The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-05-28

ed, up to yesterday to guard the eastern
and western passages, did not detract
from the efficacy of the blockade.
Now that the element of uncertainty
regard the Spanish ships whereabouts is
almost entirely removed, the ships which
were solely occupied in watching for the
Spanfards have become an additional
force for the blockade, and without any
inconvenient change of position. Cemmo-
dore Schley has been reinforced, but his
position was clearly so strong that the
reinforcement which he received made no
difference to the strong fleets in Northern
Cuban waters.
The rumors of the sailing Of second
Spanish squadron does not worry Rear
Admiral Sampson in the slightest. His
feelings on the subject were aptly ex-
pressed recently when he said:-
.'I am perfectly satisfied in that we have
bagged these fellows (referring to Adj
miral Cerveras ships).
Rear-Admiral Sampson does not cross
his bridges until he comes to them, and
when that time comes his uncomfortable
patience and strategic ability can be re-
lied upon to see him safely across.
For the second time since war was de-
clared the Admiral has been notified that
the army is ready to move. This is good
news to all the naval officers. The two
branches of the service has been Qaying
a game of wait; the army resting until
the navy disposed of the Spanish fleet,
and the navy unable to occupy much
needed bases until the troops were ready
for debarkat tion. In view of the fact that
the Spanish fleet was far faster than the
American fleet and that the former had
no desire for an engagement, this policy
of inaction, however far-sighted it may
have been. temporarily produced much
natural irritation among the naval Off
GERS.
All appearances now point to the pass
ing away of this feeling and hearty active
cooperation between the army and navy
! may be anticipated.
BY great fortune, no accident has oc-
CURED of sufficient Importance to rem
der any of our ships utterly helpless or
beyond the did of towing during
the feet's cruising of the past month.
Such accidents, however, are quite within
the bounds of possibility. With such ten
der machines as torpedo boats doing hard
duty in all kinds of weather accidents
| even COlile lIllO Lie llSl VI t'iO
which naval commanders have to count
upon.
With base in the enemy's territory.
with harbor of refuge and coaling sta
ton within twenty miles of the cruis
| ing grounds, Rear-Admiral SIMPSONS
task. arduous at its best, will be made
great deal easier. But such a base can
only be obtained through cooperation
| +t,o of ma cd
at the disposal of the Admiral is not
| large enough to cope with the possible
strength that Captain General Blanco
could concentrate ON short notice. Then,
while the army of the United States is
operating on shore, it is safe to say the
naval gunners will not be idle.
During the weeks cruise of the flag
ship New York from Matanzas towards
the eastern end of Cuba and back, there
wer few incidents of interest. Everything
centered in the news from Commodore
Schley, and disappointment was visible in
every face when it became generally
known that the Commodore was mistaken
in thinking he had Admiral Ceryera bot
tied up at Cienfuegos, but this feeling of
disappointment soon gave way to renewed
enthusiasm when news was received from
/ Santiago Q6 0uDd. Ills lCdiiy " etS AAaoi
acceptable than the reports from Cienfue-
gos. for had Admiral Cervera succeeded
| in effectfng a landing at Cienfuegos he
would most likely have been able to
| transport his alleged cargo of arms and
! ammunition to Havana, while from San
tiago de Cuba 1t will be almost impossible
| for him to do SO.
| During the first few days out from Key
West there was heavy sea, which made
| life miserable for the torpedo boats Rog-
ers and Foote, and which made the mon
otors roll very heavily.
| The sharpest kind of a lookout was kept
| and more than once the fleet went into
battle formation owing to over anxiety
upon the part of some man on the look
out in the tops who thought he saw the
smoke of five Spanish warships on the
| horizon. Absolutely no lights were shown
| at night and signals were constantly ex-
changed between <he flagship and the
scouts. The latter generally were the New
| Orleans, Mayfower and Machias.
| The latter which started miles ahead,
| or were on the TANKS or astern of the
fleet, were always busy. Their location:
was learned every few hours by the faint
CLEAN of their private signal lights.
They have special signals to display in
case the Spanish fleet was sighted
| The eagerness with which the blue
| jackets in the tops looked and prayed for
| that particular colored light was a de-
| lightful exhibition of the spirit which
prevails throughout the fleet
There have been no wild exhibitions of
patriotism. but there has been a quiet,
healthy display of real love of country
! and grim determination to annihilate the
| enemy if possible. Officers and men alike
seemed to fully realize that naval warfare
nowadays is almost entirely matter of
science of knowledge, in which enthusi-
asm has a small part. The steady hand
| and clear eye now do the work at four
thousand yards which in olden days was
done with ships grappled together by
| slashing cutlasses, pistols, axes and plies
| in the hands of almost frenzied men, So,
when during the past week 1t was once
or twice thought that the Spaniards were
| in sight, the crews of the United States
warships were a pretty cool lot, with
telescope sights to adjust, delicate ann
munition hoisting machinery to watch, a
score of levers to look after, and every
thing depending upon the perfection Of
mechanical details
II has heen observed by those who have