The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-05-29
HAS COOKED HIS own GOOSE
Corked Up in the Harbor Santiago Schley He
capable of Doing Any Harm-Advices
fuegos Confirm

greater extent than ever imagined in
the past. A prominent naval author
ity said to the correspondent of the
associated press: THE moral effect of
torpedoes and mines will prove far su-
perior to their actual effect. In fact.
so great is their moral force that l
doubt whether their powers of execu-
ton will have an opportunity to be
Judged in this war;
The blockade of northern Cuba con-
tinues uneventful and is apparently
successful. Now that the element of
uncertainty regarding the Spanish
ships whereabouts is almost entirely
removed, the ships which We're solely
occupied in watching the Spaniards
have become an additional force for the
blockade and without an inconvenience
in the change of position. Commodore
Schley has been reinforced. but his
position was clearly so strong that the
reinforcement which he received made
no difference to the strength of the
fleet i'm northern Cuban waters.
The rumors of the sailing of a second
Spanish squadron did not worry Rear
Admiral Sampson in the slightest de-
gree. His feelings on the subject were
aptly expressed recently when he
said: Il am perfectly satisfied that
we have bagged those fellows" refer
ring to Admiral Cervera's fleet. Rear
SdIuDSon uOtS IDl cross MS
bridges until he comes to them. and
when that time comes his unconquer-
able patience and strategic ability can
be relied upon to see him safely across.
For the second time since the war
was declared the admiral has been no.
titled that the army is ready TO move.
This is good news to all the naval Of
ficers. The two branches of the serv-
ice have been playing game of wait;
h.. f...r n.
posed of the Spanish fleet. and the
navy unable TO occupy much needed
bases until the troops were ready for
debarkation.
In view of the fact that the Spanish
feet was far faster than the American
fleet. and that the former had no de-
sire for an engagement, this policy of
inaction. however far-sighted 1t may
be, temporarily produced much natural
irritation among the naval officers. All
appearances now point to the passing
away of this feeling and hearty and
active cooperation between the army
and navy may be anticipated
BY great good fortune no accident has
occurred of sufficient Importance to
render any of our ships utterly help
less or beyond the aid of towing dur
ing the fleets, cruising of the past
month. Such accidents, however. are
With such tender machinery as tor
pedo boats doing hard duty in all
kinds of weather, accidents even come
into the list of proba bility which naval
commanders have to count against.
With base in the enemy's terri
tory. with a harbor of refuge and a
coaling station within 20 miles of the
cruising grounds, Rear Admiral
SIMPSONS task, arduous at its best,
will ha made "a deal aaQiar Z
But such a base can only be obtained
through cooperation with the army,
as the force of marines at the disposal
of the admiral is not large enough to
cope with the possible strength that
Captain General Blanco could concen-
trate on short notice. Then, while the
army of the United States is operating
on shore il is said that the naval gun
ners will not be idle.
During the weeks cruise of the flag
ship New York from Matanzas toward
the eastern end of Cuba and back
there were many incidents of interest.
Everything centered i'm the news from
Commodore Schley. and disappoint-
ment was visible in every face when it
became known that the commodore
was mistaken in thinking he had Ad-
miral Cervera bottled up at Cien-
fuegos. but this feeling of disappoint-
ment soon gave way to renewed en-
thsiasm when news was received from
Santiago. for had Admiral Cervera
succeeded in effecting a landing at
Cienfuegos. he would most likely have
been able to transport his alleged car
go of arms and ammunition to Havana.
while from Santiago it will be almost
impossible for him to do so. During
the first few days out from Key West
there was a heavy sea. which made
life miserable for the torpedo boats
Rogers and Foote, and which made
the monitors roll very heavily.
The sharpest kind of a lookout has
been kept, and more than once the fleet
went into battle form. showing the over
anxiety on the part of some man on
the lookout in the tops. who thought
he saw the smoke of five Spanish war
ships on the horizon. Absolutely no
lights were shown at night and signals
were constantly exchanged between
the fagships and the scouts. The lat
ter generally were the New Orleans,
MavHowpr and MaphiaS