The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-05-15

,
1888, by the Associated Press. 1.-The
steamer Supply formerly the Ameri-
can steamer Illinois), under command
OF Lieutenant Roberts, from Philadel-
phia, arrived here at $50 o'clock today
Upon his arrival. Lieutenant Roberts
wired to Admiral Sampson for orders
Admiral Sampson is at Puerto Plata,
on the north coast of Santo Domingo.
He communicated today with the
American consul at Cape Haytien.
Washington, May 14.-Definite Off
cial Information reached the authorities
here late this afternoon that the Span
ish squadron has been sighted off the
island of Curacao, one of the Dutch
West Indies lying off the coast of Ven
ezuela- This information was regarded
as OF vital Importance, as it not only
liked the position of the enemy but
disclosed the purpose of the Spanish
ADMIRAL TO elude Admiral SIMPSONS
fleet and make his way through the
CARR bean, probably to Cuba. The ISL
and OF Curacao was originally Spanish
and is peopled mainly by descendants
of Spaniards, though it is now one of
the Dutch possessions. The Spanish
adlliraPS course was also Influenced by
the fact that the French cable, starting
from Caracas, Venezuela, touches at
the island of Curacao, and thence pro-
ceeds northward through the Carribe-
an, to Hayti, with spurs running east
and west, to Porto Rico and Cuba, re-
SpectiVely. He is thus enabled to get
in touch from Curacao with the Span
4 ish authorities in Cuba and Porto Rico.
and through them directly, with the
Spanish admiralty at Madrid.
No immediate battle with Admiral
SIMPSONS feet is expected, as the
Spaniards, as seems likely, have sue
ceeded in passing south OF the Amer
lean feet and are now well to the west
ward of it.
As the enemy is in reach of the cable
the navy department regards it as OF
the most vital concern that the exact
whereabouts of the American ships
should not be disclosed during the next
few days. Thus far they have felt
handicapped by the fact that the Span
ish admiral knew the whereabouts of
our ships, while We were in doubt as
70 the locality of his ships. The Off
Gals here regard it as essential dur
ing the next few days to reverse this
condition, so that the Spanish admiral
will be moving in the dark, while our
officers viii be posted as TO his move
lnents through the caribbean. The de-
par ment doubtless is informed as to
the whereabouts of Admiral Simpsons
squadron, but it does not see fit to give
any information on the subject, and
the same rigid silence prevails as to
the whereabouts and destination of
Commodore Schley's flying squadron
The game has reached such a critical
stage that premature publication as to
the whereabouts of our ships might
cause inestimable loss and failure of
present plans.
nPEcON &c CAEE
In one respect, the maneuver of the |
Spanish feet is a relief to the naval /
officials here, as il tends to show the |
safety Of the battleship Oregon. She |
is proceeding from the north coast Of /
South America to join SIMPSONS fleet, /
and is somewhere in the reighborhood /
of Martinique. Had the Spanish squad 1
ron remained at that point, there would /
have been serious danger that the Ore I
gon would have been intercepted; now. |
however, she is well out of the way Of /
the Spaniards, so long as she follows /
the usual route.
MAY RAISE BLOCKADE.
1t is not to be supposed that the
navy department, with a knowledge Of
the whereabouts of the Spanish fleet,
is going to allow any o. its hard
worked little cruisers and gunboats
in blockade duty or the Cuban
coast to fall victims to the huge Span
ism ironclads. Their commanders viii
be promptly advised of the approach
Of the Spaniards. and it may be set
down as sure that unless the depart
ment is satisfied that Sampson or
Spanish fleet the Cuban blockade YES
sells will be given permission to take
eare of themselves and get out Of
harms way.
THE LATEST FAILURE.
Narblehead and. other vessels on the
ocean cable running seaward from
Tienfuegos shows that the government
1nds l. necessary to cut off all commit
lioaticn between Captain General
3lanco at Havana and Spain by cable.
TIA. the effort was not wholly success
,ui was owing TO the appearance of a
SUPERIOR force of infantry, aided by
Machine guns. which appeared to have
Sken the American sailors in the boats
engaged in cable-cUtting by surprise.
they were prepared TO risk a few rifle
nots. but not the murderous fire Of
ifaSims. However, Captain McCalia, 7
Who is noted for determination and
courage, If for any quality, it can be
aiken for granted win not abandon the J
ask until he has succeeded. Consid-
ring the great strategic value of such :
move, the loss sustained by the
american vessels was insignificant and 9
he venture was certainly warranted I
y the results. Once Ilanco is pre- 7
enfed from communicating with I
pain, as well as with Porto Rico, it q
expected their discoura cement will I
ct IL and this campaign consequently e
ill have an earlier conclusion. n
At a late hour tonight officials of the p
avy department stated that they had !
eceived no information OF Admiral o
amps0n's feet beyond the Associated
ress dispatch announcing its arrival ;
: Porto Plato. Porto Plata is a small a
eaqort on tine North Dominican coast. &
he French cable line runs through V
lis port and also runs down to Cura-
"a, where the Spaniards were sighted.
dmiral Sampson probably viii put in
/ Cape Haytien, and ii is from there n
lie first official report from him is ex-
ected.
From Curacao to Porto Plata is a
raight line distance OF aboue 500 miles, IL