Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-05-28
WITH THE FLEETS.
ADVANTAGE OF HAVING ADMIRAL
cEnyERA BOTTLED UP.
SAMPSON JUST CRUISING ROUND.
schiey's Force Considered Amply
sunlcicnt to Deal Satisfactorily
With the spaniards--Now for That
Movement of the Army.

1881
OFF THE NORTHERN COAST OF
| CUBA, May q. 2 A. NJ, via KEY WEST.
May 27.-At 10 o'clock last night the Doll
phin ran alongside the flagship New York.
Her lights showed that she bore dis
patches for Read-Admiral Sampson. The
commander of the Dolphin shouted
| through the megaphone: Il have dis
! patches from Commodore Schley to the
| COMMUNICATIVE Chief" A cheer went up
! from the crowded decks of the New York.
! Commodore Schley's dispatches were
| off cienfuegos.
Absolutely nothing definite can be
said" was the reply which Captain Chad
wick, of the New York, made to ques-
ton as to what had transpired
Since he heard Of Admiral Cerveras ar
rival at Curacao, Rear-Admiral Sampson
has repeatedly said he believed the Span
iards would go to Cienfuegos or Santiago
dc Cuba.
THE ADMIRALiS FORECAST.
To prove that the American admiral
was almost sure the Spaniards would be
without a breach of confidence. When the
ships of Commodore Schleys Division
were sailing out of Key West, under
Rear-Admiral SIMPSONS orders, the Adj
miral set the signal to Captain Philip Oh
the Texas: ''You are going TO nab the
Spaniards, and good luck to YOU"
Since then, the Rear-Admiral has been
cruising around, as a purely precauuon-
airy measure. He thoroughly believed
Commodore Schley would bottle up the
Spaniards, either in Cienfuegos or at SAN
tiago dc Cuba; but he took all measures
to guard against a possible evasion OF
Commodore Schley by the enemy, ana
any attempt to make Habana, through
the eastern or western passage, though
there is little doubt that the Commodore,
had he met the Spanish ships, would have
defeated them.
There is good reason TO believe that,
from a strategic point Of view, more can
gained by the Spaniards being bottled up
in Santiago de Cuba than in an engage
ment which, though it would result in
victory for the Americana, might have
resulted in some damage to our ships.
SPANISH FLEET HELPLESS.
In the harbor of Santiago de Cuba the
Spanish feet will be helpless. The chan
mel leading into the harbor is narrow, and
the enemy can either be kept prisoner
there by sinking few hulks in the chan
mel or can be destroyed by a superior
force.
If Commodore Schley has successfully
accomplished his object, there now seems
nothing TO prevent active operations upon
the part of the army. That Is the Idea
of the best naval authorities. The eli
mate in Cuba is not what it was a
~ 30, %, Wi
a month hence, and before another Span
ish fleet can reach these waters the naval
authorities hope to see our troops in
possession of base OF operations in
Cuba. The navy would be able TO cover
the landing of the troops, and enable the
military forces 10 get ashore without
hindrance.
ENTHUSIASM AMONG SOLDIERS.
Intense enthusiasm reigns tonight
among the officers and men over the
news. even though there is no absolute
certainty of the success of the work
of the last month. The days have passed
slowly and YEARLY, and no persons have
chafed more over the delay and inactivity
than those who have been cruising
in Cuban waters since the war began.
But if Commodore Schley has really got
the Spanish fleet at Santiago de Cuba,
it is almost as complete victory as
could have been expected from q naval
engagement. The Spaniards' policy was
TO avoid an encounter, and 1t would nave
been difficult for Rear-Admiral Samp-
sons fleet to have overhauled or cap
tured them. But now, If they are bot
tied UP in Santiago de Cuba, and baflied
at their own game, the future seems
bright and all that is waited for Is the
order to prepare to protect the landihs
(fnhH-
LOOK OUT FOR SPANIARDS.
Since Rear-Admiral SIMPSONS squad
ron left Key West an intensely close
watch has been kept for the Spanish
feet. in spite of the belief that 1t was
at The south of Cuba. Several false
alarms have been given, the men on the
lookout in the tops being so anxious 10
catch sight of the Spaniards that they
would see five columns OF smoke Where
only one was really observable, and that
the smoke of one of the rear admlrals
own boats.
The tension was naturally great. This
was not caused by. any feeling OF doubt
as to the result of naval engagement
for Rear-Admiral SIMPSONS fleet has
been so active since it left Key West
mat the Spaniards would have been COM
pletely annihilated If they had offered
fight.
STRENGTH OF OUR FORCES.
The fleet, as at present constituted
without Commodore Schley's command,
and without the ships actually engaged
I'm the blockade, forms the most powerful
squadron ever gathered by the United
States navy Then again, Commodore
Schley's ships are fully able to defeat the
Spanish force under Admiral Cervera, |
oven under conditions favorable to the |
enemy q state of things which Is thought !
10 exist at Santiago de Cuba. 1t would |
be mere pastime for the Massachusetts, |
TEXAS. and Iowa to sink the Vizcaya, |
Almirante Oquendo. Cristobal Colon. and |
Maria Teresa, If the latter attempted to |
file out OF the harbor.