The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-05-10

Special to The St. Paul Globe.
WASHINGTON, D. c., May e.-News
was received at the navy department
tonight that the Montgomery has been
conveyed into Key West badly damag-
ed.
The Spanish squadron, 1t is said, was
trying to maneuver the fleet of Ad-
miral Sampson, and for that purpose
the battleship Vizcaya separated from
the main fleet and drew the fire of the
Montgomery Sampson's fleet then put
| south according to this report, while
! the boats of the Spanish fleet started
toward Cuban waters to break the
blockade
The coming invasion of Cuba will not
be inaugurated until Sampson either
engages the Spanish squadron or inter-
cepts its passage toward Havana. It
will not be so easy for Sampson to take
Porto Rico as it was for Dewey to take
Manila harbor. But the harhor Of San
NeNAA 30 W odSll a SlidpS ludl sampson
can do some deadly work with his guns
across the sheltering headlands.
The programme so far as any has
been OR can be arranged, is to reduce
the Notifications at San Juan as soon
as 1t is evident that the Spanish fleet
is not in waiting. If, on the other
hand, the fleet is in evidence, it will
receive the first shock of attack and
the reduction Of the Notifications at
San Juan will be postponed until the
fleet is put out Of the way.
MADRID, May "A cable dispatch
has been received here from the can
tain general of Porto Rico saying that
three suspicious looking vessels are
lowering in the offing. He adds that he
has confidential information to the ef-
feet that the United States fleet is ap-
preaching Porto Rico.
WASHINGTON, May 9.-There is the
best authority Saor the statement that.
the day having passed without a report
from Admiral Sampson, the navy de-
partment does not expect to hear from
him for several days.
The authority for this statement is
fully acquainted with Admiral Samn-
sons plans, and the remark would
seem to indicate that the admiral
naVlng rallied to find the enemy at the
place expected, had turned his atten-
ton to an alternative project. What
this is cannot be ascertained. II Is
oelleved, however, that the department
Is under no apprehension as to the
safety Of the American fleet, nor of anv
vessel Of the fleet
1t is now officially admitted that Ad-
miral Sampson yesterday was with his
Meet near Cape Haytien, on the north
coast of Santo Domingo and distant
about days run from Porto Rico.
So far no reports have come to the
department of any of the lurid engage
ments that are said to have taken
place in those waters, but it is be-
lieved at the department that If there
was gun firing yesterday and the day
before, as reported by merchant yes
sells, it probably was caused by some
of the United States vessels chasing
either prizes or the small Spanish gun
boats that are believed to be cruising
around in those waters
No Fighting Yet.
1t is not believed that there has been
any engagement between Sampson's
forces and the Spanish ironclad flying
squadron, else reports would have been
received already at the department.
From the expectation manifested at
the navy department that something
important is to happen, it is surmised
that if Sampson does not strike the
Spanish flying squadron he may strike
u blow at Porto Rico itself. 1t is a
curious fact that thus far the navy
department does not know positively
where the Spanish fleet is, and 1t is just
possible that the vessels may be away
over on the other side of the Atlantic
or at Cadiz, instead of being in Samp-
sons neighborhood in the West Indies.
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