The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-05-14

Washington. May IA complete
plans of our government The receipt
OF news from Admiral Sampson Of the
attack on the forts of San Juan, and the
report of the actual presence OF the
Spanish flying squadron off Martinique.
only 500 miles away from Sampson and
less than 1000 miles from Havana. caused
the dispatch of the flying SQUADRON un-
der Commodore Schley and the delay Of
the army invasion of Cuba. 1t is to the
navy that the government again looks
for a battle that may end the conflict.
The news Of the Spanish fleet revealed
at once the possibility of a quick move
that would cut the line of communication
by water between Cuba and Key West.
exposing TO great peril any American
landing forces that might be caught be-
tween superior Spanish army in Cuba
and the sea patrolled by Spanish crus-
ers. 1t became necessary therefore to
defer the departure OF the military ex-
pedltion from Florida until the Spanish
fleet is met and crushed, or driven from
West Indian waters.
Orders came quick and fast from both
the war and navy departments. The
first checked the movement on Florida
setting In from all parts of the country,
and diverted the troops towards the
concentration camp at Chickamauga.
The navy department wired Sampson
information of the approach of the Span
ish fleet and directions what to do. and
another order flashed to Schley. who
has been eating out his heart at Hamp-
ton roads in his eagerness to get into
the fray, to start with his vessels at the
earliest possible moment. The commo-
dore took no chance of a cancellation Of
dore took no chance of a cancellation of
these highly desirable orders, but soon
placed himself beyond the reach of tele-
graphic recall What is expected of him
cannot be learned at the navy depart
ment. and naturally Is purely matter
OF conjecture. Simpsons fleet is strong
enough unaided to overcome the Spanish
flying squadron II he can ever catch IL
out of the reach Of Notifications. His
fleet. however. is lacking in speed as
compared with the Spanish vessels, and
cooperation on the part Of our flying
squadron would add very much to the
chance of cornering the spaniards and
forcing the fight which is believed to be
necessary to the success of the Cuban
campaign as now planned.
Someone suggested at the navy de-
partment that the Spanish fleet when
last heard from was at point not very
much more dista~t from the great cities
of the Atlantic seaport than from Ha-
vana, but IL the Spanish admiral con-
templates a movement in the former
ha nhof mil F,,tI t~t
Schley, who will have his scouts well
out in advance when he moves. south
Mard.
Much regret is expressed among naval
officers at the delays experienced In COM
municating with Sampson. Doubt
whether the admiral has actually re-
ceived the important advices as to the
movements OF the Spanish fleet that have
been dispatched to him is founded on
the experience the department has had
with the cables received from the West
indies. 1t can be stated that there Is
good ground for the belief that the ad-
miral has achieved all that was expected
OF him, or that was necessary 70 carry
out the plans OF the strategy board. The
purpose was TO destroy San Juan as a
fortified base that might form r-.bor
OF refuge for the Spanish fleet. Accord
Ing to the admirars report this has been
practically accomplished. 1t was neither
necessary nor material that San Juan
itself be occupied; all that was essential
was that the Spanish fleet should find
no more protection there than II would
in any harbor without substantial de-
fenses. and ff the flying squadron should
have the temerity now TO enter San Juan
harbor. its vessels will fall easy victims
20 SIMPSONS battleships and monitors.
II Is a little singular that. Just after