Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-06-01
SCHLEY SAW THEM.
All Doubt as to the Whereabouts Of
Cervera's Squadron is
Removed.

Mole st Nicholas, Hayt, May So
The following dispatch has been received
here from the correspondent of the AS
sociated press with the American fleet
off Santiago de Cuba:
''Of Santiago de Cuba, May 29.-Com-
modore Schley and the flying squadron
has the Spanish feet bottled up in the
harbor Of Santiago de Cuba. By the
most clever maneuyering, the commodore
allowed the Spaniards to think he had
left in disgust. They took the bait and
ran into the harbor. Commodore Schley
moved down this morning and at {
o'clock, going close to the harbor, he saw
the Cristobal Colon, the Maria Teresa
and two torpedo-boats. He believes the
entire fleet is there.
Commodore Schley has acted upon his
own information and Judgment for the
past six days and believes the whole
Spanish fleet is there.
He sat on the after triangle of the
Brooklyn this morning until after the dis
cOyery of the feet and he then went to
breakfast, saying: L have got them, and
they will never get home
The United States auxiliary cruiser
st. Paul arrived here this morning and
was sent to the Mole ST Nicholas with
dispatches. She captured a coal ship,
which was sent to Key West by Capt
Sigsbee in charge of a prize crew. The
coal was undoubtedly intended for the
Spanish fleet. 1t is believed there is rot
much coal at Santiago de Cuba.
The officers and men of the flying
squadron are jubilant over the fact that
the location of the Spanish fleet has final
ly been definitely established.
The temperature here is ITO degrees
III the shade, and in the steel turrets the
heat is actually beyond the power of
imagination.
The American ships here are the
brooklyn, Texas, Massa chusetts, Iowa
Marblehead and Vixen, an auxiliary tor
pedo-gunbOat."
Key West, Fla, May 30.--S a. Many
| doubt remaining as to the exact location
Of Admiral Cervera's fleet was removed
by reports brought in by naval scout
ships, and forwarded in the Associated
press dispatches of Saturday night.
The Spanish squadron is anchored in
the harbOr OF Santiago, and the problem
remains for the commanders of American
| fleet to dispose Of the enemy. either by
corking the bottle, or by forcing the long
narrow passage and smashing the strOng
Spanish squadron at the anchorage its
commander has chosen. 1t has been the
opinion of RearAdmiral Sampson that
Admiral Cervera would seek either San
tlago or ClenfuegOS IS Il naval refuge and
base and the movement of the two Amer
lean squadrons has proceeded upon this
basis.
Strong and effective as are the Spanish
SHIPS, representing as they do the flower
OF the Spanish navy, every argument in
naval strategy compelled Admiral Cervera
either to seek the shelter of the closed
harbOr of Santiago or return to Spain, and
he chose to make his stand at Santiago.
That he would court a fight in the open
sea Is an idea which has never been en-
tertalned in American naval circles, al
though his ships, without exception, have
high qualities. and great speed for such
contest. On the other hand, it was be-
lleved the Spanish admiral would at
tempt to run into San Juan de Puerto
Rico, but the fact of the recent lombard
ment Of the forts of that harbOr, coupled
with the great possibility that Rear-Ad
miral SIMPSONS fleet would be met if he
attempted to enter, left the Spanish ad-
miral only one alternative, and he adopted
it by going to Santiago, where it is pre-
sumed, he has been able to coal, clean and
repair. and is in a position to accept either
| the conditions imposed by the blockade or
the issue of fight in the inner harbor,
after the American fleet has forced the
| passage.
1t has been thought that the campaign
against Admiral Ceryera might now be
ended by demOlishing the forts at the en-
| trance of the harbor at Santiago, block
! ing the channel and isolating the Spanish
! fleet until the other problems of the war
are worked out. This, however is not in
the line with the American policy, and
| simply accepting the view of the situation
taken by the naval experts here. Admiral
| Cervera will have to accept battle at once.
| 1t is confidently expected that a hard
| blow will be struck within three or four
| days and that the result will be known to
| the world at the expiration of that time.
| 1t has not been disclosed whether Com
mo Scl1l &c 70 In hut -
would not be surprising if some additional
| ships were sent to him.