The herald., 1898-05-27
SAMPSON is READY TO ASSIST
Of1cia1 Information That ths sautt-
ago Bottle r Not Empty Would
Be Very Welcome

each command Is not permitted, for stra-
tegic reasons, to be telegraphed.
Concerning the statement that Admiral
Cervera's ships are bottled up at Santiago
de Cuba, 1t has been accepted that Com
modore Schley could maintain the blockade
Of the harhor there and annihilate the
Spanish fleet If 1t Is to be found outside.
The fact that Commodore Schley is now
thought to be outside of Santiago de Cuba
has given free rein to Sampson, who Is
known to be in the Bahama channel, His
purpose was to intercept the Spanish feet
II it attempted to reach Havana. With
Commodore Schley at Santiago de Cuba.
Rear Admiral Sampson would be in the
position to proceed eastward and effect
junction of the two powerful squadrons
or return to Havana to resume operations
in that vicinity. 1t is now accepted as a
fact that Commodore Schley Is to be per-
mitted to work out the problem of San
tiago. The blockading squadron under
Commodore Watson is doing duty along
the western coast Of the island.
Assistance at Hand
KEY WEST, May 26.-Definite news Of
the American squadron operating in Cuban
waters was received here this afternoon,
fully confirming the general situation out
lined in these dispatches last night and
this morning.
Commodore Schley is believed to be of
Santiago de Cuba today and definite In
formation as to the exact situation in so
far as 1t affects Admiral Cervera's squadron
may be expected tonight or tomorrow.
Rear Admiral Sampson Is In position to
proceed quickly to the assistance Of Com
modore Schley with any or all of his ships
on receipt Of definite word from Commo-
dore Schley, and at the same time he re-
mains within striking distance of Ha-
vana. If, however, Commodore Schley
reports that Admiral Cervera Is bottled up
at Santiago de Cuba, the naval view is that
he will be permitted to finish his business
at that point with the ships now under
his direct command.
Expert Speculation
WASHINGTON. May 26.-Naval officers
are now turning their attention to inquiries
whether 1t Is possible for Admiral Ger
vera to get out of Santiago harbor. They
hold that this maneuver is impossible
and, being so, the career of the Spanish
Admiral is at an end, SO far as 1t consti-
tutes a menace against our ships. The
British comment that Admiral Hornby, in
1885 had escaped with his entire fleet from
a harbor under similar conditions. and
that Admiral Cervera should be able to
make his escape when he gets ready to do
so, is not accepted. The naval view here
is Just the contrary. 1t is pointed out that
Admiral Hornby escaped from an open
bay, while Admiral Cervera must come
through a channel about 300 yards wide,
on which the American searchlights will
play constantly. 1t Is said that this Is not
mere conjecture, but that naval maneuv-
ers when carried on at Key West and
Tortugas few months ago. furnish a
positive demonstration that Admiral Ger
vera cannot make an exit without being
discovered. An officer who was on board
one of the American ships during the Tor
tugas movement, says sham night attack
of torpedo boats was made upon the
big battleships and cruisers. The latter
were given no notice of the projected at
tack and there were no extra guards such
as the American ships now maintain. But
every torpedo boat engaged in the attack
was discovered long before 1t was within
striking distance of the cruisers and bat
tleships. One of the attacking torpedo
boats was so bewildered by the search
lights that 1t nearly ran into q cruiser
The lesson drawn from this attack was
that a sally by an enemy was impossible,
owing to the modern methods of discover
ing an approach. 1t had also shown that
the attacking fleet could not get within
range, although they had come within the
range of the ships attacked. 1t is said that
these maneuvers at Tortugas and Key
West practically represent the situation
before Santiago. If Cervera sent out his
torpedo boats as scouts they could be de-
tected before he had done any damage
and destroyed by the small gunboats. The
American ships would have the advantage
of concentrating their entire fire upon one
small passage.
No Word From Schley
WASHINGTON, May 26-The naval au-
thorities have advanced another stage In
their calculations on the status Of Ad-
miral Cervera's fleet at Santiago de Cuba |
They not only have good reason to be-
lieve that he is bottled up. but, as an Of
ficer expressed it today, the cork is in the
bottle and it is practically impossible for
night or day. 1t is felt that this condition
of the Spanish fleet Is not only important
from the present strategic standpoint but
Of momentous concern to the entire fu-
ture of the war as the crippling of this |
most effective naval force that Spain pos |
sesses will leave her such scant naval re-
sources as to make prolongation of the |
war impossible. That Admiral Cervera |
went to Santiago and is still there con-
tinues to be the view taken by the Navy |
Department. At the same time 1t can be |
stated that not a word has been received |
from either Admiral Sampson or Commo-
dore Schey In official confirmation of the |
existence of this trap. 1t rests now, as /. |
did two days ago, on q semi-official report |
coming to the Naval Department from a
source believed to be reliable. It was not |
a naval source, nor one connected with the !
state Department; neither did it come
from press advices. 1t was from parties
having relations with the Navy Depart
ment and In position to be accurately ad-
vised.
The naval authorities were extremely
anxious to secure an official confirmatio
from one of the American commanders,
and had this been received It would have
been made public at once. But lacking
this the department gave to the public
all it felt warranted giving from the facts.
namely, an expression Of belief that the
Spanish fleet was in Santiago harbor