Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-06-02
AT KEY WEST.
Naval Officers Confident Schey Can Whip
Whole Spanish Navy.

Key West. June lao r. Mas to
| the result Of a battle at Santiago de
Cuba there is but one opinion among
naval men here. The American fleet
is strong enough to cope with the
whole Spanish navy let alone Ger
Vcra's light squadron.
AdVices from the blockading feet off
Havana say there is nothing stirring
there. Every morning one Spanish
gunboat skulks out Of the harbor ana
moves along the line of forts. protected
by them, as if sent by Blanco to tell
the Americans he does not fear them.
The stories about a Spanish cruiser
being soen in the straits OF Florida and
even chasing American ships have be
come the subject Of laughter among
naval officers, who say they would
dearly love to sec any such ship.
Nearly all the newspaper boats have
gone to Santiago.
Admiral Cervcra's coal ship the hie
British steamer Restormcl has been
monred ut the naval station dock.
where her cargo of picked Welsh coal
win be unloadod. Naval officials have.
an idea that they win find something
heSidesi coal in her hold. 1t was the
ltestorm"I's failure to reach Santiago
THAI made it impossible for the span
ish fleet to escape.
10 T. Mn the United States cir
cult court, today, Judge Lock ordered
the condemnation Of the cargo Of 400
tons of coal On the British steamer Re
stol1nel. captured off Santiago harbor.
May %, While trying to enter, presum
ably to deliver coal for the Spanish
lleet. The case of the steamer Will
come up tomorrow. Judge Lock also
ordered an investigated of the charges
made by Naval Cadet Needham L. /
Jones against the deputy marshals and /
prize commissioners in charge of the |
prizes and requested Commodore r. !
mey to appoint a naval officer to be |
present at the hearing.
Cadet Jones. who brought in the priz !
steamer Catalina, in April, complained |
to Admiral Sampson that the Cubans /
and ignorant Americans employed by |
the marshal to guafd the ship treated
the Spanish officers and crow with in
dignity, ieering at them, making in
sulting remarks about Spanards and
using hagrantly discourteous Ian
> u6is7N ~ LiIt llIiS'lti@, diSt'O jI1dl lttr
teputies and Cubans who were permit
ted to come on board plundered the
ship.
Similar abuses had been committed
IN the Pedro and the Miguel Jover.
cadet Jones alleged Rear Admiral
Sampson in transmitting the letter of
'adet Jones to Secretary Long. said
hat the offences alleged We're in VIC
alton of law and common decency, and
le suggested that, owing to the large ,
'uhan and negro population of Key .
Vest and the consequent prejudice ,
ganst Spain, it might be wise to send
uture prizes further north to Savan- ,
ah or Port Royal. ,
Secretary Long transmitted the CORE :
Dondcnce to Attorney General Grigcs
no sent it to District Attorney Stripping. a
ho wrote Secretary Long reply taking,
p Cadet Jones charges, and disposing Of q
lcm seriatm. Some charges he declared /
} he false, according to his own know c
dye he the district attorney having c
cen present at the time of the alleged j.
'mmisson of offences. The other charges d
istrict Attorney met by quoting the law.
he deputies, he said were laboring men a
ldiF lllttIilStntt.
Mr.. Striplin2's letter did not mention G
ear Admiral Sampson. who has had no -
lrt in the controversy except to forward :,
lc correspondence to Secretary Long. :,
4 receipt of the district attorneys letter. r.
ttGrney General Grggs handed it to
cretary Long, who made a bitter reply :"
tending Admiral Sampson, who he as :,
med had been attacked II
District Attorney STRIPPING said. to- 4
eht: "ln my report to the attorney gen O.
al, | had no idea Of casting any refiec- ir
IN or suggesting any suspicion with re- f.
rd to the motives Of Admiral Sampson. i;
ii if anything in my report is capable b;
such construction ! promptly disavow pc
as | hold Admiral Sampson in the 70
chest esteem and consider him worthy ia
every confidence that has been reposed 70
him; but was present on the occasion