The San Francisco call., 1898-05-14
The Flying Squadron Sails South to Join With
 Sampson.
There Is Good Prospect of Battle Between the Combined Fleets
 That May End the War.

WASHINGTON, May 13.-Consider able speculation has been indulged il to-day at the Navy Department as tC the prospects of a sea fight betweer Admiral Sampson's squadron and th' Spanish Cape Verde fleet It is believed that he will be able to intercept them should they make q dash for Cuba, bu if they should get past his vessels they would make it warm for our ships o1 blockade duty off Cienfuegos on the south coast They could not stand fol a moment against the big Spanish armored cruisers and yet are not flee enough to escape if they are sighted Should Sampson sight the Spanish fieer it is not certain that he could engage them provided the Spanish admira found it to his interest to decline tht engagement. The Spanish ships are faster than anything in the American squadron with the possible exception of the New York
 If Sampson should fall in with them however, and find the Spaniards in g fighting humor he would have the best of it as far as chances can be calcu- lated from a simple calculation of the respective number of armored ships and guns. The big battleships, Indiana and Iowa, though 9 per cent slower than the Vizcaya class, far overmatct them in offensive and defensive power Their armor belts and turrets could not be pierced at fighting range oi POGO yards by the biggest gun mounted by the Spaniards. while the 12 and 13- inch guns of our battleships could per forate the Spanish armor belts The New York, however, Is inferior both In offensive power and armor to the span ish vessels, though she might hold her own by superior management and gun nery.
 If Sampson has taken his whole fleet the monitors Amphitrite tnd Terror would make up more than balance Of power against the Spaniards, allowing the cruisers Montgomery, Detroit and Marblehead as a force sufficient to take care of the Spanish torpedo boat destroyers. The latter, however, are almost untried elements in actual war fare, and some naval officers fear that they are much more dangerous foes than the ordinary strategists allow in their calculations.
 Secretary of the Navy Long this morning received official advices from Martinique, Windward Islands, that the Spanish fleet had been sighted to the westward of that island. Martin ioue is about 500 miles in a southeriy direction from San Juan, Porto Rico, where the American squadron under Admiral Sampson was in action yester- day. The Spanish vessels off Martin ique compose the formidable squadron recently collected at the Cape Verde islands, and which sailed from there Tn a westerly direction two weeks ago:
 Upon receipt of this information Sec retary Long immediately ordered Commodore Schley at Hampton Roads to put to sea at once with the flying squadron, and it will sail to-day. While its destination is not known 1t is be- ueved that the squadron has been sent in pursuit of the Spanish squadron.
 It is learned that the Spanish fleet was sighted on the morning of the day before yesterday off the north coast of Martinique and was again sighted yes terday morning on the West Coast hull down, and the indications are 1t Is taking a full supply of coal at Mar unique to replenish the bunkers ex- hausted by the European trip.
 NEWPORT NEWS, Va, May 13.- Five vessels of the flying squadron, led by the flagship Brooklyn, steamed out of Hampton Roads this afternoon, and, after passing the Virginia capes. took a southerly course, going, 1t is said, to augment Admiral Sampson's fleet, now in the vicinity of Porto Rico.
 The order directing the squadron to put to sea came at midnight last night A few minutes later the signal, Be ready to put to sea at daybreak,' was flashed from the flagship Back from the men-of-war came the answer. In a jiffy the men were summoned to the decks and the work of making the ships ready to sail commenced. Suppressed excitement prevailed. The little steam launches were hoisted aboard and decks cleared. Then the men waited for the signal to weigh anchor"
 Day broke, but the signal was not hoisted. The day wore on toward noon, and until the sailing flag was seen small craft ran to and fro carrying dis patches. Excitement gave way to inn patience, for the men had been lying off old Point Comfort for the last six weeks, waiting for orders to go to sea, disappointed. But not so. At 4 o'clock a signal ordering the battle-ship Mas sachusetts, the Texas, dispatch boat Scorpion and the collier Sterling to weigh anchor was run up to the top of the Brooklyn's military mast. Thirty minutes later smoke was curling from the ships and they were blowing the sea at a rate of fifteen knots
 Hundreds of people, mostly the guests at the hotels, including the wives and daughters of the officers of the ships, stood on the dock and waved godspeed to the men who were going to do battle for their country After passing through the capes the Scorpion took the lead, acting as scout.
 The fleet will join Admiral Samp- sons squadron. This statement came from a reliable source. The ships passed the capes at 7:15 o'clock. After reaching the open sea, 1t is said the