Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-05-17
THE OPPOSING FLEETS
NO ofhcfal Announcement Made at tba
Department..

wv oAciai Announcement Made at the
Department.
lhere were no official announcements TO-
uas Win respect to the movements of the
Shi'eo states and Spanish naval fleets in
the gun Oh Mexico and the Caribbean sea.
IN view or the declared policy of the naval
strategic board to guard it's plans more
securely in the future than has been the
case In the past, considerable surprise is
expressed at the evident desire of the
ceard to have it known that Admiral
SIMPSONS squadron, last heard from at
cape Haytien. had gone to Cienfuegos. on
the southern coast of Cuba Tho st,.a
ment to this effect was coupled with tba
additional statement tdat Admiral Sa,,n-
sons fleet was bound for Kew West when
its movements were diverted toward Ciap-
fuegos.
1t is very evident that the densrtn,ent
desired this information mace public What
TIE purpose of the announcement has not
been disclosed. 1t is a fair inference how
ever, that the announcement was made
either to mislead the enemy as to the real
movements of the American fleet or else
10 ehtlce them into more northern waters
than they have visited of late.
Protecting the blockade.
Although not so stated by the strategic
board there is reason for the belief that
arrangements have been made for the COM
piete protection of the blockade on the
north and south coasts of Cuba with a
view TO preventing the Spanish fleet from
entering either the harbor of Havana on
the north coast or the harbor of Cienfuegos
on the south coast, with the result that the
Spanish admiral will be compelled either
to return 10 Spain or to eventually seek
refuge in the harbor of San Juan, Porto
Rico.
Ii this theory is correct one Commo-
dore Schley's flying squadron is now des-
tined for Havana and Admiral Sampso on s
squadron is bound for Cienfuegos, the orly
ports in Cuba whers the Spanish admiral
would be able to make an effective juncture
with Gen. Rlanco's army. The American
fleets are believed to be sufficiently strong
to prevent the approach of the Cape Verde
fleet to either of the ports named or to
venture near enough into the neighboring
waters to endanger the safety of any of
the smaller American warships forming
part of the blockaiins squadron on either
coast of Cuba.
1t was stated at the Navy Department
yesterday that Admiral SIMPSONS fleet
would reach Cienfuegos today or tomorrow
Schley's fleet. if really bound for Havana
should reach there shortly after. At any
rate, both of the fighting squadrons of the
American navy could be in the positions in
dicated at least day before the Spanish
squadron could reach either point, even il
such were the intention of its commander
San Juan the Only Refuge.
The distance from Curacao to San Juan,
Arfn f-
covered by the Spanish fleet before either
Schley's or SIMPSONS fleet could reach
there, provided their present whereabouts
has been accurately stated.
With both Havana and Cienfuegos shut
egainst it, the Spanish fleet would natural
ly seek coal and provisions in the harDor
of San Juan, and it is said that the
American naval commanders would desire
nothing better than to have it follow that
course. If the Spanish admiral could be
enticed into the harbor of San Juan it
would be possible for the two fighting
divisions of the American navy to COM
bine in a blockade of that harbor and
either starve the Spanish forces into SUBJ
lection or to enter the harbor itself and
destroy the Spanish warships by the use
of tactics similar to those adopted by Ad-
miral Dewey for the subjugation of The
Spanish fleet in the harLor of Manila.
No Land Batteries.
The execution of such a plan has been
rendered practicable by the recent destruc-
ton by Admiral SIMPSONS fleet of the
principal batteries guarding the entrance
of the harbor of San Juan, so that in the
event of a battle in that harbor the United
States navy would have only the Spanish
warships to cope with. In the opinion of
naval strategists, the absence of land bat
teries would make an American victory
short, sharp and decisive
There is no certainty, however, that the
Spanish admiral will permit himself to be
bottled up in the harbor of San Juan or
that he has any immediate intentions OF
doing anything that would involve a hos
tile meeting with superior nearly equal
naval forces of the United States HIS
movements are as mysterious as ever and
the officials of the Navy Department are
sorely puzzled to know what his course
Will be- when he leaves the shores of Ven
ezuela.