The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-05-21
A RAT TRAP
FOR THE
SPANIARDS.
CerVGra'S Fleet Will be in
a Bad PrGdiCamGnt
Should II Remain in the Rar-
Dor at Santiago.
Single American Monitor Could
Blow Up the Whole Fleet,
Preparations 60 on Steadily for the Philip
pine Military Expedition General
Merritt Starts for the
West.

WASHINGTON, May ZO-Au OF the
news that was given out to-day at
the Navy Department was comprised
in the one short bulletin posted at the
close Of the day, stating that the de-
partment had information believed to
be correct that Admiral Cervera with
his flying squadron was at Santiago
de Cuba. This went to confirm the
newspaper reports and also the Madrid
cablegram published this morning, the
latter a rather unusual circumstance,
for the Spanish bulletins have been
notably deceptive ever since the flying
squadron left Cadiz.
Accepting this statement as correct
it indicates that there is little prob
ability of a hostile meeting between
Sampson and Schley and Admiral Ger
vera Immediately. Looking over the
charts of Santiago harbor, the War
Department soon discovered that the
place would be a veritable rat trap
for the Spaniards, with its narrow
entrance. in which a single American
monitor could blow uD the whole Span
ish feet.
The Naval Strategy Board. rec mis-
tened of late the War Board, is to
lose one of its most active and valu-
able members in the person of Captain
Barker. He leaves Washington to-
morrow for Hampton Roads to take
command of the fine protected cruiser
Newark. which has just been extern
sivelv repaired at the Norfolk Navy
Yard 1t is expected that the Newark
viii join SIMPSONS squadron in the
West Indies as soon as she can get
there. 1t has not been determined who
will succeed Captain Barker as a mem
Der of the board. a place requiring the
very highest professional qualifica-
tions and involving knowledge OF
strategy as taught scientifically, which
is not the possession of all naval Off
GERS 1t may be that the vacancy may
not be filled at present, though there
is favorable mention of the name OF
Admiral Ramsay, retired, in that con-
nection.
Another loss to the department viii
occur tomorrow. when Lieutenant
Gibbon leaves to serve as Captain
Rarker's officer on the Newark. This
Young officer has displayed the great
est energy in securing for the services
of the navy the various naval militia
organizations of the States, and as ar
incident to that work he was Obliged
to put forth his best efforts to secure
the formation of new organizations
where none existed. and additional bat
talions in the States that already pos
sessed a naval militia. The great value
Of this work is shown by the fact thai
many of the vessels of the auxiliary
navy and most of the old monitors that
have been commissioned for coast de
tense purposes are manned almost alto
gether by the naval militiamen.
Preparations go on steadily for the
Philippines military expedition. Gen
eral Merritt. who will command, stop
ped in Washington this morning on hi:
way westward from New York, and
spent most of the day in consultation
with the officials of the department
arranging the details of the expedition
Another transport was secured to-day
and the department is showing a dis
nosition to treat General Merritt Will
the utmost Hberality in the equipment
of his force. It is expected that TIL
advance guard on one vessel, unde
the command of General Otis. viii sal
out of the Golden Gate tomorrow
bound for the Philippines.
The complaint Of the shoeless among
the volunteers just brought into th'
army viii soon be silenced, as the Wa
Department has just placed orders foi
100000 pairs of soldiers shoes.
A beginning was made to-day toward
the organization Of an Independent vol
unteer force under authority conferred
on the President by special resolution
The National Guard will have no par
in these organizations, which will b.
made up of engineers, immunes anC
electricians.
The staff assignments are coming GU
rapidly in the general orders issued dai
ly by the department the appointments
being made generally upon the reques
Of the Major-Generals and the Briga
der Generals yet to be provided for il
this matter
The State Department to-day an