The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-23
THE NAVAL SITUATION
AS IT LOOKS TO LONDON.
Cervera seems to Have Accomplish =
ed Nothing With His Fast Fleet,
and sampson No More

LONDON. May 23.-The Times this morn
ing, In an article reviewing the war. takes
X ior granted that Admiral Cervera's
squadron coaied IN Venezuelan waters
from four British golfers. 1t suggests that
the cruisers Vizcaya and Infanta Maria
Teresa risked d disadvantage IN being
reported there. IN consideration Of their
ability 10 send dispatches 10 Gen. Blanco
and 20 have rejo!ned the flagship at a
prearranged place and to have arrived al
Santiago de Cuba on the 18th.
The Times says:
Even il it took longer route to escape
observation. Admiral CeTVeT4's force has
been excessively deliberate in its move
meuJs, and his fast cruisers have not ye.
shown great speed. Ills strategy. SO muca
boosted a. Madrid. Is not yet apparent.
Possibly MS movements are hampeFed b.
the torpedo boats. but by the extreme
SLOW ness OF his oceAn-sJsaming destroyers
his chances were lost Q. dealing an effect
I've blow az Key West. Tampa or AZ the
blockade force, deprived of its most et-
ficieDt force by Admiral Simpsons abor-
tive raid on San Juan de Porto Rico. TIE
high speed Of the Spanish cruiser squad
ron 80 far has not been turned totally 10
account. and although It's arrival AT San
tiago de cuba may have some moral value
in assuring the Cuban garr.s5ns that they
are not abandoned. no naval objects seem
10 have been attained. The United States
commanders now know where the enemy
Is, and have time 10 concentrate 4 SUI
perior force and to cover their yulner Fable
points"
Discussing the problem Of a blockade of
Admiral Cervera at Santiago de Cuba. or
az atIemp, 10 force him 10 give battle. the
Times article says:
THE United States commander possesses
ample forces. but night and the Spanish
cruisers viii give them chances 20 escape
The result vii b@ watched with much in
ferest. The deteuses OF Santiago are prob
ably no more effective than those OF Ma
Na4as
into the harb0r in the face CT a powerful
IRE from CerverA's force would be a risky
operation. hut a torpedo fiotlla. e i, ex-
listed in either fleet might and oppCT;u-
Mites for effective employment
II Admiral Ce<vera rmcceeds IN ge.-
ting % sea and Obtaining coal. he wfii IN
Qnestionao'y hamper The Cuban blockade.
although he can obtain go GIrect adYan-
tage. X IS evident that the monitors great
" delay Admiral Sampson squadron.
Such an incumbrance imposes heavy dis
abilities gu the American feec. and a fast
squadron caT&bls % pursuing The Span
lgfds. & they leave the port. < urgently
needed. Failing such q force, there APP
pears ID he no reason why Admiral Ger
vera should rot steam 20 san Juan de
Porto kic0. coal and 20 20 sea again be
fore he could be overtaker. \ recent re-
purt confirms the existence OF 4 large
quantity Of coal AZ san Juan and i A
su,ra} Cerver8 can avail himself Of this
supply and leave behind tre torpedo craft,
lie w0U3 te able - reach Charleston or
Savannah without d.fficusty.
"A raid on either OF these point would
have no Important results hUf Il y Cld
greatly interfere with the operations Of the
blockade Reviewing the whole fed %
operations. TIE most important lesson IS
'he effect produced by the presence of =
small. compact. hieh speed squadro2.
which however. hitherto has been some
what a5miessly employed. From Tie mo
meat when il was known that this squad
rou had arrived CtT Martinique all the
plans az the tDlted States board e STRAIT
90 ssT 4 a
tosuhacdrueuj % he Notifications al san
J4aa nothing was gained. The United
States has been handicapped by the l. X
~ 81 fast homoge ueous squadron.
80 wo4.d ~ wise II tss.Cre 20 leave the
direction % the operations 70 naval COM
nsanders. Councils have never prove. "a
tthle dir@.to rs NJ VAR Their proper fun
--yr i "a Obtain information and % for
WAS - IN she adrrsral=. VINO mus have
"a Nelson claimed Tie right 70 b. free 20
a., when ibe fitting opportunity arrived. -