The evening times., 1898-05-18
Waiting for News.

If the naval athorities have any re.
liable information regarding the ex-
act whereabouts of Admiral Sampson
and of his antagonist. they are no,
taking the press into their confid dence
which is all right enough under pres
ent circumstances. When news shall
come at last, it will not make much
difference to the public what quarter
it emanates from. We only hope that
the new policy of reserve will Keep
Admiral Cervera guessing as badly
as he has managed to keep this coun-
try at that work for a week or mora
There are various theories as to the
present positions of the American ard
Spanish squadrons, and everybody is at
liberty to select the one he likes best
Yesterday the popular idea was that
Admiral Sampson was steaming south
west, by way of the Windward Pas
sage, to intercept the enemy, who was
suspected to be moving toward San.i-
ago de Cuba or Cienfuegos. This n.y.
pothesis apparently was pleasing to the
salts in the Navy Department, and so
We accepted it with many grains of the
it appear more than possible that The
Spaniards have made a run for San
Juan, Porto Rico, and, if that should
prove to be true, our people will not he
long in following them. 1t is signifi-
cant that Cervera is now declared 10
have steamed eastward from the vicin-
ity of Curacao, instead of westv ard, as
at first reported. That wouii prob
ably mean Martinique or san Juan as
a destination.
The latter port would be the most
likely one for him to seek, il he knew
that our squadron had been Withdrawn
from there. This would De especially
true in case anything had happened
by which he missed connection with the
colliers supposed to have Deen waiting
for him off the coast of Venezuela
There is a good stock OF coal At san
Juan, which place, moreover, is one cs
the few cable stations now left open
to Spanish officers for communication
with Madrid.
Assuming that Admiral Sampson yes
terday was somewhere Of cape Hal
ten, al the north end OF the Wind
ward Passage, and heard from his
scouts that the Spanish squadron had
reached San Juan. he wouij have to
steam four hundred and fifty miles TO
Strike the enemy, and, With his slow
monitors, would require two days to
cover the distance. There may or may
not be foundation for the story brought
by Haitien official from Turtle Island
to the mainland of Haiti, that heavy
cannonading, suggestive ~ Il naval en-
gagement, had been heard OF the coast
Probably the time antedatel any by
which the Spaniards could have reach
ed the locality.
On the suppositiol that Sampson is
to find Cervera at San Juan, and give
rim battle there, it Is doubtful if we
shall hear anything about the fact or
the result for seve-al days II is pos
sible. of course, that our Admiral might
achieve victory, receive the surrender
of the squadron and port and gain con-
troll of the cable station, but, even il
he were to utterly destroy the Spanish
vessels and fortifications, it may be
doubted If he has force sufficient 10 |
land and cope with the enemy's troops, |
who. in the meantime might have taken |
to the woods preparatory to descen.
upon any bluejackets and marines who |
might attempt an occupation of tie |
city. 1t is more probable that Sampson |
would be placed in a position exactly |
like that Of Dewey at Manila. Al |
most certainly he would have to merely |
keep the place under his guns until
land forces could be sent 70 rc-enforce
him. That consideration, indeed, m. y