The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-07-07
T0MAKE HASTE SLOWLY
No Immediate Forward Movement
N Santiago.
TO RUSH WATsoN's SQUADRON.

The Commodore VIII Strike Straigh
After Camara's Fleet, Now in th'
Suez Canal = Government Employ!
Wreckcrs to Recover Spanish Ships
Washington. July 1.-The genera
tendency of the official bulletins post
ed yesterday show that no forward
immediate contemplation. Deep con.
cern is felt here at the deprvations
and sufferings of our troops lying II
trenches and in field hospitals sur.
rounding Santiago, and there is every.
where disposition to insist that here
after haste shall be made slowly. and
that the equipment of our soldiers
their commissary and quartermasters
supplies, their ammunition and their
hospital stores, shall be complete In
every respect before they advance fur
at the expense of time
Confidence Is felt that there will be
no friction between the army and navy
commanders, and that the conference
between them will result in an agree
ment upon joint plan for the prose-
cution of the campaign. In the event
that this belief should be not well
founded the president Is prepared to
act himself by orders from first hand.
There Is much Of force In the naval
argument that If Sampson Is obliged 10
enter Santiago harbor before the forts
are captured he will jeoDardize the
safety of the whole of the ironclad
fleet under his command, since by the
sinking of one of these ships in the
narrow channel through a Spanish
mine or shell the fleet would be left
helpless and exposed to destruction
under the guns of the forts. to which
they could make no reply, owing to the
elevation Of the latter. On the other
hand. the army officers seem to be
justified in avoiding the tremendous
sacrifice of life that would be involved
In again throwing our soldiers upon
the Spanish dcfenses until they have
been materially reinforced in numbers
and strengthened by artillery.
The fact that several Of the vessels
selected for Watson's fleet We're In the
thick of the engagement Of July 3
promises to somewhat delay the de-
parture Of the eastern squadron for the
shores OF Spain. The vessels have con-
sumed good deal of coal, and with
out doubt have expended large guam
tity of their highest grade of ammuni-
tion in the furious attack on the steel
warships Of the Spaniards. 1t will be
necessary to replenish these stores be-
fore the long European voyage is be-
gun. However, Secretary Long has
given rush orders for the preparation
of this squadron, and it will certainly
be off in the course Of a few days.
The movements Of the Cadiz fleet
are very puzzing to our experts here.
Weakened as 1t is by the sending back
of the torpedo boat destroyers, the
Spanish squadron bound for the Phil
ippines seems destined to go to as sure
destruction as did Cervera's unlucky
ships when they headed westward
from the Cape Verde islands. The
Spaniards without doubt are fully
aware of the inferiority of their fleet,
and why they persist in sending 1t to
be sunk in the Philippines is mys-
terry. The navy department was ad-
vised yesterday that the squadron was
passing through the Suez canal, and as
the vessels must have paid the heavy
toll required in advance the indications
are now regarded as conclusive that
the ships are actually bound for the
Philippines. This belief stimulates the
here for Watson's sailing, |
He will strike straight after Camara,
who in the end Is doomed to be caught
between Watson and Dewey.
Secretary Long is quite hopeful that
several Of the Spanish ships of the
Cervera squadron can be saved in part
at least, if not as whole. Assistant
Secretary Allen shares In this belief,
and thinks that the Cristobal Colon can
be gotten off the rocks as an entirety,
and that the hull, upper works and |
guns can be made available. She was
the best arinored cruiser in the Span
ish navy. and II she can be foated and
repaired will make a valuable acquisi-
lion to the American navy. Mr.. Allen
IS hopeful that the Vizcaya and Oquen-
10 can be saved in part. Information
has reached the department that the
huls are not badly damaged. A con-
tract has been made with the Merritt
company, which may be cam
celed at any time If the government
finds the salvage Is not progressing
Two large wrecking ves-
sells left Norfolk yesterday to begin
work upon the Colon, Vizcaya and
0uuendo.