Evening star., 1898-05-30

Key West, by Capt. Sigsbee, in
charge of a prize crew. The coal
was undoubtedly intended for the
Spanish fleet. 1t is believed there is
not much coal at Santiago de Cuba.
The officers and men of the fly
ing squadron are jubilant over the
fact that the location of the Spanish
fleet has finally been definitely estab-
lished
The temperature here is no de-
grees in the shade, and in the steel
turrets the heat is actually beyond
the power OF imagination.
"The American ships here are the
Brooklyn, Texas, Massachusetts,,
Iowa, Marblehead and Vixen, an
auxiliary torpedo gunboat."
All Doubts Removed.
KEY WEST. May 3O.-Any doubt re-
naming as to the exact location of Ad-
miral Cervera's fleet was removed by re-
forwarded in the Associated Press dis
patches of Saturday night.
The Spanish squadron is anchored in the
harbor of Santiago. and the problem re-
mains for the commanders of the Ameri
can fleet to dispose of the enemy, either
by corking up the bottle or by forcing
the long, narrow passage and smashing
the strong Spanish squadron at it's anchor
age its comma nder has chosen
1t has been the opinion of Rear Admiral
Sampson that Admiral Cervera would seek
either Santiago or Cienfuegos as a naval
refuge and base, and the movement of the
two American squadrons has proceeded
upon this basis.
Cervera's Only Alternative.
Strong and effective as are the Spanish
ships, representing as they do the flower
of the Spanish navy. every argument in
naval strategy compelled Admiral Cervera
either to seek the shelter of the close har-
Dor of Santiago return to Spain, and
he chose to make his stand at Santiago.
That he would court a fight in the open sea
is an idea which has never been enter
tanned in American naval calculations, al
though his ships. without exception. have
high qualities, owing to their great speed,
for such contest.
On the other hand 1t was believed the
Spanish admiral would attempt to run into
San Juan de Porto Rico, but the fact of the
recent bombardment of the forts of that
harbor, coupled with the great possibility
that Rear Admiral SIMPSONS fleet would
be met If he attempted to enter that har-
Dor, left the Spanish admiral only one al
tentative, and he adopted it by going to
Santiago. where, 1t is presumed, he has
been able to coal, clean and repair, and Is
in position to accept either the conditions
imposed by the blockade or the issue of a
fight in the inner harbor, after the Ameri-
can fleet has forced the passage.
Schley May BE Reinforced.
1t has been thought that the campaign
against Admiral Cervera might now be end
ed by demolishng the forts at the entrance
of the harbor Of Santiago, blockading the
channel and isolating the Spanish fleet un-
til the other problems Of the war are
worked out. This. however, is not in the
line with American policy, and. simply ac-
cepting the view of the situation taken by
the naval experts here. Admiral Cervera
will have to accept battle at once. 1t is
be struck within three or four days, and
that the result will be known to the world
at large at the expiration of that time. 1t
has not been disclosed whether Commodore
Schley is to be reinforced, but it would not
be surprising If some additional ships were
sent to him