Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1898-06-04
REPORT BY SCHLEY.
kells of Reconnaissance at Santiago.
Problem of the Mined Channel.
Second Fleet Not Feared.

WASHINGTON, June 1.-The navy de-
partment bulletined the following re.
port from Commodore Schley:
Secretary Navy, Washington:
MADE reconnaissance this afternoon,
May 81, with the Massachusetts,, Iowa
ind New Orleans to develop fortifica-
tons, with their character The fire
was returned without delay by the
heavy batteries to the east, large cali
Der, long range. The range was 1000
yards. Reconnaissance developed salts
factorily the presence of the Spanish
squadron lying behind the island, near
the upper fort, as they fired over the
hill at random. Quite satisfied the
Spanish fleet is here. "SCHLEY."
1t appears from the bulletin given out
that Commodore Schley concentrated
pretty good fire upon the Spanish de-
lenses, and it seems probable that bud
he found conditions more propitious
than they were, he would have resolved
the reconnaissance into an assault in
force.
The great natural strength of the
Spanish position and the formidable
character of their batteries as indicated
by Commodore Schley have confirmed
the naval officials in the belief that
they have been wise not to direct any
such reckless assault upon the place in
the absence Of proper forces as has
been advocated III some quarters. The
problem would be simplified were it
known that there were no mines in the
channel.
AS it is, the problem presented has
enlisted the active interest of the army
engineers as well as of the naval off
GERS here. 1t is the duty of the army
engineers in this country to lay just
such mines as are supposed to be in
place i'll Santiago harbor, and they are
curious to see how their brothers in the
navy propose to go about the work of
destroying them. A good deal has been
written in the text books about counter
mining, and many theories have been
brought forward to show how this can
he dome. But on the authority of one
of our engineer officers these theories
have never been satisfactorily tested
and there is no case on record of sue
oessful countermining against modern
improved electrical mines. 1t remains
to be seen how Sampson is going to
solve this problem, whether by the use
of the Vesuvius with her dynamite pro-
jectiles, by the aid of divers or by re.
course to the Old method of dragging
for the mines with small boats as III
eable-cutting operations.
The owners of the Holland subma-
rine boat, who had proposed to go into
Santiago harb0r and destroy the Span
ish warships at so much a vessel, have
come forward with request for prac-
cal test by the naval officers of their
craft The navy department. was
obliged TO decline the first proposition,
as it smacked of privateering and was
In violation of international law The
principal objection was that the boat
could not be in regular commission and
in command of naval officer. Be
sides, they contended that she had never
been thoroughly tested. Now the boats
owners propose that naval officer or
officers be designated to go down in the
Holland, and then that she be commits.
stoned.
II Notwithstanding the rather positive
statement coming from Jamaica, to the
effect that the second Spanish fleet
from Cadlz has crossed the Atlantic and
is about to join Cervera at Santiago
the officers of the navy department re-
fuse to be frightened at what they de-
clare to be bugaboo. 1t appears that
the basis of their confidence is tele-
graphic report declaring that the Cadiz
fleet is still at Cadiz Moreover, they
know that there are not so many as 16
warships in that feet