The San Francisco call., 1898-05-05
Call Office, Riggs House,

At a ls.ie hour tonight the Bureau of Navigation was in ignorance as to the whereabouts of the Spanish fleet, which, according to a press dispatch dated Lisbon, had joined that at Cadlz. It is considered possible that the seven vessels might have steamed from St. Vincent, Cape Verde Islands, to Cadlz, a distance of nearly 1900 miles, in hve days, but this would require an aver age speed of over twelve knots an hour. The Navy Department people are inclined to regard the Lisbon tele- gram with suspicion; at any rate they are not going to rely upon it's correct ness. But should it appear that the Cape Verde fleet has really sailed TOT Cadiz. or is at the Canaries, the Navy Department will act immediately It would take the combined Spanish fleet with it's slow-moving battle-shlp Pe- layo and the transports at least twelve days to cross the Atlantic, and by that time if is believed the batteries of Ha- vana can be reduced, and landing or troops effected at MatanzaS, or some other point in that vicinity
 It is understood that the naval offi- cers are urging that this be done, 1T It shall appear that the Spaniards are stlll . of the department may be, or whether they have yet decided upon any ope- rations in Cuban waters, 1t IS thelr confident expectation that in very short time, perhaps within a feW WeeKs' Cuba will have been WreSted rom Spanish control
 So certain is the administration that tbe island will soon be free that steps have been taken by the Postofflce De- partment to provide a United States postal service in Cuba This took the form of an order promulgated to-day by the new Postmaster General, Charles Emery Smith, directing that a mail agency be established either at Havana or MatanZas, or at such other point in Cuba as United States mall steamer may be directed to touch" The order Is to take effect when such steamer shall first land at the deS1g- mated port Eben Brewer is appointed postal agent at an annual compensa- tion of $2000.
 tmaster-GeneraI Smiths audacity in providing for a United States mail service in Cuba was admired by Secre- tary Long, who, when shown the or der tonight, said to The Call core spondent: 'It may seem like antici- pating events, but the Postmaster-Gen- eral is quite right in taking time by the forelock, and having everything V, - when they have landed in Cuba may have prompt communication by mail with relatives and friends at home. The order was made on the assumption that Havana and Matanzas will soon be cap tured."
 The movements of several vessels of Captain Sampcon's fleet to-day created the belief that offensive operations were about to begin either against Havana or Porto Rico, or else that several of the vessels are to be sent inn mediately to the relief of the Oregon and Marietta. Nothing definite is known tonight, however, about the or ders issued to Sampson.
 The delay in hearing from Commo- dore Dewey is not exciting any appre- hension at the department. but the re- port is very anxiously awaited. Sec retary Long said at 10:30 tonight he hardly expected it before tomorrow. He hoped it would come and relieve the suspense. Officers of the Bureau of Navigation will remain on duty at the