The record-union., 1898-05-14
Causes a Flutter Among the Off
cials at Washington.
II Also Causes a Change in the Programme
of an Immediate Movement on
Cuba by a Large Force
Of the Army.

WASHINGTON, May 13.-Ine Navy
Department was all excitement this
morning upon the receipt of news that
Admiral SIMPSONS squadron has be-
gun the bombardment of San Juan de
Porto Rico, and fuel was added to the
flames when the news came later that
the Spanish flying squadron had been
sighted off Martinique, giving promise
of heavy fighting to come.
The fact that the Admiral gave no.
tice of his intention to lombard San
Juan, as is reported from St. Thomas,
is an indication that the movement
upon San Juan was not a suddenly con-
ceived project, but part of a we'll ma
tured plan. Whether or not the ord
ers to the Admiral included bonn
bardment is not disclosed at the Navy
Department Indeed there is nothing
in Sampsons report to indicate that he
really did lombard the place. He at
tackled the forts at the entrance OF the
harbor. and if any shells struck with
in the town itself they We're stray shots.
L
object in making the attack in this
fashion. without a landing force OF
troops in reserve to occupy the town II
it were captured, was to destroy the
fortilcations and make the harbor use
less to the Spanish flying squadron as a
place of refuge. The reports so far
received show that he did not complete
that. and the question now is whether
he resumed his work to-day, or divert
ed from it by the report of the pres
ence of the Spanish flying squadron IN
the neighborhood of Martinique
Considerable speculation has been
INDUCED in to-day at the Navy Depart
ment as to the prospects of sea-hght
betweene Admiral SIMPSONS squadron
and the Spanish Cape Verde fleet. 1t IS
believed that he will be able to inter
cept them should they make dash for
Cuba. but if they should get past nus
vessels thev would make it warm Tor
our ships on duty off Cienfugos, on the
south coast. They could not stand Tor
a. moment against the big Spanish ar
mored cruisers, and yet are not fleet
enough to escape if they are sighted.
should Sampson sight the Spanish
fleet it is not certain that he could en-
gage them, provided the Spanish Ad-
nliral found it to his interest to decline
the engagement. The Spanish ships are
faster than anything in the American
squadron. with the possible exception
of the New York. If SAMPSON shoulu
fall in with them, however, and find the
Snaniards in a fighting humor, he would
have the best of it as far as chances
can be calculated from a simple caicu-
lation of the respective number OF ar
nlored shiDs and guns. The big battle
ships Indiana and Iowa. though % pei
cent. slower than the Vizcaya class, faI
oyermatch them in offensive and de-
fensive power. Their armor belts an'
turrets could not be pierced at fight
ing range of 1000 yards by the biggest
eun mounted by the Soaniards, while
the twelve and thirteen-inch guns oi
our battleships could perforate the
Snanish armor belts. The New York
however. is inferior in both offensive
mower and armor to the Spanish vessels
though she might hold her own by su-
ne,ior management and gunnery
If sampson had taken his whole fleet
tbe monitors Amphitrite and Terror
would make UP more than balance
of mower against the Spaniards, allow
inc the cruisers Montgomery, Detroit
and Marblehead as a force suf1clent u
take care of the Spanish torpedo-poa'
destroyers. The latter, however, are
almost untried elements in actual war
fare. and some naval officers fear tha'
they are much more dangerous Toes
than the ordinary strategists allow III
their calculations.
The State Department to-day gave
out the following:
.rIn view of widely published reports
that the French steamship Lafayette
which was recently permitted to enter
Havana and discharge her official man.
had violated the neutrality under WHICH
the privilege was accorded her by the
Government of the United States, 1t Is
authoritatiyely stated that the Depart
ment OF state has been satlsfactoiiis
convinced that nothing of the KIND Was
dome: that no merchandise Whatever,