The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-05-21
SAILED TO MEET THE SPANISH.
WARSHIPS STEAM AWAY FROM
KEY WEST AT DUSK.

Battle Between the Opposing Fleets
May BE q Question of Only Few
HOurs-Secret Chamber Containing
Arms and Ammunition Discovered
in the Hold of the Captured
Steamer ArgOuauta.
Key West Fla, May 20-The prologue
has been spoken and the curtain is about
to rise on the first act of the drama.
This is the unwavering opinion of naval
men here.
Dewey's brilliant achievement at Manila
is regarded as a separate episode.
San Juan is already a memory; and the
sporadic encounters along the Cuban
coast are accepted as merely preliminary
skirmshes, tentative rather than decis-
i've.
The meeting of two great hostile fleets is
the pivot upon which the situation turns;
and that a few days, perhaps hours, will
bring them together is the universal view
here at the base of operations.
This view IS confirmed by the news that
Admiral Cervera's squadron has reached
Santiago de Cuba. The intelligence came
to-day and if it did not affect the etua-
ton Il was a singular coincidence that ac-
tivity among our ships was percepHbly
heightened and the work Of coalng and
provisioning those in the harbor was rush.
ed with more than usual haste.
The ships were surreptiuously creeping
toward the open sea as the day waned and
the ranks of naval men ashore were con
stantly thinning until at dusk there was
scarcely one TO be seen.
The newspaper dispatch boats have
nearly all departed with particular care
not 10 lose sight of the United States war
ships.
The center Of interest again shifts away
from Key West; but whittier is the ques-
ton none can answer.
Otherwise the day has been dull and
empty of action. Some little stir was
created by the discovery of a secret
chamber in the hold of the Spanish prize
steamer Argonauta, containing fifteen
cases of ammunition, over a hundred Maui
ser rifles and other war stores. The find
was made by the United States marshals
officers and dissipated all doubt as to the
Argonauta's status as a prize of war
TIE Argonauta was taken three weeks
ago by the United States gun boat Nash
| vile off Cienfuegos.
On board were Col Cortijo, said to be
brother-in-law of Lieut.. Gen. Weyler,
and twenty-eight Spanish soldiers, now in
Fort Mcpherson, as well as mail matter
| and dispatches for Gen. Blanco and other
! Spanish officials in Cuba
The reports that several new Spanish
prizes were being brought in to-day are
| unfounded
The only new arrival of this character
| was the barkentlne Carlos f. Rosas the
{ story of whose capture last Tuesday mas
| already been told. She was brought in
here by a prize crew and anchored along
! with the other prizes, in the harbor.
The discovery of the war supplies on the
! Argonauta will not change the status OF
| her case before the prize court, as it had
| already been decided to-day, before learn
! inc of the ind. that the steamer was legit-
| imately prize of war, no claims having
! been filed by the owners of the ship or
| cargo.
| A like decision was rendered in the cases
| of the steamer Ambrosia Bolivar ana the
schoOners Candidate, MalhlIue anu 0ophles.
| The only formally remaining to make
| these vessels the absolute property oil the
United States is the confirmation py the
! Federal court authorities of the findings
| of the prize commission.
The case of the Buena Ventura, the first
canture of the war, and the Pedro, Cata-
lima. Miguel Jover, Panama and Guido,
| large and valuable steamers viii have 20
| be tried in regular form by the United
| States Court claims having been filed by
the owners of the ships and cargoes.