The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-15

WASHINGTON. May 1s.-Deanite official
Information reached the department late
this afternoon that the Spanish squadron
had been sighted off the island OF Curacao,
one OF the Dutch West Indies. lying of tho
coast of Venezuela. This information was
regarded as of vital Importance. as 1t not
only fixed the position of the enemy but
disclosed the purpose OF the Spanish ad-
miral 10 elude Admiral SIMPSONS fleet
and make his way through the Caribbean
probably to Cuba. The island OF Curacao
was originally Spanish, and Is reopled
mainly by descendants of Spanards.
though It Is now one OF the Dutch pos
sessions. Tho Spanish admirars course
was also Influenced by the fact that tho
French cable. starting from Caracas. vene-
zueia. touches at the island OF Cusacoa,
thence proceeds north through the carth-
bean to Haytl with spurs running east
and west to Porto Rico and Cuba rcspect-
lively. He was thus enabled to get In
touch from Curacao with the Spanish au-
thorities in Cuba and Porto Rico. and
through them directly with the Spanish
admiralty at Madrid.
No immediate battle with Admiral Samp-
sons fleet Is expected and the Spaniarda.
It seems likely. have succeeded in passing
south of the American feet and are now
well to the westward OF 1t. ~ the enemy
u I'm reach Of the cable the navy depart-
mcnt regards II as OF tho most vital Inn
portance. that the exact whereabouts ot
the American ships should not be made
known during the next few days ThuA
far they have felt handicapped by the fAcs
that the Spanish admiral knew tho
whereabouts of our ships, while we wer1
in doubt as to the locality OF his shipA
The officials here regard 1t az essential.
during the next few days. TO reverse this
condition SO that the Spanish admiral will
be moving In the dark while our officers
will be posted az to his movements
through the Caribbean. The department.
doubtless is Informed as to the where-
ahouts Of Admiral SIMPSONS squadron.
but 1t does not see fit to give any inform
alton on the subject and the same rigfd
silence prevails az to the whereabouts ana
destination of Commodore SchIey's flyine
squadron. The game has reached such .
critical stage that premature publication
as TO the whereabouts OF our ships mighs
cause inestimabies loss and failure OF pres
ent plans.
In one respect the mancnver of The Sran.
ish fleet is relief 10 tho naval officials
here. as II tends to show the safet- OF the
Oregon. She is proceeding from the north
coast OF South America to join sampeon's
fleet. and ia somewhere in the neighbor-
hood Of Martinique. Had tile Spanish
squadron remained at the point there would
have been serious danger that the Oregon
would have been intercepted. now. how
ever she IL well out Of the way OF the
spaniards. so long as she follows The
usual route.
IT IL not 10 ne supposed that the navy
department. with the knowledge of the
whereabouts Of the Spanish feet. In goinr
10 allow any OF its hard worked little cruss-
and gunhoats. engaged In blockade
duty on the Cuban coast. TO fall vIetIms
to the huge ironclads. Their commanders
will be promptly advised OF the approach
OF the Spaniards and II may be set down
as sure that unless the department liz satss.
fed that Sampson or SehIey can head
of and crush the Spanish fleet. the Cuban
blockade vessels will be given permission
to take care OF themselves and &c. out
OF harms way.
The determined attack made by tbs
Marbsehead and other vessels on ths
ocean cable running seaward from, cien-
fuegos shows that the government finds
II necessary to cut of all communication
between Blanco ~ Havana and Spain by
cable That the effort was not wholly
successful was owing TO the appearance of
superior force Of infantry. aided by ma
chine guns. which appeared 70 have taken
the American sailors ia the boats engaged
iu cable cutting hy surprise they were
prepared 20 risk few rife shots, but not
the snurdsrous fire of Naxims. However.
as Capt Mefrara II noted for determine
;ion and courage. II for any quality, II can
be taken for granted he VIII not aban-
dor ,he sssk until he has succeeded. Con-
si1es.ng tee great strategic value of such :
movement. toe ioss sustained by the
American vessels was insignificant ana the
ventura Ess cartaioix waxranfAd NJ Ahn