The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-15

rexuits- once Rianco IL prevented fresh
communicating with EDasn. as wei a. with
Porto Rico. It II expected their discourage
nsnt viii set Ia. and this campaign coz
sequensiy viii have al earlier conclusion.
The war department shows no signs Of
relaxation Ia rs war preparations. but APP
pears 90 be making ready for hcstsIsties On
the theory that ,hey are 20 last 70. long
time, Thus. bids were opened to-day for
supplying the government with very
large number Of armor-piereing shells Of
the largest cziiDers. such as srs used al
most entirely By the coast defense guns in
attacking or rspelling heavy ironclad
ships. Another transport Was chartered
today at New York. Indicating that the
move OF the army upon Cuba Ia not 70 he
long delayed. else the government would
not 20 20 the needless expense OF charter
Ing the boa, Immediately.
Two OF the big tugs bought by the navy
from private parties were ehslsiened to-
day, the Hortease becoming the Takoma
and fhe William III. Brown becoming the
ffseataaua. Tbs naval register promises
60 include some odd names. for only recent
~ the pretty yacht Felicia was rebaptixsd
~ the uncouta name OK uncanoomuck
Possible spanish P,sns-
CHICAGO, May ia special 10 the
Journal from Washington says: An I'M
portant atiache Of the bureau OF nayiga-
zion appeared before the naval board OF
war today with a conyInesnx argument
touching the strategic phase OF the situa-
alton, so far as It relates to the probable
movement OF the Spanish fleet.
admiral cervera." he insisted. knows
that an overwhelming force of American
ahips awaits him at San Juan.
His only hope Of defeating the United
States lies In his ability TO reach Havana
and place himself under the protection of
the Havana Notifications.
with the start he has he can anchor
In the harbor there before sehlsy heads
him OF.
III my calculations prove correct. we
win have a repetition OF the battle Of
Manila, and that. too. on larger and =
srander scale. j do not believe Cervera
VIII take the risk Of putting into Glen
fuegos. He will be bottled up there. The
land batteries on this point have been re-
duced.,'
Three spantarda sixhted.
BUENos AYREs. May IA. via Calves
ton. Tex.-Adyiees from Klo Janeiro con-
firm tha reports from Bahia OF the ar
rival Of the United States wassaips Ore
gon. Marietta and Nictheroy.
The steamer Rio Jaaeiro. which has ar
rived u Pernambuco. reports having seen
during the night OF wednesday last three
vessels. supposed to be Spanish warships,
cruising before Cape San Anostlnogo.
The Oregon tn Ne Warned.
CHICAGO. May IA special 20 the
Journal from Washington says; Secretary
Long sent urgent messages to every port
along ths South American coast where
there IN any chance Of reaching the battle
ship Oregon. warning II OF the location
Of the Spanish feet. No orders were sent
to Capt. Clark. as tho department. has full
confidence Ia his ability To meet the siiu-
alton. He has a splendid ship. a full COM
plcment Of men. etc. Should the exigea-
c.es OF the situation demand II. he could
makesa wide detour and make Porto Rico
far east OF the French Yves. Indies.
Al a late hour tonight officials OF the
navy department stated that they had re-
eeived no information OF Admiral samp-
sons fleet beyond the Associated Press
dispatches announcing It's arrival at Porto
Plata. Porto Plata Is a small seaport
on the North Dominican coast, The
French cable line runs through tA!s port.
and also runs down to Curacao. where
the spaniards were sighted Admiral
Sampson probably viii put In at Cape
Hayden, and Ii Is from there the first
Official report from him Is expected.
From Curacao ;oPorto Plata IL a straight
line Of so uk.es, although going through
Mona passage ard around the central
part OF the North Dominican coast TO
Porto Plata 1t would probably be about
600 mhea This indicates the stretch sepa-
rating the two fleets Since last heard
from Admiral Sampson has covered A dis
lance Of between 80 and 700 miles From
Porto Plata TO Havana. IN which direction
Admiral Sampson is now going. Is go
miles. The Spanish fleet il now approxl-
msieiy. based on a straight line calcu.a-
tion. about i.s90 miles from Havana. To
reach which. however. she would have
30 SO through tie windward passage and
risk battle with SIMPSONS fleet