New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-18
WORKS
ViOlet=OrriS
SAMPSON AND sCHLEY BOTH EXPECTED
THERE
n,sp.rCy, TWO DAYS OLD TELLING OF sun
DAYS ACTIVE PREPARATIONS TO COAL


Inv rrrrer,s'u TINE rniBrNE.l
Key West. Fla. May II. Via tampa Ma! H.
-Orders wera received here to-day which indi-
cate that Admiral SIMPSONS fleet and Commo-
dorc Schley's squadron will be concentrated
with the feet In this harbor within the next TWO
days These orders directed that all the vessels
here keep UP steam. and that an ample supply OF
coal be got ready for Simpsons fleet which, the
orders intimated. will be here tonight or TO-
morrow.
a naval officer who Ia In position 10 know
said this afternoon it was evident that the span
!sh fleet had slipped away from Admiral Sanip
son. and now making for Havana 10 pre-
vent that city from falling into the hands of
the American Navy.
1t has been known for several days that the
FLYING Squadron was on its way here. BY this
time /. should be off the Florida coast and It's
arrival here. according TO the same officer. may
be looked for within two or possibly three. days
Admiral Sampson the same officer said. would
have small chance Of overtakng the Spanish
feet and IL this chance came he would undoubt-
edly risk an engagement. If he failed TO catch
I'D with it. nothing could prevent the Spaniards
from destroying the blockading squadron along
the northern coast.
The vessels in the squadron are for the most
part small. such as the Wilmington and the
Vicksburg; auxiliary gunboats like the May
flower the Hudson and the Manning. and rev
members of the so-called mosquito meet
Against such formidable cruisers as the VIZ
caya and Almirante Oquendo and the thirty
knot torpedo boat destroyers which accompany
them the blockaders would not have the slight
est chance To remain and fight would be In
viting destruction to run away would only re-
suit in capture by the torpedo-boat destroyers
Thus as the officer who Is quoted expressed IT,
the situation is grave one.
While the Navy Department appears TO nave
the best Of faith In Admiral SIMPSONS ability to
settle the question satisfactorily. it has taken
precautions to prevent the blockading squadron
or any part of 1t from falling into trap.
An officer to whom The Tribune correspond
ent talked made this remark: THE American
vessels on the blockade have been warned"
The arrival here to-day Of the Dolphin bears
out this significant remark The Dolphin is the
flagship of Commodore Watson. who commands
the blockadng fleet in Admiral SIMPSONS alb
sence. She has been absent for several days
On Friday night she left the harbor quietly, and
no one seemed to know her destination One or
hef officers said to-day nat she had been all
along the blockade, had spoken 70 all the YES
sells and found everything In good shape From
another source it learned that the Dol
phin had carried dispatches for all the YES
sells. and that her outward trip was made with
all possible speed. The inference is that these
dispatches were the warning alluded TO by
the naval officer quoted, and that the appear
ance Of a Spanish man -of-war off the Cuban
coast will be signal for a hasty raising Of the
effective part Of the blockade.
II is considered among the possibilities that
the objective point Of the Spanish fleet may be
this city. without protection except that afford
ed by the vessels in the harbor but il is hardly
possible. naval men agree that the moving
OF the Spanish fleet near Havana would be a
far better strategic move than attack on
this place
Another naval officer said to-day that Ad-
miral SIMPSONS principal need was ammuni
ton. of which there Is a large store here. A
storeship is expected here by Tuesday with
plenty more ammunition. and altogether this
station will soon be in a position TO make good
any deficiencies in the squadron. There are
three heavily laden GOLFERS in the harbor. and
two schooners with nearly 1000 tons of coal
aboard came in to-day.