The times., 1898-04-29
NO ASSAULT ON HAVANA
Would Be Sanctioned Only In
der Extreme PrOyocati0n.
ORDERS TO CAPT. SAMPSON
He is Not to EndunEer Amy of His
inrds Into Submission to he Rigid
Iy Adhered To-AttacIs From the
Enemy's Navy Expected.

1t is announced positively at the Navy
Department that there will be no bonn
bardment of Havana except under the
most extreme circumstances, in return to
a hot fire from the Havana batteries.
Even then, it is said, Captain Sampson
fleet would retire after firing only few
shots
The plan of a blockade to starve the ISL
and out is still unchanged in the slightest
particular. The reason for this is plain,
though there is much question If it Is
a sufficient one. The Havana batteries
are much more modern than those at Ma
tanzas or any other Cuban port. They
might, it is stated, do the fleet much
damage before they could be silenced.
Capt Sampson has been ordered not to
endanger any of his ships.
The Government is waiting for and ex-
pecting an attack from Spain very soon.
1t is believed that a part at least of the
Spanish forces may attack the blockading
fleet. The Navy Department wishes to
have its full strength when this attack
comes.
On the other hand, it is urged that the
Spanish fleets may come together to this
side and that even they might be more
than match for Capt. SIMPSONS fleet
unless he were entrenched in the harbor
of Havana with the protection of the
shore batteries. For this reason it is be-
lieved by many that Havana should be
taken.
1t was said unofficially at the depart
ment yesterday that the bombardment
of MatanZas was made in reply to shots
from the forts, and that as Matanzas
| was not very strongly fortified Capt.
Sampson felt assured that there could be
no danger to his ships. Such engage
ments when the advantage will be all on
| the side of the United States may be ex-
/ pected at any time. though Capt. Samp-
| sons 5 orders are to avoid them.
One of the matters that was discussed
{ with much qualification at the depart
ment yesterday in connection with the
| bombardment was the fine Workmanship
Of the gunners on the American ships.
! The accounts are all to the effect that
every shot fired had it's effect and did its
, damage on the enemy. On the other
hand, not a shot from the forts struck
| the ships. The department people are
! disposed TO regard this as an augury of
| the way the other battles viii go. They
! suggest that If. for instance, the gunners
| in the American ships OF the Asiatic
| squadron are as ShlElIul as tnOSe VINO
| fired the Matanzas forts, and if the
| Spanish gunners in the Manila fleet are
/. as wild as their brothers in MatanZas
| there will be no question as to the quick
| ending of the battle o-f the Philippines
! in favor of the Americans.
| The matter of most interest TO the
naval officers yesterday after the bonn
| bardment was the attitude of Portugal
| with regard to the Spanish fleet at the
ngIa Tsla l,n fv,FT 2
received yesterday at the department
| was that the fleet was still a the islands,
| although apparently preparing to depart.
i Senor Santo Thyrso, the Portuguese
minister, made cali at the State De-
partment early in the day. He was the
| first member of the diplomatic corps to
| meet Mr.. John 3. Moore, the new assist
ant secretary. Mr.. Moore was sworn in
| during the early morning and was acting
| secretary yesterday during the absence
| of Secretary Day.
Senior Thyrso, stated that his business
| had nothing to do with the question of
! PortugaFs neutrality. Secretary Moore
also stated that Portugal has not as yet
! signified her neutrality.
| Portugals attitude is especially impor-
tant at this time and is growing more so
| every day on account of the Spanish fleet.
| 1t is denied that the United States has
| as yet made any demand on Portugal.
| but it Is known that something will be
| done to hurry that country unless word
| of its neutrality is received within a short
| time.
| The department had not q word to give
| out as To the news from the Philippines
| If there is any. 1t was equally reticent
| as TO the fleet that is supposed to be max
| ing its way across the ocean. Unofficial
| ly, however, there is no attempt TO dis
| glise that there is a large possibility that
| Spain's next move will be a descent on the
| American coast. The chances of this
| move and the probability of its success or
| failure are talked about at length along
| the lines that have been pointed out in
| The Times. The majority of opinion is
that the fleets now gathered by Spain will
| operate independently, one attacking the
| northern coast and one the blockading
| squadron off Cuba. There is an idea that
| Spain will make strong attack on the
| coast cities with one force in the attempt
to cause the United States to withdraw a
| part of it's fleet from the Gulf. Then there
| may be blow at the blockadng squad
ron and an attempt TO aid Havana
| 1t is thought that news of the battle off
| the Philippines will be slow in reaching
! this country, and that even if there is an
! engagement today the true state of affairs
| may not be learned before Sunday after
| noon, if then. The news so far is that
| Spain's fleet has put to sea to meet Com
modore Dewey The battle may be a
| hundred miles from shore and the early
| stories may be very garbled. There is the
| suggestion, of course, that the simple
news of the engagement will be enough,
| as there can be only one end to it, This
| IS comforting, but it is not as full of de-
| tails as the people will desire the ac-
| count to be.