The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1898-05-27
MANY RUMORS,
But Very Little Authentic News of the
Movements of War Vessels.


make. He finds that Spain has as
much curiosity about such things as
the people of this country, and that
Spain learns of them as soon as the
American public. He has, therefore,
decided to be less liberal in supplying
such information to the dear public,
and incidentally TO Spain, and is clos
ing up many of the sources of infor-
nation. Censors have taken charge of
telegraph and cable offices at certain
important points and restrictions are
placed on press dispatches. AT Wash
ington only such matters as the de-
partments are willing to have gener-
ally know are given TO the newspaper
correspondents. This accounts for the
scarcity of reliable news as to the
movements of war vessels.
When Admiral Cervera with his
Spanish fleet turned up at the French
West Indian island of Martinique it
was thought there would be battle
at once, but the Spaniard was willy and
he was next heard of off the coast of
Venezuela, at the Dutch island of Cur
acao, where it is understood he took on
coal and supplies which had been sent
across the Atlantic ahead of the fleet.
Again the Dons disappeared as COM
pletely as if swallowed up by the Car
ibbean sea, and although there were
reports that they had reached Porto
Rico and n score of other points none
of them could be verified and were not
believed. 1t was the opinion of strate-
gists at Washington that the Spanish
fleet was trying to reach some Cuban
port, either Havana, Cienfuegos or
Santiago de Cuba with needed supplies
for Blanco, without engaging in con-
fiict with the American warships sur
rounding the island. 1t was under
stood that the U. S. navy department
had accepted this view and had taken
the necessary precautions to prevent
Cervera from reaching those points,
but the next reports which had any APP
pearance of authenticity were that the
Spanish Fleet Arrived at Santiago Safely
Madrid: The Spanish squadron has
arrived at Santiago de Cuba without
accident, and found there two Ameri-
can warships, which retired with all
speed. The queen regent has cabled
congratulations TO Admiral Cervera.
Washington: The navy department
has received semi-official information
confirmatory of the dispatches from
Madrid announcing the arrival of the
Spanish feet at Santiago de Cuba.
Cervera Sails From Santiago.
T. 4 =. 4 al
Cervera's squadron has left Santiago
de Cuba.
Admiral Cervera's dispatch to the
minister of marine contained further
details for the information of the gov
eminent alone. 1t is pointed out here
that the American plan was to get com
mand of the sea as a condition to future
movements. Admiral Cervera's bril-
liant move deprives America of the
command of the seas and demonstrates
to the world that the blockade in Cuba
is merely nominal. Admiral Cervera
has given the slip to two powerful
fleets that have been securing the ocean
for fortnight in an endeavor to catch
him. All the American schemes de-
pend thereupon. Admiral Cervera,
with four cruiers and few destroyers,
alone to the Atlantic, ignoring events
in Cuba and in Porto Rico and the posi-
ton of the American squadron has
out-maneuvcred, disorganized and dis
persed the later, making the Ameri-
cans believe they were threatened on
every side.
A dispatch from Key West says that
it is believed there that the Spanish
feet after coaling and leaving supplies
at Santiago de Cuba has again put to
sea. 1t is possible it may try to make
Havana.
SIMPSONS and Schleys Fleets Unite.
The attempt to prevent the Spanish
fleet reaching Cuban port led to the
recall of SIMPSONS fleet after the
bombardment of San Juan and also re-
suited in Commodore Schleys flying
squadron being ordered to Cuban
waters The smaller gunboats under
Commodore Watson were left to con-
tinue the blockade of Cuban ports and
Sampson and Schley effected junction
at Key West.
Sampson and schIey Leave Key West.
Key West: A greater American fleet
than any that has been in the waters
off Key West since the war began was
assembled there when Sampson and
Schley effected a junction of their
squadrons. They coaled and replcn-
ished their stores of ammunition and
then parted, sailing IN opposite direc-
tions, making what is believed to be
the most decisive move that has yet
been made. All that is known of the
ships movements with certainty is that
Sampson with the swiftest vessels
went to the southwest and Schley
sailed east. If neither commander
changed his course after he got out of
sight of the watchers in Key West,
that means that Sampson headed for
the Yucatan channel and that he may
be bound for the southern coast of
Cuba and perhaps to Santiago de Cuba.
Schlcy's ships, according to this move
ment, are bound along the north coast