New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-06
NAVAL PLANS KEPT SECRET
NOTHING KNOWN REGARDING ADMIRAL
SIMPSONS DESTINATION.
MINORS AND sPECUIATIoNs MERELY GUESS
woRK-THE ADMIRAL IN COMMUNICATION
WITH THE DEPARTMENT YESTERDAY

WITH THE DEPARTMENT YESTERDAY
lsY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRrprSE1
Washington May BIN the absence Of infor-
nation from the Spanish squadron or from
Commodore Dewey sensational rumors and wild
speculation multiplied with exceeding ingenuity
to-day. and false publications. many of them Of
malicious nature. added to the worry Of naval
and military officials The report by way OF
San Francisco charging the Navy Department
with suppressing official news it was alleged to
have received from Commodore Dewey.
nouncing serious losses in his command. caused
the gravest anxiety in many parts Of the coun-
Try and led TO an inundatiOn of kilograms from
relatives and friends Of men attached to the Phil
.rp.ne squadron. Secretary Long gave positive
assurances that he would as promptly make pub
lie any dispatch he received from Commodore
Dewey he had on the occasion OF the Maine
disaster, when all Of Captain Sigsbee's and Cen
eral Lees kilograms bulletined TO the press
The moment Of their arrival He said he would
not lose moment in securing the widest pub
ucation Of the names OF any injured dead he
might obtain. in order that suspense might be
relieved speedily possible No man more
fully recognized the anxiety which existed. and
he promised that no would more speedily
do all in HIS power to relieve 1t.
There were also positive assertions that Ad-
mlral Simpsons squadron Its way to
attack Porto Rico on the one hand. and to pro-
tect the oregon. 1000 miles away. the other
These reports of destinations widely diver
gent. grew out Of pure speculation founded in
most cases the grossest technical ignorance.
The few naval officers who are charged with
operations at sea. and who have any accurate
knowledge OF the plan OF campaign. derive con-
siderable amusement from the great amount Of
guesswork which some newspapers indulge In
III
The presence Of the necessary transports at
Tampa tonight 20 carry five thousand or six
thousand troops to Cuba-an operation which
must rely for it's success on SIMPSONS ships 10
shell the neighborhood where a landing is IN
tended-s in itself considered sufficient 10 pre-
clude the possibility of the sQuadron's departure
for remote point on a mission OF exceedingly
doubtful utility. 1t IL also well known that Ad-
rniral Sampson was in communication with tho
Department to-day. perhaps through the new
Government cable which lands at Dry Tortugas.
Until the location Of the Spanish armored flying
SQUADRON is known 10 a certainty II Is consid-
cred OF supreme Importance that the few
armored vessels Of the American fleet should be
kept in close touch with headquarters at Wash
.ngton. ready TO depart at nstants notice
10 strike crushing blow. Little concern Is
manifested about the Oregon that vessel being
thoroughly able 10 take care OF herself and II
attacked by four Spanish cruisers she IS relied
anon 20 sink two or three of them before going
down herself
RESTRAINED BY THE ~-aATEGY BOARD.
Since the news Of Commodore Dewey's brill
liant dash on the Philippines reached the ships
Of SIMPSONS squadron. strong pressure has
been brought to bear on the Navy Department
70 allow similar movement IN the Atlantic,
and special pleas have been numerous in favor
OF permitting a rush on Havana or Porto Rico
The Strategy Board IN every case has de-
cided with emphatic unanimity against all such
PROPOSITIONS 1t is pointed out that Deweys
<.erations were rendered compulsory by the
preeence OF the Spanish fleet at Manila, and
,lsat- the principal achievement to be created
10 him is the humiliation OF that meet. giving
him control Of the Pacific Ocean. The Strategy
Board Is Arm in It's conviction that the prin-
cipal Office Of the American Navy Is 10 whip
the Spanish Navy, and as soon as an oppor-
tun!ty is afforded no effort will be spared TO
accomplish that object. There would not he the
slightest hesitation IN sending SIMPSONS and
SchIey's armorclads pellme after the Spaniards
were there any chance Of securing a decisive
engagement with them II they were In
the harbor Of San Juan de Porto RICO the
American force would be ordered to crush them
at any risk. but II IS not proposed 10 allow the
American battle-shps. however impetuous ana
impatient their commanders may be, 70 take
chances Of disablement by attacking coast de-
fences which II reduced. could not be held With
out the prompt acton Of large army not yet
modified
BEFORE Commodore Dewey destroyed the Span
ISM Asiatic feet many requests reached Wash
,ngton from the blockading squadron off Cuba
10 destroy the batteries which the Spanish
were rapidly improvsing directly In sight or the
American ships. and ten days ago Adfnirai
Sampson received leave 10 put an end 10 some
work OF this character at Punta Gorda, near
Matanzas When he accomplished 1t with llttie
or no risk 10 his own ships. repeated EFFORTS
were made TO secure permission for other DOM
bardrnents Of some kind. but the Strategy Board
has refused TO recommend them. The HnPa-
thence that prevails on the ships OF the blockad-
ing fleet is indicated in the following extracts
Of letters from officers. which reached the De-
par,ment to-day The first says:
Our station Is of Havana, and. while We occa-
eionaly chase something IL generally proves 20 10
f Door fisherman or A neutral vessel TIE span
cards play their searchhgh's on Us eFery ns' hr
tor,aca lions near ri MORO and II passes my com
nit It.
From another letter from the bockadng d.
vision off Cardenas is taken this extract:
TWO g'lnooa,s are placing mines in the harbor
righ, under our noses and nothing IS done To stop
day going outside TO cruise every niSnt anu tii'd
IS no reason why they should not dump MN. OF
two FOR they know that we are wen o"' ~, vi
the way ~ night ana sure 70 CONE pd'n ,o in
same place In the morning. The gunbontS are IL.
trouble. but nave orders 70 let them aIoie, Ti
are compelled 10 lie idly in sight OF incih PiePh,i,o
These are queer war times. and this Is queer hgh'-
Ing
MR.. BoUTELLE ON THE wARPATH