The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1898-05-19
ADMIRAL SAMPSON
FREE IO ACT.
Clothed With Power to
Seek Spain's Fleet as
He Deems Best.
ADVISED BY THE BOARD OF STRATEGY.
But he Can Change His Plans as
the Occasion May Warrant.
EXPECTED BATTLE WILL Be FOUGHT NEAR CUBA

WASHINGTON, May 1.-THE naval
situation has resolved itself into one
of expectancy as to the probable time
OF the conflict, now regarded as inev-
liable, between the American and
Spanish naval forces cruising around
in Southern waters, while each day
brings them nearer to the contest on
which depends the supremacy of one
or the other around Cuba
The orders to Admiral Sampson
are to seek and destroy the enemy,
just as were those sent to Dewey be-
fore he sailed far Manila. The most
practical means of discovering and
hunting down the Spanish ships and
engaging them in action is a question
to be determined almost entirely by
the flag officers of the American fleet
South. No restraint has been placed
on the senior officer, and he is clothed
with full power to go where he deems
best to seek and give battle to Spain's
formidable flotilla, which has way
of eluding watch that has become
annoying and perpleXing to the
strategic board.
The board has outlined the plan of
action that it advises to be followed,
and when changes are necessary, as
additional facts are received relating
to the whereabouts of the enemy, Ad-
miral Sampson is informed and given
suggestions as to the better course to
pursue. The Admiral has been de-
pending on messages from Washing
ton exclusively in the last three days
for information as to the movements
of the rival fleet, and for this reason
it is believed that he has not taken
his departure from the north coast of
Hayti and will not proceed beyond
the Windward passage until he has
reasonable grounds for assuming that
the Spanish ships have taken a de-
cided course toward some place on
the Cuban shore.
The Spanish Elusive.
Where the Spanish squadron will
proceed is a question of uncertainty
to the strategic board, and unless
some of the swift scouts now opera
ting in waters between Cuba and the
Caribbean sea 'pick up' and report
the fleet it does not seem to be proba-
BILE that the naval officials here can
be reliably informed as to future
movements of the vessels after they
once get beyond cable communication
with the United States.
Four fast cruisers are now securing
these waters or soon will be. The St..
Paul, under Captain Sigsbee, is said
this evening to have been detached
from Commodore Schley's squadron
and to have been sent scurrying
around the west end of Cuba to re-
connoitre along the south coast and
watch the approach of the enemy
from that direction. Meanwhile the
Yale and st. Louis and probably the
Harvard in day or so will be travel
ing over that section of the sea that
touches the shores of Santiago de
Cuba and the Windward passage,
where the possibilities are equally
strong that the Spanish fleet may
appear.
Admiral Sampson may now be on
his way to Havana, or taking a
southerly course and making off and
on between the east end of Cuba and
Hayti to intercept the feet should it
attempt to pass through any of those
passages and come around to the
north of Cuba and on to Havana,
hoping that Sampson has made for
Cienfuegos.
The situation is regarded as one in
which successful strategy now de-
pends much on the reliability of the
information concerning the Spanish
fleet and the time that will be per-
mitted to make the necessary start to
prevent the enemy from securing
some point of vantage. The cable as
much as the scout has kept the de-
partment and Admiral Sampson ad-
vised of late, but when the Spanish
admiral again gets beyond the scope
of communication there is no possible
means of locating his command unless
some of the fleet patrol vessels sight
him and carry the news rapidly to