New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-06-06
MERRIMAC BLOCKS THE BAY
CERTERA CANNOT ESCAPE.
SOME OF SAMPSON'S SHIPS WILL GUARD
SANTIAGO, OTHERS WILL RENEW
THE ATTACK ON PORTO RICO.
fnY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRrBrSE.l

THE ATTACK on PORTO Rl,O.
fDY TELEGRAPH THE TRIBrNEl
Washington June BY no possibility. IL is
conceded by r,cmbers OF the War Board VIII
Admiral Cerveras vessels in the harbor of San
tiaCo be able to reach the open sea. even with
the remains Of the Merrlmac removed. task
that is not at all feasible. In view OF the heaVy
fire that any operator would be subjected to who
might attempt to place sufficient dynamite In
the wreck to remove It. The entire spanish
SQUADRON is now conceded to have been caught
and closed against all possibilities OF escape;
and unless CerYera purposcly destroys his SHIPS
they are bound ultimately to fall into the hands
Of the United States.
Cervera's position is regarded as one or almost
pItiful humiliation. and his situation such that
lie will he forced TO surrender without possihly
having chance to open fire on single war
vessel That he, his officers and entire force VIII
be made prisoners OF the United States In time
seems certain. With Santiago in possession or
the United States, the crews Of the spanish
ships will become prisoners OF war. and II they
attempted to escape from Santiago they would
fall into the hands OF the insurgents
Opinions differ as to the chance OF the four
powerful arnored cruisers and torpedo-b boat de-
stroyers becoming the property or the Oniteo
States, but most naval men assert with great
positiveness that Cervera Will never allow his
vessels TO be taken. and that when he finds no
other alternative open to avoid destruction or
capture he will sink them. as Constructor Hob
son did the Merrimac. With the channel closed
the last hope of naval men for fight between
ships OF modern construction and fought under
improved conditions disappears, and by all 1t Is
generally conceded that with the war ended the
but inn ant
fight TO record
SAMPSON COULD NOT ENTER.
In sinking the Merrimac. the programme OF
Admiral Sampson is for the first time disclosed.
and fl proves beyond doubt that investigation
made by him showed the utter impossibility ~
his taking the large force OF heavy battle-ships
and cruisers between the forts and over the
submarin, mines In an attempt 10 reach and
bring into action the Spanish vessels Naval
officials have no theories 10 advance as to the
reasons impei7g the course followed 10y Samp
son. other than that he concluded. after careful
examination Of the charts and unfavorable con-
Gitlons. that It was nadvisabe TO take battle
ships through a channel whore there was not
ono chance in ton that they could pass safely.
The difficulties that such an undertaking would
involve are shown by the charts which indicate
but - feet ~ water at ono point in the channel.
or about two feet less than would be necessary
for the Iowa and the Massachusetts,.
CerVcra's We. sols draw less by two or three
feet than the heaviest ~ the American ships
but even his vessels must have had little water
beneath their bottoms 10 spare az they passed
In. with all chances Of escape against him
either by successfully removing the wreck and
securing at least a channel 10 the sea. general
feeling exists among naval officers that some
bold and almost equally daring exploit as that
81 Constructor IIobson will be attempted by
the Admiral rather than 10 submit TO the resort
Of blowing up his vessels without having
had opportunity II firing single projectilc at
an American vessel.
While admitting that the destruction Of the
collier IN the harbor OF Santiago places an en-
tIrely new phase upon the naval situation in
Cuban waters. officials OF the Navy Department
are not prepared 10 issue Instructions 70 Ad-
mlral Sampson for the detachment Of main
section Of his feet until he has been heard from
In detail. Now that the Spanish Admiral Is no
longer to bc regarded as II dangerous factor In
the transportation OF large bodies Of troops by
to Porto Rico and Santiago. tho War De-
partment is preparing to take immediate steps
for forwarding several transports 10 both places
and safe escort IL to be afforded them by the
Havana. with other vessels that are to be re-
leyed from further duty at Santiago. The
Army is relieved of the necessity now OF wait
ing further on the Navy to provide it necessary
vessels to convoy the merchant ships. and n
large movement Is now expected To begin.
no MORE SEA FIGHTING PROBABLE
Constructor Hobson's action in obstructing the
channel. so that possibility Of escape by the
Spanish fleet is remote. removes all proba-
bilitics tho most conservative officers agree. Of
another great sea fight between the American
and Spanish forces. Until last Thursday both
Admiral Sampson and Commodore Schley are
understood to have been OF the opinion that the
heavy battle-shps and armored cruisers. by ex-
ercse Of caution and under the guidance OF
skilled pilots familiar with the waters, could be
taken between the fortincations and UP into the
harbor. but were convinced on representations
made later that no baitle-ahip could possibly get
around the turn at the narrowest point OF the
channel. where there was barely water enough
for the lighter vessels Of the Spanish feet.
Reluctantly. therefore, Thursday they
abandoned their original programme and II was
not until Admiral SIMPSONS message was re-
ceived yesterday that the Department knew
what steps had been taken to hold tight the |
Spanish ships.
Admiral SIMPSONS programme having been !
developed. the next course Of procedure exc
cuted by him Is yet to be presented. Notwlth- !
standing the fact that the Merrimac's wreck |
prevents the passage Of ships In OF Santi- /
ago. the policy OF the Navy Department Will not |
be to withdraw all the heavy fighting vessels |
blockading that port and leave a loop |
through which Ccrvera might escape and make |
his way to Martinique. where possibly he could |
secure sufficient coal to enable him to reach |
some home port. Several Of the heavily ar
mored vessels. including two Of the ttle-ships |
and the New York. are expected to be with
drawn for service in completing the destruction