The record-union., 1898-05-11
SIMPSONS FLEET.
Navy Department Without Infor-
nation Concerning Any Action.

ne was without information from Ad-
miral SIMPSONS fleet, and concerning
any action. All inquiries about the
Navy Department were directed to-
wards the whereabouts of this fleet,
and its prospect of a speedy engage
ment with the enemy. While there is
little doubt that the officials know the
approximate locality of the fleet, it is
quite certain that nothing has been
Ireceived as to the cruising and search
for the Spanish ships. 1t is felt that
the next few hours will determine be-
yond further question whether the
Spanish fleet which left the Cape Verde
Islands did in fact come to Porto Rico
or diverge northward back to Cadiz for
a formidable concentration of the
strongest ships of the Spanish navy.
In the latter event Admiral Sampson
will have no Spanish fleet to fight, save
those smaller craft in Cuban waters.
lit will leave the course free to the Ore
gon to make a juncture with the fleet,
and also will leave Admiral Sampson 5
hands free for attention to Porto Rico
or Cuba.
SECRETARIES Long and Alger had a
large number of callers before they
Woodford, our late Minister at Madrid,
spent some time with Mr.. Long. After
ward he was asked to break the strict
reticence he maintained by giving his
views of Commodore Dewey's accom-
plishment at Manila, to which he re-
piled that lit would be gliding refined
gold"
A party of prominent New Workers,
including o. H. P. Belmont, Schuyler
Crosby and Charles A Moore had Il
talk with Mr.. Long, for the purpose, it
was understood, of making a gift of
considerable Importance to the Govern
ment 1t will probable be in the line
Iof a ship, although whether yacht or
"a larger craft, was not disclosed.
Senator Tillman offered the services
of a number of expert electricians, now
students at Clemson College, South
Carolina.
At the War Department it was I'M
tderstood that the assignment as corps
commanders to the volunteer army Will
be made very soon.
President Palma, head of the Cuban
delegation, arrived here this morning
from New York, and is expecting i'm
portant advices direct from General
Gomez. He received a dispatch last
night stating that courier from Cen
eral Gomezs camp had passed through
to Washington with letters from Go
mez. The courier probably will not
reach here before tomorrow at the
earliest. In the meantime Brigadier-
General Nunez, who is just back from
with Gomez, arrived this afternoon o
confer with Mr.. Palma 1t is probable
that the advices direct from the Cuban
commander in the field will bring about
further conferences between the Cuban
representatives and the officials of the
War Department.
| Mr.. Palma to-day expressed his views
on the battle at Manila, saying it was
| important in that it furnished conclu-
sive proof of fact long known, that
the Spanish navy was paper" navy,
and utterly incapable of conducting a
modern naval warfare.
In the first place, Admiral Monte
| JOS fleet was taken by surprise" said
/ he. That is whole lesson in itself
| We have heard much from Spanish
| sources as to the lack of discipline and
crudeness in the American navy. But
| here, at the very first practical test
the Spanish fleet committed the very
| worst and most inexcuSable offense of
| allowing itself to be taken by surprise.
And this occurred not only when war
was in progress, but when Admiral
Montejo knew the American fleet was
nearing him. In the face of this the
surprise and defeat of the Spanish fleet
| showed complete lack of discipline and
| of that keen alertness which is the first
essential of a discipline which insures
| defense"
! Senior Quesada of the Cuban delega-
| ton added the statement that the WHIP
| ing out of the Spanish ships like so
many cookie shells, made plain the fact,
we'll known to those familiar with
| Spanish naval resources, that she had
a lot of old wooden craft. which would
suffice for dress parade in times of
peace, and would give an outward ap-
pearance Of the possession of an actual
navy.
The Spanish naval officers, Mr. Que
sada said, were about the best feature
of the Spanish service, but they were
| powerless as a result of corrupt admin
istration of naval affairs at Madrid.
| The guns had none of the modern
mechanism, and the gunners were UNI
practiced. All this had served to place
the Spanish ships at the mercy of the
strong American fleet under Dewey
Mr.. Quesada said the first reverse of
this paper navy" was simply a fore
| cast of what would follow when the
same class of worthless ships with
worthless guns and worthless gunners
met Admiral Sampson and other COM
manders of the American fleet
Changes in the central modifying
points of the volunteers from those an
nounced by the War Department yes
| terday already have been made in a
| number of cases. These have been
| made necessary for several reasons.
The main one is the decisions reached
to begin at once an active campaign in
| Cuba, and to send the troops to the
| Philippines. Those from Montana
said Senator Carter, who was at the
/ War Department this morning, will be
assigned to proceed promptly to San
| Francisco for passage to Manila There
/ is full regiment of 960 men fully
| equipped and ready for service. 1t is
said also that the regiment of infantry
from Colorado in all probability will
be ordered to the Philippines
Russell Harrison who has been look
ing after the interests of the Indiana
| National Guard for the War Depart
ment, received dispatch from the Mil
/ itary Secretary of Governor Mount saw
! ing two regiments of infantry and two
batteries were fully equipped and ready
/ to move Mr.. Harrison says this is the
hest record shown by any State Ero,,,
| Governor Mount came a dispatch say