The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-05-20
NAVAL NEWS IS SCARCE
NOTHING ALLOWED TO LEAK
OUT AT WASHINGTON

| Cervera Missed a Golden OppOrtu-
nifty When He Dallied Along the
Venezuelan Coast and Allowed
Up New POsitions--Big battle Not
Yet Fought in the West Indies.
Washington Bureau St. Paul Globe, !
Corcoran Building.
Special to The St. Paul Globe.
WASHINGTON, May 19-Unofflcial
naval strategists have been going it
blind today. Up to late hour tonight
not a scrap of information regard
ing the opposing fleets in the West
Indies had been allowed to leak. 1t
received, though even Of this point Of
fetal Information was denied. Spe-
cials from Key West stated that
Schley's squadron was still there, but
was expected to sail before night.
These reports were not confirmed, and
the view was expressed that If true
they could not have passed the censor.
Schley, however, Is probably in the
vicinity of the Florida straits. The St.
Paul is reported at Key West and is
probably there. A lurid story Of a fire
In the ships coal bunkers which
threatened the safety of the vessel
and the destruction of a large reserve
supply of ammunition published by
New York and Washington evening
papers is taken with a liberal allow
ance of salt The foundation Of the
story, if it has any, is believed to be
very slight.
Regarding Admiral Sampson and the
Oregon there was no news. BY way of
Madrid the story came that Cervera
was off Havana harbor, but no at
tention was paid to it either popularity
or in official circles. The later rumor
that he had arrived ait Santiago de
Cuba was also discredited.
1t Is certain that no naval battle
has been fought as yet and probabl
that the status in the Caribbean sea is
not greatly changed. General opinion
inclined to the belief that the story Of
the bombardment Of Santiago de Cuba
was true, in part at least, but that
the reduction of the Qualifications Of
the Cuban port had been entrusted
to the fleet under Commodore Watson
rather than to the heavy fighting ships
of SIMPSONS squadron.
ADVANTAGE LOST.
In the confusion of speculation as
to the whereabouts of the fleets and
the probable outcome of the man
euvering, one thing may be set down
as fact. The Spanish squadron has
thrown away the advantage it gained
by an unobserved passage across the
Atlantic and has missed an opportu-
nifty that will not recur.
When the. squadron was reported at
Martinique. there is reason to believe
that it had already left Martinique for
some hours, after learning all that was
known in Madrid concerning the DO
sitions Of the American fleet. The
Spaniards knew that Admiral Sampson
had withdrawn all the formidable yes-
sells from the blockading squadron,
and had gone to Porto Rico to engage
IN not entirely ineligible lombard
ment of San Juan
BY steaming straight for Cuba they
could have found the blockade main
tanned by vessels very much below
their own class, which could neither
fight them nor escape from them. They
might have c1rcumnavigated Cuba. de-
stroying or capturing anything that
they could have fallen in with. and
nSfo licl, cd
ma, supporting the forts and support
ed by them, and with the power to
boast that they had completely broken
the blockade and beaten the Yankee
fleet.
CERVERA'S CHANCE.
That would have done them no good
IN the long run. The popularity of
their position is that nothing could have
done them any good in the long run.
But they had a chance Of performing a.
feat Of arms that would have soothed
Spanish pride,' and in the same de-
gree exasperated American feeling, and
they might by timely sallies from a
cuban port, have greatly prolonged and
complicated the question Of our inva-
sion OF Cuba, and indefinitely have
postponed the inevitable end.
That would have been a result worthy
or the dispatch Of squadron compris
Ing all that there is Of effective fight
Ing force in the Spanish navy.
1t is announced from Madrid that the
spanish admiral is not hampered in his
operations by orders from his captta1
Consequently, the whole responsibility
Is upon him of missing the opportunity
Which, upon leaving Martinique. he
found open to him. Instead of Selling
1T, and making the best of his way to
Cuba, he made long detour to the
southward, apparently to receive fuller
Information, when his informa ton was
ample already, and also to keep an ap-
pointment with a collier.
An enterprising sailor would have
seen and seized the opportunity to re-
peat on the coast of Cuba the OPERA
tions by which an enterprising sailor
destroyed the Spanish squadron In Ma
Mia bay.
FATAL DALLYING.
But the opportunity has passed
While Admiral Cervera has been daily
Ing off the Venezuelan coast Admiral
Sampson and Commodore Schley have
been making up for the start which the
Spanish squadron had over them and Of
Which he did not take advantage. IF
after his fatal delay he has steered for
Cuba he will find one or tho otbor 90