orders for 10000 pairs of soldiers shoes.
A beginning was made to-day toward
the organization Of the Independent vol
unteer forces, under the authority con-
ferred upon the President by special
resolution. The national guard will have
~ part in these organizations, which
viii be made up of engineers, immunes,
and electricians.
THE POLARIA NOT GOING.
The State Department announced that
,ae Polaria, the Hamburg-Amercan Line
steamer at Key West, which was author
lied TO land certain passengers in Ha-
-lna had declined to avail itself of the
privilege. SO that the department is re-
Ieyed Of what promised TO be an embar-
l4ssins incident, and OF the necessity of
stablishing what might prove to be
dangerous precedent.
SPANISH COAL STATION.
officials here dismiss as pure invention
le story coming from Montreal that for
ler Minister Polo has succeeded in Sc
lring for Spain coaling station on
,ae of the French islands off the New
5ladland coast. At the French embassy
le report is treated with indignant con-
'mpt as the French decree Of neutrality
. binding on the French Governor of che ]
land, and effectually prevents the grant |
fs Of such exceptional privileges as
lalius stations.
NEW NAVAL DRY-DOCKS.
The Navy Department is about TO call ,
.g bids for steel floating dock, capable
u floating a ship of 1900 tons. to be
-cated at New Orleans. The department
. also looking forward to securing docks c
other points. #
a board, consisting OF Admiral Ram n
IS. Engineer Asserson, and Naval-Con- T.
uucJor L.nnard, will begin meetings at .
le Navy Department next Monday, be-
Ge going TO Galveston and Sabine Pass "
.1., and points along Chesapeake Bay u
.,h view 10 recommending sites for a
ocks. The board was authorized by the b
ent naval bill p
floating DOCKS IMMEDIATELY !,
another project for docks is contained
. ihe deficiency appropriation bill now
.i1re Congress. This provides for the
mediate purchase Of two floating docks. oi
81 soon as the bill becomes law the de- &C
1rtment knows where II can purchase pl
.ese docks. ready for service. They are .,
New York. and although OF wood and
mparatively small, they will be of In
Unable service on being towed 20 Key "
et where they will accommodate all OF
'l The largest battleships and cruisers. dr
10 department. hopes 10 own these docks -
,nin q few weeks. perhaps days, as the
ed Of docking and scraping the war ac
il' which have been I'm southern waters an
Y long time is becoming imperative.
-u------
CEHYERA LEAVES SANTIAGO. yo