The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-15
OREGON IS PROBABLY SAFE
SUPPOSED TO BE HUNDREDS OF
MILES EAST OF THE ARMADA.
Sampson Reported OF the Northern
Coast of Santa DomingO-The Bonn
bardment of Porto Rico.


WASHINGTON, May 4-Defnite official
information reached the authorities here
late this afternoon that the Spanish squad
ron had been sighted off the Island of Cura-
Gao, one of the Dutch West Indies, lying
off the north coast of Venezuela This In
formation was regarded as of vital i'm
portance, as 1t not only fixed the position
of the enemy. but disclosed the purpose of
the Spanish admiral to elude Admiral Samp-
sons fleet and make his way through the
Caribbean sea, probably to Cuba The
Island of Curacao was originally Spanish
and is peopled mainly by descendants OF
Spaniards, though it is now one of the
Dutch possessions. The Spanish admiraIs
course was also influenced by the fact that
the French cable, starting from Caracas,
Venezuela, touches at the Island of Cura-
Gao. thence proceeds northward through
the Caribbean sea to Haiti, with spurs run
ming east and west to Porto Rico and Cuba,
respectively. He is thus enabled to get in
thorities in Cuba and Porto Rico, and
through them directly with the Spanish Ad-
miralty at Madrid
No immediate battle with Admiral Samp-
sons feet is now expected as the Span
iards, it seems likely, have succeeded In
passing south of the American fleet and
are now we'll to the westward of it. AS the
enemy is in reach of the cable the Navy De-
partment regards it as of the most vital
concern that the exact whereabouts of the
American ships should not be made known
during the next few days. Thus far they
have felt handicapped by the fact that the
Spanish admiral knew the whereabouts of
our ships while we were in a state of doubt
as to the locality of his ships The officials
here regard it as essential during the next
few days to reverse this condition, so that
the Spanish admiral will be moving in the
dark, while our officers will be posted as to
his movements through the Caribbean
The department doubtless is informed as
to the whereabouts of Admiral SIMPSONS
squadron, but 1t does not see fit to give any
information on the subject and the same
rigid silence prevails as to the whereabouts
and destination of Commodore Schley's fly
ing squadron. The game has reached such
a critical stage that premature publication
as to the whereabouts of our ships might
cause inestlmable loss and failure of pres
ent plans.
In one Sespect the maneuver OF the Span
ish fleet is relief to naval officials here,
as 1t seems to assure the safety Of the bat
tie ship Oregon. She is proceeding from
the north coast of South America to join
Admiral Sampsons fleet, and is somewhere
in the neighborhood of Martinique. Had the
Spanish squadron remained at that point
there would have been serious danger that
however, she is well out of the way of the
Spaniards so long as she follows the usual
routes.
1t is not to be supposed that the Navy
Department. with a knowledge of the where
abouts of the Spanish fleet. is going to al
low any of its hard-worked little cruisers
and gunboats engaged in the blockade on
the Cuban coast 10 fan victims to the
huge Spanish ironclads Their commanders
will be promptly advised of the approach of
the Spaniards, and it may be set down as
sure that unless the department is satisfied
that SamT son or Schley can head off and
crush tho Spaniards. the American blockade
vessels will be given permission to take care
OF themselves and get out of harms way.
The determined attack made by the Mar
blehead and other vessels on the ocean
cables running seaward from Cienfuegos
shows that the government finds it neces-
sary to cut off all communication between
Captain General Blanco at Havana and
Spain by cable. That the effort was not
wholly successful was owing to the ap-
pearance of a superior force OF infantry,
aided by machine guns, which appear to
have taken the American sailors in the
boats engaged in cable cutting by surprise
They were prepared to risk a few rifle
Ahots, but not the murderous fire of Max
.ns. However. Captain McCalla, who is
any quality 1T can be taken for granted
will not abandon the task until he succeeds
Considering the great strategic value of
such move, the loss sustained by the
venture was certainly warranted by the re-