Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-05-12
ORDERS TO SAMPSON
tie is Instructed Not to Attack Porto Rican
PORTS al Present.
IT WOULD ONLY CoMPLICATe MATTERS,
Fleet Can DO Put to Better Use on tho
Coast of Cuba. In the Occupation
of That Island.

New York, May 12.-Although no adj
ditional confirmation has been reoeived
OF the news from London that the
Spanish squadron which left the Cape
Verde Islands two weeks ago had re-
turned to Cadiz, the belief has greatly
strengthened in official circles that a
cruise to Porto Rican or Cuban waters
was never very seriously contemplated
by Admiral Villamil, says the WASH
ington correspondent of the Tribune.
NO word has reached the navy de-
partment from Acting Admiral Samp-
son since the fleet under his command
was sighted off the north coast of San
Domingo. but the failure of any of the
swift scouting cruisers sent In advance
TO discover any traces of the Spanish
squadron and thenon-appearance of the
Spanish men-of-war at any of the
usual coaling and supply stations of
the Windward group have almost con-
WINGED the naval authorities here that
the Spanish commander has thought
discretion to be the better part OF valor
and has actually sought the refuge of
n home port.
As the capture of Porto Rico at this
time has been held by the President
and his advisers to be of little or no
strategic Importance, complicating in
stead of simplifying the task of re-
ducing Havana and expelling the
Spanish land forces from Cuba, II has
been virtually decided. as soon as the
absence of the Cape Verde squadron
from West Indian waters Is definitely
established, to recall to Cuba the
greater part of Acting Admiral Samp-
sons fleet. Gable dispatches instruct
Ing the American commander to make
no attack at present on San Juan, but
TO await further orders of Porto Rico,
have been sent TO the various cable
stations in the Windward group and
viii doubtless be delivered within the
next day or two.
There Is, of course, no immediate
demand for the services OF the whole
Key West fleet before Havana The
smaller men-of-war left behind by
Acting Admiral Sampson are compe-
tent to protect the passage OF the
landing expedition from Tampa and
to cover the Judgement of the invading
army on the Cuban coast. But should
an effort to reduce the Notifications
of Havana from the water side be
thought necessary, the heavier fighting
ships now off Porto Rico would have
to be called on to undertake the bonn
bardment: while IL the Vizcaya, the
Almirante Oquendo, the Maria Teresa
and the Cristobal Colon should, after
Caribbean sea and should appear un-
expectedly off the west end of Cuba,
the presence of the full Key West fieet
In that neighborhood would be found
Indispensable To beat off the ASSISTANTS
and maintain communication with thu
American forces already landed
Though Monday Is the date now set
for the departure of the first division
of regulars from Tampa, It would
create no great surprise II the troops
were detained on Florida soil a few
days longer. To take advantage OF the
comparative dryness OF the season, a
sharply directed campaign against Ha-
vana is considered advisable. But 1t
seems certain that the volunteers who
are to follow the regulars to Cuba can
not be assembled on the Gulf coast
in fit condition for field work within the
next two weeks, SO that actual opera
tions in Cuba will scarcely be possible
before May 25th.
By that time, too. all doubts about
the disposition Of the Spanish naval
forces viii be solved ard Acting Ad-
miral SIMPSONS Reunited fleet can be
employed TO cooperate with the Amer
lean land forces in pushing the selge
of the Cuban capital.
No serious weight Is attached here to
the suggestion that Spain will send a
fleet through the SueZ canal to attack
Admiral Deweys forces In the Philip
pines. 1t is consireded unlikely that
the Spanish government would strip its
home ports of adequate protection in
order TO undertake the re-conquest of a
distant colony, which could be held
only at u sacrifice of national interests
in every other quarter of the world.
Moreover, with government and cab
met engrossed In a struggle for politl-
cal existence at home. Spain is scarcely
in position to pursue for the present
any but a defensive and negative naval
and military program.