The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-05-31
THE WAR SITUATION
The Penning ofCervera Gives
Satisfaction.
RELIEVES The STRAIN
POWERS OF SPANISH FLEET IbR.
MISCHIEF AT AN END.
NOW FOR OFFENSIVE MOVE tLSEWaIRE
Several of S%chley's Ships Can Now be Spared
for Other Points ReassUring Adylcls
Received from Admiral Dewey.
A Day of Rumors.

Washington. May 2S.-Thc navy I.
partmcnt received information today
| which. for the first time. relieved of
ticials of anHlcty and doubt they have
felt for the last few days. and satisfied
them on two vital points; first. that
tie American fleet under Commod"re
Schlcy WAS outSid" Santiago harhor.
and second. that Admiral Ccyera's flee
WAS inside that harbor. This informu
ton came from private sources, which
naval officials regard rs thoroughly re-
liable. 1t is from the same source thai
gave the navy department the hrSt m
formation. almost Il week ago that the
Spanish squadron was inside Of Santiago
harhor. This source Of Information has
proved itself reliable thus far, and
for that reason the news received to
day WAS accepted rs conclusive. Vt
did rot come from amy nave or state
department officials. There is little
doubt. however. that it will be supple
mcntcd by official adyiceS from Admiral
SchIey. if. indeed. such adviceS are not
already here, though NJ to the close of
Office hours the navy department had
not buIletincd anything from Schlcy.
The officials were in Il state of eN-
htcl1lCN, having ltdI1ltu libll tlt Ih'N>
despatch from Kingston that the scout
ing vessel Harvard WAS there with re
ports FOR the department. Secretary
Long went to the review at Camp AIgcr
during the afternoon. and iii his absence
no information was made public.
Relying on the private dispatches re
ceived. naval officers feel that the en-
! tire situation is simplified and the pow
ers of mischief 10y the Spanish fleet are
at an nd.
One DISTINGUISHED officer remarked
that as Il result of the information, he
felt ten years Younger since yesterday.
He had been seriously apprchcnsivc that
the Spanish feet had succeeded in get
ting away. but the information of to
day relieved his mind on that point. He
said that Commodore Schley could now
spare several of the ships from his squad
ron to permit them to join i'll offensive
demonstrations elsewhere. All SchIrF
needs, it is pointed out. is 4 small force
to watch the entrance of Santiago bar
Dor. Two battlcShipS and two cruiser
would be ample for this service. rs such
Il force would largely ovcrmateh the
armored cruisers in the Spanish squaG
ron. III this way tdmiral Cerveras
fleet can he pockcted without keeping -
large number of American ships out OF
active service ut other needed points.
IN calculating on keeping lie Spaniards
penncd IIU in this fashion the official
have taken into account The possibility
Of the dispersion Of the American block
aiding fleet by one If the tropical cyclones
that are almost duc 1t tits season. The
American fleet in such case would le
obliged to cut and run for Il neutral port
or to make its way by force into one Of
the Cuban ports Tor shelter. III either
case It might be an opportunity for III"
Spanish fleet to maze It's escape pro
vidlng the commanding officers are vii
ing out III weather heavy enough to com
pei the biz American ironcildS ia sock
shelter, unless We block the hl"hor hv
Scuttllng bargcS i'll tho channel. On her
WAY To this country The NizSava passed
through some very severe thrr almost
approaching the crcioHic and proved that
the vessels of her .iaSs are able to with
stand such storms with perfect safety.
During the day duo navy department
posted Il bulletin :-iving reaSSilrlny gd-
vices from Admiral Dewey. This was
the only specific bit Of information givru
ont during office hours. IT WAS 4 dav
replcto with rumors. som" Of them Of
4 very sensational nature. hui tho v1-
rlouS reports Of san@uinary BATTLES failed
of vcrlication and ultimately proved 10
he groundlcSS, so far as the reports rpacL
Ing here disclosed.