Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1898-05-25
WAR sITUArIow.
nation of the Arrival Of the spanish
Fleet at santiago DE Cuba.

WAsufNGroN, Nav 81 All Of the
news given out Friday at the navy de-
partment was comprised in the one
short bulletin posted Mt the close of
the day. stating that the dc partment
had information, believed TO bc anthem
tic. that Adm Cervera. with his Span
ish flying squadron. was at Santiago
De Cuba. This went to confirm the
newspaper reports and also the Mad
rid cablcgram pm biishcd Friday morn
ing, the latter n rather unusual cir.
cumstance. tor the Spanish bulletins
have been notably deceptive ever since
the flying squadron left Cadiz
Accepting this statement as correct
1T indicates there is little probability
of hostile meeting between Sampson
or Schley and Cervera immediately
Looking over the charts % Santiago
| harbor, the experts soon discovered
that the place would be a veritablc rat
trap for the Spaniards with its mar
row entrance in which single Amer
lean monitor could bottle up the whole
Spanish fleet
The naval strategy board. re-.
christened of late the war board. Is to
lose one of its most activc aud valu.
able members in the person OF Capt
Barker. He leaves Washington sat
urday for Hampton Roads to take
command OF the tine protected cru User
Newark, which has just been extensive
ly repaired at the Norfolk navy yard 1t
is expected that the Newark will Join
SIMPSONS squadron in the West In
dies as soon a. she can get there. 1t
has not been determined who will sue
coed Capt Barker rs a member of
the war board, place requiring the
very highest professional qualitica-
tions and involving n knowledge of
strategy a. taught scientifically. which
is not the possession OF all naval oil.
GERS. 1t may be that the vacancy will
not be filled at present, though there
has been favorable mention of the
name Of Adm. Ramsay, retired. in that
connection.
Another loss 10 the department
occurred Saturday, when Lieut. Gibbou
left TO serve rs one OF Captain Barkcr's
officers on the Newark This young OF.
ticer has displayed the greatest energy
in securing for the services of the
navy the various naval militia organ
izations of the states and as an incl
dent To that work he was
obliged To put forth his best
efforts to secure the formation
of new organizations where none eN-
listed and additional battalions in the
states that already possessed n naval
militia. The great value of this work
rs shown 10y the fact that many of the
7essels of the auxiliary navy and most
of the old monitors that have been
commissioned for coast defense pur-
poses are manned almost altogether by
the naval militiamen
Preparations go on steadily for the
Philippines military expedition
Gen. Merritt, who will command.
stopped in Washington Friday morn
ing ON his way westward from New
York and spent most of the dav in
consultation with the officials of the
department arranging the details OF
the expedition. Another transport was
secured Friday. and the department. is
showing disposition to treat Gen
Merritt with the utmost libcrality in
the equipment of his force 1t is eN.
pected that the advance guard on one
vessel, under the command of Gen.
Otis, will sail out of the Golden Cato
Saturday bound for the PHILIPPINES.
The complaints of the shocless among
the volunteers just brought into the
army Will soon bc Silcuccd, as the de
partmcnt just placed orders for 200, 900
pairs of soldiers shoes.
"A beginning was made Friday to-
ward the organization of the indie
pendent volunteer forces under author
ity conferred upon the president by
special resolution. The national guard
VIII have no part in these organiza.
tions, which will be made up of en-
gineers, immunes and electricians.
The staff assignments are coming
out rapidly in the general orders is
sued daily by the department., the ap-
pointmcnts being made generally mn
on the request of the major generals
and the hrigadier generals vet To- be
provided for in this matter.
The navy department is about 10 call
for bids for a steel floating dock. cana
bic of floating a ship of IL. 600 tons 10
cost $500, 900 and TO bc located at New,
Orleans. This dock, when completed.
will Toe one of the finest structures i'm
the country. Provision for IL was
made IN the naval appropriation bill.
Is result of recommendation OF the
naval board, headed 10y Adm. Bunce.
N'ti'ukh iptdltu AT New Orleans the
dock will be of that floating tyne. SINH
lar to the floating dock at Havana.
which can be towed TO any point de.
sired
Another project for docks is con.
tanned in the deficiency appropriation
bill now before congress. This pro.
vides for the immediate purchase OF
two floating docks As soon as tho
bill becomes law the department
knows whore IL can purchase these
docks, ready for service They are at
New York, and although OF wood
and comparatively small. they will be
OF inestimable service ON being toyvcd
to Key West. where they will accom-
MEDIATE all but the largest battle ships
and cruisers The department hopcs
to own these docks within a f.,
weeks, perhaps days. as the need o.
docking and scraping tho war shin.
which have been in southern waters
Tor long time is becoming imperative
Cervera Going 90 Havana.
LONDON. May o. The Daily Mails
Madrid dispatch says am official tcl,.