Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-05-06

board the battIeship Pelayo. His appoint
melt has caused much satisfaction among
the naval men of Spain.
AT a cabinet council to-day, over which
thu queen regent presided, the premier,
Seror SaEasta. explained the war situation
and announced the safe arrival at Porto
Rico Of the Spanish transatlantic Com
paEy's steamer Alfonso KILL. having on
beard, il is said, reinforccments of troops
and very valuable cargo. including am
munition and supplies.
New York. May "a special to the Her
aid from Washington says:
"Spain's Atlantic fleet is not to he al
lowed to reach Porto Rico or to approach
the coast of the United States. Rear Ad-
miral Sampson has perfected plans for
meeting the enemy on the high seas. and
giving battle at time and place of his
own choosing. The successful issue of this
battle may depend. in large measure.
upon the Spanish admiral being kept IN
profound ignorance of the Intention of the
American commander and being given the
least possible time in which to escape or to
prepare for battle. Consequently. the sec
retary of the navy and Rear Admiral
Sampson have kept the details of the plan
of operations profound secret. and.
the time for the movement against the
Spanish ships draws near censorship of
kilograms from Key West has been estab-
lished. This makes 1t impossible to obtain
direct from Key West news of the move
ment of the armored ships under the i'm
mediate command of Admiral Sampson.
''All that is definitely known here is that
fouT of the most powerful ships In Ad-
miral SIMPSONS command-the New York.
the Indiana, the Iowaa and the Puritan were
ready for prolonged sea voyage yester-
day. Their coal bunkers were filled to
their capacity and additional supplies of
coal were carried in bags on deck. Two
golfers carrying 5000 tons of coal were
ready to accompany them to sea- Reports
that these vessels have sailed eastward to
meet the Spanish ships have not been con-
frmed.
AT the same time Commodore Schley's
squadron at Hampton Roads. comprising
the Brooklyn, the Massachusetts and the
Texas, with two colliers carrying 5000 tons
Of coal is ready to sail at a moments
notice. Swift auxiliary cruisers are cruis-
ing the ocean in search of the Spanish
feet.
These facts all point to the theory that
there is to be a union of the armored
ships under Admiral Sampson with those
under Commodore Schley at point in the
ocean previously agreed upon, and that
the scouts are to report to them there the
location and direction of the Spanish ships.
1t is not believed to be possible that the
Spanish ships will be able to avoid all of
the scouting vessels.
'As soon as Rear Admiral Sampson
learns the whereabouts of the Spanish
fleet and the direction in which 1t is sail
ing, he can get under way to intercept
it. throwing his scouts out in front so as
to cover a wide expanse of sea and fol-
lowing with his armored vessels in line of
battle and ready to give fight as soon as
they come in contact with the enemy.
Opinions differ somewhat in naval cir
cles as to the destination of the Spanish
feet Many naval officers can scarcely
conceive 1t to be possible that the Span
ish admiral would be so rash as to bring
his vessels within reach of such over
whelming force as that which Rear Ad-
miral Sampson could bring against him.
'They believe that, if he has held a
he can be attacked by an Overwhelming
to reach Porto Rico and get his vessels
safely into the harbor of San Juan before
he can be attacked by an overwhelmingly
American force. When he left st. Vincent
the American force was divided. Rear
Admiral Sampson apparently was fully oc-
cupied with the blockade of Cuban ports,
and the only vessels available to be sent
against him were those under Commodore
Schley.'
Old Point Comfort, Va, May 5.-The re-
port that the flying squadron was put
under action last night at midnight is alb
solutely without foundation. After 3
o'clock. when the retiring gun is sounded.
there was no action whatever. No gun
was fired and no call for quarters sounded.
as has been intimated. Commodore Schley
has patrol boat out near the capes and
relies implicitly on 1t for information.