The times., 1898-05-06
GONE TO Take PORTO RICO
Admiral Sampson Ordered to
Strike a Real Blow at Last.
A GREAT BATTLE IMMINENT
Navy Department Officials Believe
That the Spanish Fleet Is Near
mt Hnpd-POrto Rico IL Probably
spain's Objective Point-Great Sea
Fight Must Soon Take Place.

The Navy Department had almost en-
tirely given up the idea that the St.
Vincent feet had gone back to Cadiz
yesterday. It was said by several officers
who voice the official opinion more or less
| closely that the department IS proceed
ing on the theory that the fleet is a
long way toward this side OF the At
iantio by this time. if not. indeed. al
| ready at Porto Rico
The newspaper stories of the fleet be-
| ing on its way to Cadiz may have risen
in two or three ways. They were in
deed corroborated by adviees received
| at the Navy Department. 1t is thought
very probable that Spain may have sent
| the news out 10 confuse the United
States authorities and, if possible. put
| them entirely off their guard until Spain
| had secured a commanding advantage
| in time.
| Another theory is that the fleet seen
was the detachment of the st. Vincent
| feet that was repored to have sailed
| North a week or more ago. when the
| fighting part of the fleet went West
This squadron consisted only of three
sent back to Spain for fear they would
| delay the other vessels, and collier
and a transport ship The dispatches at
the time the vessels left St Vincent
said that these smaller vessels had sailed
north" and that the others had gone
directly west. The smaller vessels may
have been seen by some one at the
Canaries or some point farther norths
and mistaken for the main fleet
The department apparently received its
information from the same source as the
newspapers Ii has employees open and
secret at all the principal points in Eu-
rope. 1t is disposed to believe that the
stories are probably entirely false or
based on insufficient knowledge
Secretary Long believes that Porto Rico
is the objective point OF the fleet He is
of the opinion that it is intended TO fore
sstall the United States in occupying and
putting a strong naval force at St. Juan,
the principal port on the island Spain is
undoubtedly quite as well aware Of the
advantage to her of having this port as
a coaIing station the United States is
There is reason 10 believe also that it is
the intention OF Spain 10 send the re-
mainder OF her navy to this point as soon
as possible. The plan would thus be to
combine the entire fighting force of the
navy at the one most advantageous place
and TO conduct her further operations
from it.
Sampson VIII Take Porto Rico.
The Navy Department people are begin
ming to compute the time of the probable
arrival of the fleet al Porto Rico The
ships can very readily sail twelve 70 four
teen knots without forced draft. AT the
more rapid rate they would be due al
ready II they only make eleven knots
they viii be due before Sunday The re-
mainder of the navy will be ready 10 sail
from Spain within few days, it is said,
and perhaps even today or tomorrow.
They would reach Porto Rico before the
end of May very easily.
II IS understood that Secretary Long
and Capt CrOwninshield have carefully
explained these points 10 President Nc
kinley and that he is fully in accord
with them in their belief Mr.. Mckinley
has, in fact, stated as much TO various
friends in the Senate and House.
The plan of the Administration may be
stated more positively today than at anv
time before. The following is from a
source that is thought TO be absolutely
reliable.
Admiral Sampson will steam to Porto
Rico quickly as possible He is in
structed TO take San Juan and 20 hold it-
II is hoped that he will reach the port and
take it before the Spanish feet arrives "a
the possession of the place will be n n-rea+
advantage to either side 1t is believed
that the flying squadron will also sail for
Porto Rico within a few hours 10 ioin
Admiral SIMPSONS battIeships and erIIfs-
ers.
There are two possibilities In ,ba -.
uation and both OF them are battles Tha
Spanish squadron may come directly 70
Porto Rico. In that case there will he :,
battle between Admiral SIMPSONS fo-cs.
ana the squadron within few davs
probably not later than Sunday. The
Spanish fleet may not be intending to
come Immediately TO Porto Rico If il
is 10 go first TO South America to try
for the Oregon the date of the battle Will
be deferred And more than that. when il
comes there is every reason to believe
that II VIII be greater fight than at the
earlier date.
A Grta Battle Imminent.
In case the Oregon is the first obie,-
tive point OF the Spanish ships there IS
every reason to believe that the remain
der of the Spanish navy will have reach
ed this side before the return 10 Porto
Rico. This would enable the entire navy
to rendezvous at the one point The
American Navy meanwhile would have
combined also.
On the one side there would be nearly
all the fighting ships of the North At
lantic fleet. including the blOckadins
and the dying squadron on
the other side would be the entire Span
ish navy, leaving out the ships at the
bottom of Manila bay. The forces aro
both formidable. They would be without
doubt the two greatest fleets that ever
met in battle Inc battle il il comes VIII
be the greates- in history
1t is well. however, as the Navy De-
partment knows, 10 allow almost unHmit-
ed range for the difference Of the plans
of the enemy from those figured out fo<
it at home. Spain may possibly be in
tending 10 strike blow somewhere on
the Atlantic coast. Ii is possible also
that the fleet, if il is now on its way
across the Atlantic. may be bound for
Cuba instead of Porto Rico. Ultimately
without doubt Spain intends to reach
Cuba TO help Gen. BIancO out Of his
trouble.
No News From Dewey.
The Navy Department announced offi-
cially after o'clock yesterday afternoon
that no news had been received from
Dewey of any character
whatever and that except through the
press reports the department is not aware
that there has been any battle at Ma
nila. Late last night this statement was
reiterated in substance. Secretary Long
stated at a late hour in the evening that
he is confident news viii be received to-
day. but only because apparently suffi-
Fiie fiOorin& in the way. SI.I5 100
IT, Libbey & Co. Lumber. 9Th & N YAve.