The Columbus journal., 1898-05-18
D0NS HARD TO CATCH.
Plav Hide and Seek With the
Yankee Navy.
OUR FLEETS ARE TO BE COMBINED.

Admiral Sampson Il Now Handicapped
by the Monitors-Spain's Eiusive Fleet
Il Again Sailing ln tho Sea Of Obscurisy.
Believed to Be Coaling Up or the Coast
Of venezuels.
WASHINGTON. May 17.-Spain's feet
in the Caribbean sea is to be met by
squadron consisting of the armOr clads
of the United States in the Atlantic.
This seems to be the intention OF the
naval war board, and preparations are
being made to effect the junction OF
Rear Admiral Sampson's fleet and the
flying squadron, under the command OF
Commodore Schley, with all possible
dispatch.
Rear Admiral Sampson will have
under his command. it is expected, the
battleships Iowa, Indiana and Massa.
chusetts, the second class battleship
Texas and armored cruisers Brooklyn
and New York. Handicapped as Ad-
miral Sampson now is by the monitors,
the speed of the feet is not more than
eight or nine knots an hour, the reason
being that the fleets speed is the speed
of the slowest vessel, and the Terror
and Amphitrite, are being towed be.
sides, endeavoring to hasten their voy.
age by proceeding under their own
steam.
With no monitors in his fleet Rear
Admiral Sampson will be able to steam
at the rate of IL knots an hour and
keep his squadron well together. and
under forced draught may be able to
reach Is knots The New York and
Brooklyn. with the auxiliary steamers
and torpedo boats which will be at
tached to his force, will be able to
speed at such q rate as to be able to
overhaul the Spanish armOred cruisers
and hold them engaged until the Texas,
followed by the heavier ships OF the
line, come to their support.
spain's Elusive Fleet.
Spain's elusive Cape Verde feet is
again sailing in the sea of obscurity.
Official information confirmatory OF
The Herald's exclusive announcement
reached the state department yesterday.
Consul Smith, the representative OF
! this government at Willemstad, stated
| in his dispatch that when last seen the
| feet was headed in Q westerly direc-
ti0n. 3
The fact that the Cape Verde feet
has gone west gives no indication, naval
experts say, of its destination. 1t IS
considered highly probable that the
fleet has gone to the Gulf of Venezuels
to coal. The information furnished to
the departement is to the effect that
the Golfers loaded with coal for Ad-
mirals Cerveras' fleet are lying in the
eulf of Venezuela, to the westward Of
Curacao.
The fact that q torpedo boat destroyer
reappeared off the coast of Curacao
during the evening would indicate that
the Spanish squadron is lying in the
gulf Of Venezuela or near by.
In view of the fact that the Vizcay
and Infanta Maria Teresa took on board
q small supply of coal, it is evident,
officials believe, that the Spanish feet
was short Of coal, and that it was de-
sirous of husbanding as much as pos
sible the supply aboard its colliers. For
one reason the authorities are glad that
the Spanish ships coaled at Curacao,
because it ..debars them from returning
to Dutch ports within the next 80 days.
Authorities In Dark.
| As to the next point Of appearance OF
the Spanish feet the authorities are to-
tally in the dark. No doubt is felt
that an effort will be made to combine
the force at Martinique and the Cape
Verde feet in order that Admiral Ger
| vera NAV have under his command q
formidable q squadron as possible.
The report that q second squadron,
under the command Of Admiral Villa
mi, consisting in part of the armored
cruisers Carlenal CisnerO. Princess de
Asturias and Catalina, is off Martin.
iaue is regarded as a Spanish ruse in.
tended to draw the attention OF this
government from the Cape Verde feet,
and has failed of effect.
In the first place, the authorities
have information showing that all ar.
mored vessels Of the Spanish navy now
in commission, with the exception OF
those attached to the Cape Verde squad
ron, are in European waters, and in the
second place, the latest information in
their possession shows that the Catalua,
Cisneros and Princess De Asturias are
not yet ready for active service.