New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-06-04
PRICE THREE CENTS.
NEWS BROUGHT BY SIGSBEE.
HE CAME FROM SANTIAG0.
ALL CERvERAs SHIPS SURELY IN THE
HARBOR
SAMPSON AND SCHLEY HAVE JOINED
Tackled THE SPANISH SQUADRON.

SAMPSON AND sCHLEY HAVE JOINED
FORCES AND MAY HAVE ALREADY At
Tackled THE SPANISH SQUADRON.
rBv TELEGRAPH TO THE rRTBuNE.l
Washington. June 3.-If the slightest SEM
bers Of the War Board and the authorities Of
the Navy Department as to the precise location
Of the Spanish feet 1t entirely removed this
afternoon by the receipt Of important informa-
ton direct from Captain sigsbee. of the auxil-
iary cruiser St Paul, who came Immediately
after reporting his arrival at NewYork to Ad-
miral Bunce. and communicated to Secretary
Long advices from Admiral Sampson and Com
modore Schley both Of whom he left a few days
ago. the former then his way through the
Windward Passage and the latter holding tight
the Spanish vessels bel ind the outer defences Of
Santiago
Perhaps no officer OF the Navy is more familiar
with the type Of cruisers now at Santiago than
the former commander Of the Maine. and, hav-
ing seen three Of them lying at anchor in the
last four days. he is positive that the fourth is
there WELL The last occasion that Captain
Sigsbee met the vizcaya was in Havana Harbor.
where she lay not two cable lengths from the
Maine and while there Captain sgsbee not only
carefully noted her qualities and type but Sc
cured drawings and accurate descriptions OF the
warship
HOW CERvERA WAS TRAPPED.
This afternoon he impaired to Secretary Long
the experiences Of the St. Paul and OF Commo-
dore Schleys squadron in trapping the Spanish
Admiral at Santiago Captain Sigsbee does not
take full credit for having discovered the ships
first, but says that both he and Commodore
Schley them about the same time, and that
as his signals went up to the flagship. convey
ing the fact that he had sighted two Of the
ships. Commodore Schley's were run UP. COM
muncating the same information to him.
For six days Captain sgsbee and the ST. Paul
lay off the harbor expecting nightly 10 be at
tackled by the Spanish torpedo-boat destroyers.
With his running lights doused and all side
lights out, he cruised off and on about fifteen
miles from the shore. under darkened skies and
with steam at low pressure. The use OF search.
lights 70 sight any torpedo-boat that might BE-
lurking around ready to attack the ship would
have revealed his presence TO the Spaniards at
Santiago and this what the captain did not
wish them to learn With every opportunity Of
attacking him, the two 3O-knot destroyers re-
mained in the harbor all the time and Captain
sgsbee accounts for This conduct on their part
as due to the desire Of the Spanish admiral not
to permit his presence TO be known.
HARBOR BLocKADED BY scHLEY.
Commodore schley had lablished an ef.
fectiye blockade of the port before the ST. Paul
steamed away. and by Tuesday o: this week
Admiral Sampson was due TO arrive and join
forces on leaving Santiago Captain sigsbee
made for Mole ST. Nicholas. and from there
crused to the west until he met Admiral samp-
son. from whom he received dispatches for the
Secretary Of the Navy. The next move Of the
ST. Paul will probably be in the direction Of
Eastern Cuba or Porto Rico and as soon as she
is coaled and provisioned Captain sgsbee says
he will sail again. He leaves here tomorrow
for New York. and will probably pass out OF
Sandy Hook with his vessel Sunday or Monday.
NOT TO WAIT FOR LAND FORCES
The junction Of. Admiral SIMPSONS squadron
with that already blockadng Santiago under
Commodore schlay seems. according 10 Cap
tain sigsbees calculations, to have been ef-
fected on Tuesday or Wednesday last. The
presence of many heavily armored Amer''
can ships off the harbor in which Admiral Ger
vera's cruises have taken refuge Is taken here
to indicate a purpose on the part OF the COM
mander Of the American fleet TO reduce San
tiago at once by a naval assault rather than
wait for the tedious cooperation OF the land
forces djspatched or about to be dispatched
from Tampa 1t is srgued here with some force
that siege operations against Santiago from the
land side would account OF the rugged
character OF the surrounding country involve
,nsuperable obstacles. and that with ordinary
fold artillery the besieging forces would be no
match for the guns of the Spanish men-of-war
inside the harbor.
THE ATTACK MAY HAVE BEEN MADE.
The general expectation in naval and military
circles. is. therefore. that the combined Ameri-
can squadrons will renew. or have already re-
newed the attack on the outer works with
view to forcing an entrance into the bay and
compelling the Spanish warships to accept bat
tie at close quarters. Events at Santiago how
ever. are not counted on 10 delay or interiors
with the execution Of the Administrations mill
tary programme, which includes the eventual
occupation of Santiago and the prompt invasion
and seizure Of the island OF Porto Rico.