Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1898-06-02
Positive Information That They
Are Located in Santiago
de Cuba Bay.
Commodore Schley Reports That
He Has Seen and Recog-
nized Enemy Ships.
s!slsss.s4a'
He Is Instructed at Once Not to
Let Them Escape, But Destroy
- Them If Possible.
Entrance TO the Harbor Ia Closely
Guarded-LittIe Hope for
the spAnIardH.

Guarded-LittIe Hope for
the 81 AnIards.
Washington, May 3o.-At 70: 80 clock
this (Monday) morning the navy de-
partment received dispatch from Com
modore Schley announcing definitely
| that he had located Admiral Cerveras
| Capt Verde squadron in the bay of
| Santiago de Cuba. The commodore
states that he has seen and recognized
the vessels of the Spanish fleet. While
the naval officials have been morally
certain for several days that Cervera's
squadron was in the harbor of San
tiago, the official announcement from
Commodore Schley was received by the
officers on duty al the department with
intense satisfaction. Assurance is now
doubly sure that the Spanish fleet is
| bottled up and that the cork is in the
bottle.
The defniteness of Commodore
schley's dispatch would indicate that
he had effected landing near Santiago
and made a personal investigation of
the harbor. It would be impossible
from the entrance to the bay definitely
to see 92d recognize the Spanish yes
sels, bu%hy etfecting a landing at some
point on either side of the entrance a
vantage point could be gained very like
ly from which the entire harbor could
be examined. In all probability Com
modore Schley or one of his trusted of
hcers has successfully performed this
hazardous undertaking in order to OBJ
tain the valuable information contained
In his dispatch.
May Destroy His Own ships.
1t is not believed that Admiral Ger
vera will attempt to escape from the
predicament in which he now finds him
self, as such a course would surely re-
suit in the destruction of his vessels
and the loss of many lives precious to
Spain. The suggestion is made, how
ever, that the Spaniard may blow up
his ships rather than have them fall
| into the hands of Schley, as they GER
tainly will If they remain 10 the har-
Dor.
II is impossible. owing to the late
ness of the hour, to obtain any official
expression upon the news from Com
modore Schley. What effect the GER
tainty that Cervers is practically help
less Will have upon the plans of the
administration with reference TO the
invasion Of Cuba can only be coniec-
tured. The transportation of land forces
10 the island, it is understood, was de-
layed because of the uncertainty con-
corning the location Of the Spanish
squadron. If that understanding is
i = I,ol IA 3
vasion OF Cuba is strong 1t is not uu-
likely that the movement OF troops.
which has been delayed from time to
time, Will begin this week and that be-
fore the end of the week the United
States fe rces will have obtained sub
ttantial foothold upon Cuban soil.
Instructions to schIey.
| Commodore Schley will remain in
front of Santiago harbor until he de-
! stroys Ceryera's squadron. The depart
nent, after translating Commodore
Schley's cablegram. wired him instruc-
tions 70 this effect: Under no circum-
stances permit Spanish ships to escape.
I Destroy or capture them.
Gen. Miles dispatched half a dozen
/ kilograms informing the leading officers
Of the army Of the news. and issuing or
/ ders for the immediate movement of
/ the troops. Capt. Crowninshield set
telegram TO Admiral Sampson, in
| forming him Of the contents Of Schley's
communication.
The troops and transports will begin
1 70 move within the next "a hours. The
/ blockade at Havana will be continued
/ by Commodore Watson's mosquito fleet