The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-05-28
WOULD HELP SCHLEY.
Suggested That a Balloon
Might Aid to Discover
Cervera's Fleet.
PRESIDENT TO REVIEW THE ARMY
Pressing a Pardon for Captain
Hart--Navy Department
Has No News.
PRESIDENT TO REVIEW THE ARMY

WASHINGTON, May Is. 1ssS-The pos
sibility that the balloon can be mace al
useful adjunct of the war is suggested
by the problem that oonfronts Commodore
Schley. If Admiral Cervera is really
bottled up in Santiago harbor a practi-
cal way of ascertaining that fact beyond
all doubt, it was suggested today, Wouia
be to send up balloon from one of the
warships which are supposed to be at the
mouth of the harbor on g tour OF obser-s
vation This it is believed, readily could
be done without any great risk or danger
to the persons in the airship.
The signal office has a balloon equip
ment, but it could not be ascertained that
any of the vessels of the fleets are fur
nished with it. From the experience of
the past there would be no trouble In in-S
fating a balloon, which, soaring at an ele7.
walton Of LOCO feet or more could have
ample opportunity of observing the entire
stretch of country surrounding Santiago
harbor of detecting the strength OF the
Spanish squadron and of noting with con-
siderable detail all the fortifcation works
on either side of the harbor leading to-
the city.
Such information as might be obtained,
it is pointed out, would be of inestimabies
value to the American fleet and enable
it to act intelligently in determining what
future operations were desirable Bal
looms have been tried with more or less
success in European countries in army
operations although it is not stated
whether they have ever been put to prae-s
tical 1lSa in actual warfare.
However. experience abroad has shown
that when high in the air they are prao-
tically free from the guns of the opposing
force. Aas it is with greatest difficulty that
an acc rate range Of their height can be
obtained and even then specially con-
structed weapons are needed for destroy-
ing them, and it is not believed the Span
iards have such weapons.
The President has had an exceptionally
busy morning The announcement that
he would review this afternoon the troops
encamped near Falls Church, Va, had
the effect of bringing to the White House
a large number of members of Congress
For the most part they called to urge
military appointments.
Senators Quay and Penrose and Repre-
sentative Bingham Of Pennsylvania, how
pardon for Captain Hart. who is now
serving a sentence for completely in fill
clustering expeditions to Cuba. The Pres
ident assured them that he would take
up the matter as soon as Attorney Cen
eral Griggs returned next week from New
Jersey.
Secretary Alger spent an hour or more
with the President in conference upon
character had reached the White House
UP to noon. The rumor from Mexico by
way of London to the effect that Admiral
SIMPSONS fleet had been destroyed and
the Admiral himself killed was SO dis
credited that it did not create the least
excitement.
The President today informed Senator
Daniel of Virginia that the urgency of
public business would not permit him to
accept his invitation to attend the memoir
ial day ceremonies at Richmond. 1t was
also stated that he had been forced to
decline invitations to attend the dedica-
ton ceremonies at the University of Vir-
ginia on that day. He will, however, at
tend the memorial services at the Ma
tional Cemetery at Arlington.
This afternoon at $3.50 o'clock the Presi-
dent will go by train to Camp Alger, near
Falls Church, Va, to review the troops.
He will be accompanied by Secretary Al
ger, General Miles, Secretary Porter and
the members of their families and prob
ably number of other prominent people.
At Dunn Loring the party viii take car
riages for the camp 1t is not expected
that the President will make an address,
The publication in the morning news
papers of a series of dispatches from the
press boats in the West indies led to the
expectation that the Navy Department
itself would be in possession of interesting
information relative to the state of affairs
there.
The circulation of a number of runors
of an extreme character running all the
way from the report of the destruction
of Sampson's fleet to the bombardment of
Santiago by Schley and the sinking of
three Spanish ships caused officials to be
besieged by many anxious inquiries.
They had no news to give out and stated
definitely that the only cable dispatches
received over night or during the morn
ing were from Admiral Dewey at Manila,
via Hong Kong. While there was
natural desire to hear from the Admiral,
in view Of the repeated reports of the
precarious conditions at Manila, the main
desire was for news from the Spanish
fleet or from Sehley or from Sampson in.
the West Indies
To all inquiries. including a number. of
Senators and Representatives who called
upon him in relation to other matters,
Secretary Long was obliged to return the
same answer, namely, that he had heard
nothing from the squadrons, either our
own or the Spanish.
It is believed thatthe Department has
taken steps to acquaint Sampson, and
through him sSchley, with the newspaper
reports Of the appearance Of the Spanish
fleet off Port Limon, Costa Rica, and of
the belief expressed by one OF the Brit
ish correspondents at Jamaica that Ger
| vera has escaped from Santiago.