The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-10

the Spanish Fleet Has New Objective.
WASHINGTON. May 9.-There is the best author.
NY Tor the statement that today having passed with
out report from ADMIRAL Sampson the navy depart
ment does not expect TO hear from him within several
days. The authority for this statement is fully ac.
quainted with Admiral SIMPSONS plans and the re.
mark would seem to indicate that the admiral having
failed to find the enemy at the place expected had
turned his attention TO the alternative project What
this is cannot be aseertaned 1t is evident however
that the department is unler no apprehension as to
the safety of the American feet nor of any vessel of
the fleet.
1t is officially admitted that Admiral Samp.
son yesterday with his fleet near Cape Haytien.
on the north coast of San Domingo, and distant
about days from Porto Rico Today reports
have come to the department of none OF the lurid
engagements that said to have taken place in
those waters, hut ii is said the department that IL
there was firing yesterday and the day before as
reported by merchant vessels il probably caused
by some of the American vessels chasing either
prizes or the small Spanish genhoas that are said to
be cruising in those waters.
II is not believed that there has been any engage.
ment between Admiral SIMPSONS forces and the
HtHR squadron else reports would
have been received already at the department. Ex-
pectation is manifest at the navy department that
something important is to happen SOON 1t is sur.
missed that If Sampson does not strike the Spanish
flying squadron he may strike blow at Porto Rico
itself. 1t is curious fact that thus far the navy
department does not know positively where the Span.
sh feet is, and it is just possible that the vessels mar
b.. away the other side of the Atlantic or at
sadi. instead of being in Simpsons neighborhood in
'An West Indies. That a snch thing can happen Is
f,ainiy shown by the report from st. Thomas that
the Spanish cruiser Alfonso XlII. arrived at Porto
Rico Yesterday or the day before This il formid-
able protected cruiser of modern type and it has been
supposed all along that she was at Cadiz, Spain,
forming part of the home defense squadron.
The fact that she has arrived AT Porto Rico With
out knowledge of her departure having leaked ont is
an evidence that the Spanish authorities able to
preserve the secrecy of their naval movements muck
better than people are able to do.
Word came TO the navy department today that the
cable had been cut between Montevideo and Rio
Grande do Sui thus cutting off all communication
along the coast of South America below the
first and last named point in the south Of Brazil II
this were not accident il would be- hard 10 guess
at the purpose the Oregon having passed far north
of the break
1t il just possible that Spanish emissaries have cut
the cable to conceal some naval demonstration or
movement of Spanish ships in that quarter of the
world
The war department today fit To CRAFTY the
universal desire and informed the country through
the press just where the various state volunteer or
CARNATIONS TO be concentrated II il the first
time that any official statement has been made as to
the points of concentration themselves The order.
as published by the department. is thought in
quarters 10 warrant the assumption that il eonem-
plates speedy of the United States military
forces upon Cuba and in much greater force than
originally planned The war department officials
refuse TO say ANYTHING this point. bur there il
every indication that they expect short sharp execu
ton. which could not be waged by 5000 or 10000
soldiers 1t is also noted that preparations made by
the quartermasters and eommissary departments, -
far as disclosed by actual orders indicate that pro-
vision il being made for mobilzing Transporting and
feeding MANY thousands Of outside of the
United states With view OF systematizng the
mohzing Of Tie forces, tie department has planned
scheme which it is believed will very much hasten