The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-05-27
Authorities at Washington Are Convinced, However,
That Cervera is Locked Up in Santiago Harbor.
Long Conference on the Situation Held at the White
aouse--Night Sally by any Of the Spanish Ships
Believed to Be |mpraCticabIe-P Permanent Water
Supply For Chickamauga Park difficulty in Secur-
Ing Transports For the Philippines

and Tortugas few months ago which
furnish a positive demonstration that
Cervera cannot make an exit without
being discovered.
An officer who was on board one OF the
American ships during the Tortugas
movement says a sham night attack
or torpedo boats was made upon the
dig battleships and cruisers. The latter
were given no notice OF the projected at
tact, and there was no extra guard such
as the American ships now muintain.
Every torpedo boat was discovered long
pe1ore a. was within striking distance
OF the cruisers and battleships. The
pilot OF one OF the attacking boats was
so bewildered by searchlights that he
nearly ran into a cruiser. The lesson
drawn from this attack was that night
sally by an enemy was impossible owing
70 the methods OF discovering an an
proach. 1t had shown also that the at
tacking fleet could not get within range.
although they had come within range
OF the guns on the ships attacked.
IL Is said that these manoeuvres at
Tortugas and Key West practically rem.
resent the situation before Santiago. II
Ceryera sent out his torpedo boats as
/, scouts, they would be detected before
they could do damage and DESTROYED
by the small guns of such cruisers 10
the Montgomery. The American shins
would have the advantage of concen.
trating their entire fire upon one small
passage, about 300 feet wide. A night
battle is quite unusual in naval annals
but II has occurred. The Constellation
fought the Revenge at night. the en-
Ragement continuing for six hours In
the darkness, during which time the
mainmast OF the Constellation was
carried away and the ship crippled. IT |
Is believed that IL Admiral Cervera at |
tempts to escape he will choose the night |
for this movement
On the other hand naval officials are
discussing the means the American COM
mander may adopt to make exit impos-
Slple. In the blockade Of Charleston
oarges fuli Of stones were sunk at the
manner entrance, cutting off ingress and
lsress. A few old hulks would serve
me same purpose in this case. There
: dinculty In getting such craft, and
ne sinking OF the derelict in the proper
'oint In the channel would be attended
Win great danger 1t must be towed |
o position, subjecting those in charge to
ne danger of mines and torpedoes.
mere are also the guns from MORO cas-
ie 10 pe guarded against. 1t Is un-
erstooo, however, that the castle has
- searchiights so that night operation
tnls character could be executed with
Ut the Spaniards being made aware of
(. Taking everything into account.
avai omcers feel that Admiral Ceryera
ommitted fatal blunder in being
'apped at Santiago, and that there in
rear the trap will prove inadeouate
, hold him.
In the rush OF military preparations
he war officials have not been abIe 20
We much attention to the preparation ]
the regulations for the procurement
the additional 5000 volunteers II
still uncertain just how far the ma
onai authorities will GO towards re- !
s 'hese rorces themselves. nor is IL
's'.Nely known that independent or Q
lni1a'ions' companies, battalions and
einen.s raised by individuals will be
oep.eu In oiocks,f by so doing the
'parment Is required to accept the
hcers with the men. Indeed, Il IN
wv questioned whether under the law ,
department could, IL IL would. ac-
pt the services Of officers under such !,
noitions, as the governors OF the states .
pear TO be the only persons authorized I ,
issue commissions below the resi-
'ntai grade. There are other vera
US questions TO be settled before the \
sulstions can be promulgated but :
.una'eiy. In the judgment OF the de- :
,ment officials. due notice having ,
"a gwen to the people OF desire for n
we troops by the government. there =
10 occasion for haste I'm deciding upon q
ais In view OF the fact that the fur a
.f' OF men called for under the first @,
mas not been secured. The de- / ~
,'inent officials were engaged yester- =
mrseiy IN considering the new law =
''ulne Tor the organization Of GER
independent forces. with the 70. Oh
that the aspartmeIt was able to ii s,i