Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1898-05-28
CERyERA IN A TRAP.
The Spanish Admiral and His Fleet
Said to Be in Santiago de Cuba.
May Attempt 60 starvs Him Out-Oniy .
Question of Time when He Must
surrender-Aimost Impossible
to Destroy HIS Fleet.

uuehtiOn OF Ittuo WYNN ~ @ess
surrendsr Impossible
to Destroy His Fleet
WASHINGTON, May e6.-At the close
OF yesterday at the navy department.
the situation rs to the fleets, both
American and Spanish, WINS precisely
as It was in the morning, SO far as the
officials knew, the only notable diner.
ence being an apparent strengthening
OF the confidence of the officials In
their belief that Cervera's squadron Is
lying in Santiago harbor. In this
hope and belief the officials found
great comfort, knowing the abilities
OF the American naval commanders In
Cuban waters to keep the Spanish ad-
miral bottled up in his narrow neck
harbor until he shall surrender or be
starved out. IL Ccrvera Is actually Mt
bay, the officials feel not the slightest
apprehension OF any relief coming
to him from the outside in the
shape OF another Spanish squadron
from Cadiz. The reason for this belief
Is their unquestioned ability to hold
Cervera in check with only few yes
sells perhaps couple Of monitors and
torpedo boats-thus leaving the re-
mainder of the big armored fleet ana
great number OF unnrmored but serv-
iceable war craft to take care OF any
reinforcements that might attempt to
come from Spain TO Cervera's aid. The
force that could be spared for this
service without endangcring the in
tegrity OF the blockade ut Havana or
permitting the escape OF Cervera
would be much larger than the entire
Spanish naval force now in Spanish
waters capable of crossing the At
lantic.
The department officials, accepting
the view that Ccrvcra is in Santiago
harbor, are of the opinion that he Is
likely to remain there for long time
weeks and months, perhaps. A study
of the dcfenses of the barbor and top
ographical features has convinced the
experts that to undertake to carry the
place by storm from the sea, and to
attack the fleet while 1t is under the
protection of the forts would involve
so great loss OF life on our own part
us to be entirely unwarranted under
the existing conditions. The harbor
is known to be mined. and these mines
are SO well protected by judiciously
placed shore batteries that the usual
methods OF countermining could be
practiced only with the utmost peril
to the saiors OF our feet.
Moro castle, one Of the principal de-
lenses of the harbor, is perched upon
very high elevation. Its guns, II
served with anything like fair gum
merry, could rain most destructive
fire upon our ships, and not even the
battleships and monitors are designed
to resist plunging fire of this kind.
On the other hand, II Is extremely
difficult for guns mounted on ship
board to be sufficiently elevated to
throw projectiles with any effect
against q modern fortiflcation on an
elevated bluff or hill. Thst IL the
lesson learned at San Juan, and the
feet there had the advantage of being
able to lie of at long range, which II
will not possess in the attack on San
tiago.
OF course. the place could be taken
by assault but, as already stated, the
officials do not believe the present con.
ditions warrant such an expensive un.
dertaking. The effort, therefore,
probably will be made to keep Cervera
inside Santiago de Cuba harbor until
starvation causes the surrender Of the
Spanish squadron and the forts OF
Santiago That this can be done Is
not doubted by naval experts as the
narrow channel connecting the inner
harbor with the sea, requiring any
Spanish ships to emerge singly, would
expose them to almost certain destruc-
ton ut the hands of couple of ar.
rnored vessels or monitors commanding
the entrance.
THE VIEW ACCEPTED AT KEY WEST.
KEY WEST, Fla, May 26.-Therc ID
nothing definitely known here about
the possible operations in eastern
Cuba, but the view is accepted at THU
place as fact that the Spanish feet
is blockaded in Santiago harbor, In
which event the naval opinion here !,
that the Spanish feet has committed
suicide" 1t is now no breach Of con
fidence to say that Commodore Schley
and Rear Admiral Sampson arc be
lieved to have Admiral Cervera within
their reach. and II the Spaniards arc
in Santiago harbor they can be block
AIDED and starved out A single heavJ
American vessel can hold the harbor',
narrow exit, through which the span
iards could emerge singly. The Span
ish fleet is very fast, but Il
Is not composed of heavily
armored vessels. Indeed. any
of Admiral SIMPSONS bsttleshipl
could, in the opinion Of naval experts
engage the entire Spanish feet with I
fair chance of coming of victorious
The American commander has no
only ships for battle, but for the chas,
rs we'll. This Is the view here, wher,
the movements Of the American flee
are approximately well known
Among naval officers and people q
Key West generally there Is the mos
thorough confidence in the skill ant
energy Of both the American com
msnders. and it Is believed their tri
umphs in West Indian waters Is a.
sured.