New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-22
FLEET ORDERED TO HAVANA,
FIRST STEP IN INTERVENTION
CAPTAIN SAMPSON INSTRUCTED TO
BLOCKADE THE CUBAN PORT.
PLANS FOR USING THE FULL STRENGTH OF TIN
NAVY EXPECTED TO BE PUT INTO ExEcu-
TIoN BY sUNpAY-FLYING SQUADRON
READY TO SAIL FOR PORTO RICO
AND COMMODORE DEwEY's
FLEET TO STRIKE THE
Try TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE
PHILIPPINES.


Washington. April 21.-A naval demonstration
before Havana has beer ordered. During tho
special Cabinet meeting shortly after l o'clock
to-day a telegram was sent to Captain samp-
son. commanding the squadron at Key West.
directing him to proceed to and execute his
orders. These orders had been carefully con-
sidered By the Strategy Board and had received
the approval OF the President. contingent upon
the necessities OF the occasion They are the
initial part Of the adopted programme Of naval
operations OF extended character. involving
Captain SIMPSONS squadron as well as those Of
Commodore Dewey. at Hong Kong. and Commo-
dorc Schley. at Hampton Roads.
Under his instructions It is expected that Cap
tain SIMPSONS fleet such portions Of It a.
may be deemed essential will proceed at once to
establish a complete and effective blockade Of
the port Of Havana. preventing the ingress or
egress OF all vessels TO or from that harbor.
while retaining positions beyond the range OF
the highest-powerei guns Of the shore batteries.
II Is not contemplated that the vessels in Cap
tain SIMPSONS command will be required to
fire single shot to maintain a complete cessa-
ton OF communication between Havana and the
outer world by sea. His fleet will be disposed
to intercept all merchant vessels desiring to
enter the port and to warn them back In the
direction whence they appear.
FIGHTING NOT EXPECTED AT PRESENT.
The only possibility OF a fight during this
blockade that can now be anticipated lies In the
exhibition Of an inclination the part OF ves-
sells bound in out OF Havana TO decline TO
recognize the blockade. and this possibility Is
considered extremely remote Captain Sampson
will maintain frequer- and perhaps hourly COM
munication through Key West and the new
..;sL
authorities in Washington and will receive. as
occasion may demand. instructions TO execute
further details Of the Plan Of operations which
has been furnished TO him.
II is not thought that anything additional to
the step OF blockading Havana will be deemed
advisable during the next forty-.ight hours. In
that period according TO the naval project the
vessels Will patrol the Florida Strait from ten
TO twenty miles off Havana In column forma-
tion, keeping the blockade at all times effectual.
There will be no Immediate interruption OF the
two cables that touch az Cuban points. but. on
the contrary General Blanco will have every
opportunity to communicate TO Madrid the prog
ress OF his negotiations with the insurgents, a.
well his impression OF the strength OF the
American squadron. on Saturday. however. II
is probable that the second step ir the pro-
gramme which is at present carefully guarded,
will be taken
PLANS FOR OTHER soUADRoNs
In the mean time unless action is taken By
Spain requiring a marked change In the pro-
posed conduct Of the American naval forces.
Commodore Schley's squadron will remain at
anchor in Hampton Roads ready to proceed at
an hours notice TO Porto Rico and the fleet at
Hong Kong under Commodore Dewey. will be
held ready to strike the Philippines The Strait
egy Board to-day recommended that the Asiatc
Squadron be ordered at once to make demon
stration before Manila. similar 10 that Captain
Sampson directed to carry out near the
chief port Of Cuba. The President. however. de-
cided TO take one step at time and TO await its
effect upon Spain and Europe. 1t is not the In
tenton OF the Administration to shrink from
the prompt execution Of its purpose 10 inter-
vene in Cuba, nor 10 be precipitate In firing the
first shot. and. although firm in its determination
TO have no delay. the formal declaration OF war.
It Is preferred. should come from Spain. There
Is every disposition. although the Spanish an
swer 10 the American ultimatum is considered
unequvocal to give the Queen Regents Govern
ment the full limit OF time until Saturday at
noon in which thoroughly to consider the fruit
lessness OF an appeal 10 arms.
TO STRIKE IN MANY PLACES
Not later than Sunday. in the absence OF sat-
isfaction in that time. the fully matured plans
for using the entire force OF the Navy will be
put into execution. Then the Philippines will be
attacked the cable communications between
Spain and Cuba through the lines landing at
Santiago will be destroyed, and at least one
Cuban port will be seized and held as landing
place for the Army. BY that time volunteer
army will be rapidly mobillzng. and as speedily
as possible will be conce ntrate6 with the regu-
lar forces on the Gulf coast The Flying Squad
ron will in all probability be on Its way to Porto
Rico. and il the Spanish fleet has started across
the Atlantic several OF the heaviest armorclads
Of Captain SIMPSONS squadron will be detached
and ordered to reinforce Commodore Schley at
San Juan.
The North Atlantic Squadron. under Captain
SIMPSONS command makes a splendid array OF
fine vessels comprising battle-shps such the
Iowa AMI the Indiana; monitors like the Puri-
tan the Terror and the Amphitrite; armored
cruisers like the New-York, the flagship: pro-
tected cruisers such the Cincinnati, the
Marhlelead and the Montgomery; gunboats like
the Vicksburg the Wilmington and the An
napoiis. regular torpedo-boats. as the Ericsson.
the Cushing the Winslow and the like. not to
speak Of the large number Of fast yachts and
other vessels that have been added to the fleet
by purchase. This force is competent to block
ade all the ports In Cuba, or at least all the
ports connecting by iail with Havana, and so
likely to be used to supply that place with food
and munitions OF war This statement is TO be
taken with the unders landing that it does not
contemplate the coming to Cuban waters Of the
Spanish feet In that case. however. the prob
able policy would be to abandon the blockade
and endeavor to force the Spanish fleet to battle.
TO CALL OUT SPANISH RESERVES.
coRREA AUTHORIZED TO USE EIGHTY THOUSAND
TRooPs-LoADED TRANSPORTS START
FROM CADIZ
London. April pa dispatch from Madrid