The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1898-05-18

CURACAO, May 1.-THE Spanish
squadron under Admiral Cervera, which
left Sunday evening, after the cruisers
vizcaya and Infanta Maria Teresa had
taken on about 700 tons Of coal and
great quantity of provisions, were not
sighted yesterday. When the squadron
disappeared it was going westward.
PORT Au PRINCE, May 1.-THE
United States torpedoboat Porter re-
turned to Cape Haitien yesterday MORN
ing, having left Rear Admiral Samp-
sons fleet in the offing. Lieutenant
Bennett conferred with the United
States consul at Cape Hatien and filed
dispatches from the rear admiral. The
rendezvous of the feet is north of Cape
Hatien.
The Porter later left here to rejoin the
fleet. The destination Of the feet is un-
certain.
LONDON, May 1.-THE Daily Mail
says:
According to the most trustworthy
information the Spanish cruisers Car
denial Cisneros, Princess de Asturias
and Catalina are not yet ready for sea
and therefore cannot have arrived at
Martinique"
WASHINGTON, May H.-Indications
have been received here that Captain
General Blanco, at Havana, is very
short of ammunition, in which case the
powerful batteries at the entrance of
Havana harbor OF course would be de-
prived of a large part of their defensive
strength. This state of affairs may lead
to some desperate attempts at blockade
running on the part of the Spaniards in
the hopes of gett ng more ammunition
into Havana. II is believed that the
supplies SO frequently referred to as be-
ing on the Spanish flying squadron are
of this character rather than food sup
plies, which makes it all the more i'm
portant that Sampson and Schley should
succeed in keeping Admiral Ceryera
from reaching Havana orCienfuegos, or
any port in Cuba connected with Ha-
vana by rail. Commodore Schley proba-
bly, is we'll down on the Florida coast
now and shonld be able to guard the
Florida straits by today OF tomorrow.
His appeal aace on that side of Cuba
would enab Q sampson to bring his IRON
clads with perfect safety into Cienfue-
Cos on the seath side, and with this dis
position OF cur naval force and the free
use of q considerable number of our
scouting vessels it is hard to see how the
Spanish feet can escape from the Gulf
of Mexico or the caribbean sea.
Following are some bulletins issued
by the navy department:
"Mr. Knight. correspondent of the
London Times having received the
necessary permission from the Spanish
government to land at Havana ii con-
veyed to that port by neutral vessel,
has been granted permission by the
navy department to take passage by the
German steamer Polaria, which vessel
is given permission to pass the blockade.
"The department hopes to make an
exchange of prisoners at an early date.
''The British steamer Myrtledene has
been granted the same permission to go
to Cardenas as was previously granted
to the Norwegian vessel Folsjo.
"The Austrian man of war, the EN-
press Maria Teresa, will visit Cuban
ports"
The opening of the blockade at Ha-
vana to certain vessels is a rather curl
Gus proceeding that may lead to a very
considerable widening of the llockade
itself, so that in the end neutral vessels
not loaded with contraband or supplies,
the carrying of which into Havana
would interfere with the naval and mil
itary operations laid down by the
United States, may be allowed to enter.
The statement that the navy depart
ment still hopes to make an exchange
of prisoners at an early day, shows that
the mission of the Uncas was by no
means complete failure, as has been
stated.
The navy department showed its
usual signs of activity, and yet there
was an absolute lack of information
concerning the fleets. 1t was assumed
from this that no engagement had oc-
Cured, as the navy department. has
been frank to give out full reports Of
actual conflicts, even while guarding
with the most rigid secrecy the preliln-
mary movements of ships. Now that
the opposing naval forces are SO near to-
gether, naval officials feel the need more
than ever of preventing advance publ
cation of these, as it would jeopardize
the entire plan of naval campaign. For
this reason the navy department is prac-
iically closed against al inquiry, SO rar
as future movements are concerned.
On the present war basis, the informal
ton given by the department is the
routine assignment of officers to ships,
actual engagements with the foe, and
such matters of news as will not assist
the enemy. The routine announce
ment Of vessel movements, composition
of fleets, ETC., are entirely suspended
Not only is the department guarding
against allowing this information to GO
from the department., but it is seeking
to prevent disclosures from the many
coast towns where the ships put in. II
1t succeeds in heading off this disclosure
Of our plans it will have the Spanish
admiral at dangerous disadvantage
and an expressed wish is made that the
newspapers will assist in this.