New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-15
ENEMY'S FLEET SIGHTED
REPORTED OFF CURACOA.
EVIDENTLY TRYING TO ELUDE THH
AMERICAN SCOUTS.
THE NAVAL BATTLE IN THE CARIBBEAN
SEA NOT LIKELY TO TAKE PLACE
FOR SEVERAL DAYS
rBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.l

BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRlBUNEl
Washington. May 1+--Interest in naval and
military circles has centred almost exclusively
to-day in me p.ospectve encounter OF the
Spanish Cape Nerd squadron now in Caribbean
waters with some portion Of the American
forces which have been dispatched in pursuit OF
it. In the absence Of a1y but the vaguest news
from the West Indies, 'he plans OF Admiral
BermejO are yelled in Ill impenetrable mystery,
and the many stratesica choices offered him,
thanks 10 the manageable size and superior
steaming qualities Of the Spanish squadron,
leave the present whercab bouts and ultimate
dc stnaton of the enemy's men -of-war matter
of purest conjecture The only definite nforma-
ton which reached the Administration to-day
from the Caribbean ca ne in the shape OF
cable dispatch from the United States Consul at
Curacao. who reported that the Spanish feet
had been sighted off that island
TRYING TO ELUDE THE SCOUTS.
As Curacao Is only one hundred miles north
of the Venezuelan coast and some FIVE hundred
or six hundred miles southwest Of Martinique,
Admiral Cerveras ships. if really sighted there,
are taking wide sweep to the south on their
way 20 Cuban waters. Such an indirect and
orcuitous course would bring them up event.
uslly ut Santiago de Cuba or at Cienfuegos
without subjecting them to observation from
the scouts of the American feet which II was
planned TO mass about the Mona and Wind
ward passages. But at the same time. by the
greater length of steaming time consumed, 1t
would more seriously deplete their coal sup
plies and close to them the possibility or reach
ing the north coast of Cuba before the blockad-
ing fleet there had been fully reinforced by the
Hampton Roads squadron.
The authorities here do not. OF course, accept
the report of the Consul at Curacao as entirely
beyond disproof. for the squadron was said to
have passed some distance out at sea and It's
identity could not have been irdlsputably estab-
lishcd. Yet ii is altogether plausible that the
Sr9nish Admiral may have taken such course
from Martinique as would have brought him
into the vicinity OF Curacao some time this
morning.
Steps have already been tLkel. to warn the
gunboats Nashville and Helena and the smaller
craft now blockading Cienfuegos of the possi-
bility of descent Oh that port by the Spanish
SQUADRON. and II is not believed that the Ameri-
can warships on the south coast OF Cuba
will be taken unawares. If the Cape Nerd feet
has run as far south into the Caribbean as Gu
racoa there can be little prospect OF its encoun-
tering an American squadron for several days
to come.
CHARGES AGAINST FRANCE BAsELEsa
The Administration is much annoyed at tho
publication of charges against France Of partial
ity in the observance OF her neutral obligations.
Such charges have 10 foundation In fact so far
as the President and his advisers can discover.
and can have no result except TO create useless
friction and irritate public sentiment both IN
France and in this country. There is nothing to
show that the Spanish squadron coaled IN the
harbor Of Fort de France, in Martinique, or
that neutral obligations of any kind were re-
laxed by the colonial authorities.
The prompt acquescence of the French ofn>
cials In the request of Captain Cotton Of the aux
uiary cruiser Harvard 10 be allowed to remain
several days Mt St Pierre to make some neces-
sary repairs 70 the ships machinery indicates
clearly. on the contrary, that the French Gov
ernment intends no discrimination against the
United States. Captain Cotton has hesitated to
leave St Pierre while the Spanish squadron
was reported lying off Fort de France. only
few miles to the south. He has now been in
structed by the Navy Department either to walt
week M ST. Pierre. until the repairs on the
Harvard are finished or 10 rcconnoitre carefully
within the neutral three-mile limit before at.
tempting TO rejoin Acting Admiral SampsonD
fleet